Laura Betti, Owner

Laura's friends and family like to say it all started with a dog - her beloved Sheltie named Empi. If you ask Laura, the owner of Pause Dog Boutique, however, she'll tell you that she can never remember a time in her life when she hasn't been surrounded by dogs. Always an important part of her family and the loved ones around her, their presence has kept her grounded and fulfilled.

Empi (pronounced Em-pay) certainly did provide some impetus for the creation of Pause Dog Boutique. Laura has loved shopping for her, as well as Ella (a half adorable/half monster of a Russell Terrier), for years. But, Laura's background has propelled her toward owning her own business since the beginning.

After doing extensive research and visiting numerous dog shops nationwide and online, Laura became certain that a dog boutique could serve the Rhinebeck community and visitors well.

Laura has a B.S. in Psychology from Springfield College and a M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University. She currently serves as an editor and a writer for a K-12 and higher education publishing company.
 

Laura’s Dogs

Empi is a Shetland Sheepdog (commonly called a Sheltie). Laura obtained her from a breeder in Cleveland, Ohio, while she was living and working at John Carroll University.

Empi is now 8-years-old. She loves barking (although we are working on that!), playing with Laura’s husband John, lounging on the couch and she likes to steer clear of Ella and Ramona whenever possible. Empi is a bit shy by nature, but she knows lots of great tricks, and will do anything for a treat! Empi has been forced to take a bit of a "back seat" because our terriers have such big personalities, but she remains Laura's first true love and is still her "special girl."

Ella and Ramona are Russell Terriers. Nope, not Jacks. Their parents were both Hunt Terriers, but since they were born with 51% or more white, they are actually...shhhh....misfits. Hunt Terriers are the ancestors of Russell Terriers. Ella and Ramona are atypical colored Hunt Terriers and/or the purest Russell Terriers descending directly from the Hunt Terrier lines. (We know it's confusing!)

Laura and John got Ella and Ramona from Aislinge Bray Terriers in Delhi, NY (www.huntterrier.com). Ella is 4-years-old and has loads of...shall we say..."spunk." She's full of fun and is a clown by nature! Ella loves to terrorize Empi, she’s amazing with a Frisbee, and she enjoys curling up for a good snuggle. But most of all, she loves to shadow Laura. She follows Laura everywhere she goes.

Ramona, the newest addition to the pack, is 1. If we thought Ella was spunky, we were in for a rude awakening with this one! Ramona loves to play, climb on anything she can and snuggle when she's tuckered out. If there's trouble, Ramona knows how to find it. Turns out she was appropriately named after Beverly Cleary's children's book character "Ramona the Pest." Her and Ella are best buds...her and Empi, not so much!

 

Colleen Dealy & Her Dog Bumble, Staff Members

Raised under proud, Amarillo skies, Colleen Dealy grew curious about the rest of the world and wandered East. Well “trained” and “groomed” in Virginia, she received her B.A. in Classical Civilization at Randolph College. Having been obedient while studying, she decided to try her hand at agility. Straying into the world of acting in New York and Los Angeles, she remained gainfully employed doing commercials, TV shows and movies. Then, feeling the itch to have a litter of her own, she married her mate and has two lovely offspring.

As her pups got older, she roamed down an alley and found herself in front of a microphone doing a nationally syndicated radio talk-show called “The Good Stuff.”

Now she’s behind the counter at Pause Dog Boutique with her pal, Bumble. Bumble drifted into her life three years ago and the two are best friends. Colleen and Bumble enjoy being part of Pause because it’s filled with all the things that make a great life together--even better.
 

Pause Dog Boutique - 6423 Montgomery Street Suite 8 - Rhinebeck, NY 12572 - 845.876.4330 - pauseshop@gmail.com