Three Dog Bakery, the Valley Junction store that caters to dogs and their owners, has been sold after roughly nine months on the market.

The store, best known for creative dog treats such as “pup-tarts,” “Scottie-biscottis” and “snickerpoodles,” also sells a variety of pet accessories such as collars, food bowls and pet-related artwork. It’s one of the few retail stores in Greater Des Moines that welcomes pets inside.  

The new owners, Diana Essy-Emehiser and her husband, Dan Emehiser, said they plan to keep many elements of the store the same, adding new products as they become available. It had been owned for nearly five years by Nancy Gorecki and her husband, Jeff Bonin, who are moving to Boulder, Colo.

“I am going to stick with what works and with what’s been successful for Nancy and Jeff,” Essy-Emehiser said. One new product that will soon be available on Three Dog’s shelves is the Lick ‘n Crunch, an Oreo-like cookie that comes in vanilla and peanut butter flavors.

Three Dog Bakery, first founded in Kansas City, Mo. in 1989, is part of a chain of 26 franchise stores across the United States and Japan. Essy-Emehiser is considering expanding the business, which could mean opening a second Three Dog store in Central Iowa in the next 18 months, she said.

She and her husband don’t currently own any dogs, but they are looking.

“We’ve got it narrowed down to the terrier family,” she said. “I would like a dog that doesn’t shed, has a great personality and one that I can bring into the store with me.”