From left: Ben Huber, Heather Blum, Elsie Lampl, Allison Stetz and Cole Wolfson are partners in Petagogy, which now has three locations. Stetz began as an employee and bought into the business in 2016.

Petagogy takes its name from the word pedagogy, the art or science of education. Huber worked as an elementary school teacher prior to opening the pet store.

The store spans two retail spaces and 2,000 square feet.

Huber is a woodworker who builds fixtures for the stores, as well as their signs.

Yellow, blue, green and brown serve as store colors, and an outdoorsy mural that borders interior walls could just as easily fit in at a school or summer camp.

The boarder extends throughout the store.

Huber built many of the fixtures in the stores.

Including this chew bar.

And this bone-shaped fixture.

Bright colors make for an upbeat and welcoming aesthetic.

The health and grooming corner.

Food walls and bed stacks, the latter smartly above the pee zone.

Another rustic Petagogy sign.

Instead of headquarters, the store has hindquarters.

Petagogy supports many rescue efforts in town, including Biggies Bullies.

Each year, Huber builds an elaborate set for Pet Photos with Santa. More than 1,000 pets have had their picture taken by Bark & Gold Photography in Shadyside and Greensburg since the tradition began in 2011.

Of course, Huber dons the white beard and red suit himself.

The store looks forward to getting back to Yappy Hours.

In addition to the Shadyside location, Petagogy has a store in Greensburg and this smaller satellite store, Rescue Re-Tail Powered by Petagogy at Humane Animal Rescue.

“We are able to get in front of new adopters and help them with their initial needs, including collar/harness fittings, training assistance and pet food consultations,” Blum says of the satellite store. Read more about Petagogy in this America’s Coolest Stores profile.