Best of Boston

You’ll always find a parade of eager pooches dragging their owners with Pavlovian precision to Polka Dog’s South End flagship for pig ears, chicken jerky, cod skins, and chew toys. This loyal fan base (and their humans) have turned the delightful dog bakery and boutique into an empire: In the past year, the owners collaborated with Bloomingdale’s to create treats wrapped in the department store’s iconic packaging, and added new outlets in Lynnfield and Chestnut Hill.