CALEDONIA - The last person you'd expect to be making a living working with dogs is someone afflicted with a deathly fear of them.

But that was Jennifer Hartman for 20 years of her life.

Since then, she's not only conquered that fear, but her last two jobs have been focused on the canine world.

Hartman's latest job is owner of the new pet boutique 3 Goldens and a Gator here.

Hartman, 34, grew up in the Racine area. She also spent most of her youth and young adulthood living with a paralyzing fear of dogs.

"I had never had dogs, and I was always terrified of them," she said. "It didn't matter if they were small or big dogs."

If she saw one coming down toward her, Hartman would cross to the other side of the street. "I wouldn't even enter a friend's house that had dogs."

It all started with a family picnic, she explained, when Hartman, then Jennifer Richards, was about 4 years old. She was running and a dog chased her and knocked her down, causing a commotion among the adults. The girl wasn't hurt, but the terror had set in.

Two decades later, Hartman was married and about 24 years old, and her husband wanted a dog. They went to the local humane society and got Tahoe, a big, rambunctious, six-month-old golden retriever.

For Jennifer, it wasn't exactly an instant cure. "I cried hysterically, and my husband was laughing," as the boisterous puppy jumped up repeatedly on Jennifer.

Tahoe needed obedience training, and that job fell to Jennifer, who also took him to agility training. Gradually, their bond grew.

Growing family

Six months after Tahoe's arrival, the Hartmans added Sota, their second golden retriever, who died just weeks ago. A few years later came Madison, another retriever. And finally Gator - short for Gator Bait - a dachshund-Yorkshire terrier cross from Florida.

The canine quartet are memorialized in photo after photo hung around Hartman's new store.

"We don't have two-legged kids," Hartman remarked; only the four-legged kind.

In her previous job, the canine-reformed Hartman was general manager for a Minnesota dog boarding business.

When they came to the Racine area, she decided to open her first business. Naturally, she named the store for her dogs: 3 Goldens and a Gator.

Hartman put her degrees in interior design and merchandise marketing to good use in creating the store's open, tasteful look.

She uses the term pet boutique to mean "gifty, higher-class" products than one might find elsewhere. Her store has both dog and cat products including food and treats, for people who will pay extra to pamper their pets.

Food brands include Nature's Variety, Canidae, Solid Gold and Taste of the Wild. "Everything is all natural," Hartman said.

She carries an estimated 20-25 vendors' products including bowls, frames, clothing for people and dogs, bath products, dental care products and, of course, toys.

People who want their pet to help them shop are welcome to bring along their socialized, on-leash pooch.

Although Tahoe, Gator and Madison are always with her at the store, Hartman has to keep a close eye on Tahoe, still a two-year-old in an 11-year-old's body.

"Tahoe," she explained, "likes to shoplift."

More information

WHAT: 3 Goldens and a Gator

WHERE: at 5200 Douglas Ave., Suite C, just behind Floral Creations by Eileen and across the street from Bank Mutual.

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

PHONE: (262) 752-9010.