3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
My Life with Paw Print Bakery's Lucy Marshman: ‘I make birthday cakes for dogs'
It was an extraordinary, yet incredibly touching, request that involved a birthday cake for a golden retriever who had every reason to celebrate.
While this very good boy was about to turn 10, the much anticipated milestone had a deeper significance. 'He's survived cancer,' his owner proudly told me. 'We are lucky to still have him with us.'
His next question was one that took me by surprise. 'We want to throw him an extra-special party this year. Can you make him a birthday cake?'
At that stage, my fledgling business — The Paw Print Bakery — specialised only in doggy treats. I had never baked a whole birthday cake for a dog before.
That said, my zealous response came without hesitation. 'Of course.'
Luckily, the finished cake had all the ingredients of success. Meanwhile, the birthday boy was the sweetest animal you could ever meet.
He was so sweet, in fact, that you would never have realised he was going through anything tough. I've made quite a few birthday cakes since then.
Lucy Marshman uses fruit, cheese, yoghurt and peanut butter to create her cakes.
The bulk ingredients are mainly apple sauce and cheese. Icing predominantly comprises of yoghurt and peanut butter.
We normally top it with any sort of fruits like blueberries or strawberries. If there's anything the dog particularly likes, we'll try to add that in too.
A custom treat on top or on the side makes for a classy finishing touch.
Opening up a dog bakery wasn't always on the cards for me. I'm originally from North Carolina and came to UCC for a year as part of my criminology studies.
I met my husband Patrick playing ultimate frisbee in Cork and eventually moved here in 2016.
It all started for me when we completed a cooking course together in 2022. There are only so many brownies you can make and I really wanted to expand my horizons.
Around that same time, I was having concerns for my pet dog Dug. He was gaining a lot of weight from store-bought treats.
Since he's a corgi mix, and quite small, I was worried about the effect this was having on his joints.
In a serendipitous twist, I spotted some tips online detailing how to make your own doggie treats. I saw him lose 1kg and his temperament seemed a lot better.
I suspected that some of my friends' dogs were probably experiencing the same issues. That was when I started giving them samples.
I conducted surveys and the feedback was very positive. I had one neighbour whose golden retriever had a super-sensitive stomach. She's super picky but loved these treats.
I thought to myself: 'Maybe there is something in this.' It turned out there was because the Paw Print Bakery is open about a year and a half now.
The business launched on February 23, 2024, which happens to be International Dog Biscuit Day. Since then, we have heard every manner of request from smitten dog owners.
There was one woman who was pregnant and desperately wanted her dog to be part of their gender reveal.
Lucy Marshman with some of her treats specially made for dogs at the Paw Print Bakery in Carrigaline
I made a gender reveal cake for the dog to bite into which would reveal a blue or pink colour.
The filling was either going to be blueberries for a boy or strawberries for a girl. It transpired she was having a boy so it was blueberry filling all round that day.
Another customer reached out who was getting married earlier this year. She had a pet who passed away but they still wanted to have a dog-friendly wedding.
Even though their own dog died after making the decision, it was really important to them that they followed through with their plan.
The couple decided on iced treats with little pink paw prints. Guests could either bring their dogs to the wedding or take the treats home for them in a little bag.
They included their late dog's name as a way of paying tribute to him on their big day.
Everything I make begins its journey in the kitchen of our home in Carrigaline. Patrick often helps me out in the kitchen as an unpaid member of staff.
Then we have our chief taste tester Dug, whose payment is the endless treats he gets to enjoy daily. He was my inspiration for the business in the first place so I'm glad to be able to give back in some capacity.
I've come a long way since making my first canine birthday cake. People love being able to treat their dogs with a party that has all the trimmings of any human celebration.
My hope is that in time the Paw Print Bakery, which currently operates online, can occupy its own brick-and-mortar space where people have the chance to experience this positive energy in person.
I want it to be a place where dog owners can do anything from bringing their puppy for socialisation to holding a fundraising event. That, for me at least, would be the icing on the cake.
