Kool Dog Kafe, Redondo Beach

The aromas in the Kool Dog Kafe would make anyone hungry: carob, peanut butter, bacon, cheese, pizza, croissants. “People eat them too,” says Kerry King, who opened the gourmet canine bakery in October 1999. “Especially one man who loves the carob brownies.”

King, who once worked for an orthodontics consulting firm, saw how her dog enjoyed the baked treats her sister-in-law made and decided to go into business. Rio, King’s 7-year-old female chocolate lab, presides over the place, greeting customers and patrolling like a security guard.

“Our goal is sugar-, salt- and preservative-free,” she says of her menu of Peanut Butter Puppies (puppy-shaped flour cookies), bacon-and-cheese pot stickers, chicken rawhide bones, pizza (with cheese), bacon croissants and personalized birthday cakes. “We use wheat, corn, soy and potato flour, so we satisfy special diets.”

Her youngest canine customer was 9 weeks old and the oldest was 17 years. Generally, she finds smaller dogs more finicky than larger ones.

George Pelster, 69,

Redondo Beach

Occupation: Actor.

Accompanying dog: Chodie, a 15-year-old male mutt.

First visit? Yes.

Are treats a reward? Usually gives treats after a walk, but sometimes just gives it. “Chodi’s now deaf and has arthritis. They need treats to spruce up their lives in their older years.”

Today’s purchases: Peanut Butter Puppies.

Can dogs smile? “Yes, but it differs from a human’s in that it is generally more subtle, and genuinely more honest.”

Alysia Kwon, 28,

Redondo Beach

Occupation: Public-health researcher at USC.

Accompanying dog: Roxy (Roxane), a 21/2-year-old female black lab.

First visit? Yes. Just moved here from Boston.

Are treats a reward? No. “I give her treats all the time.”

Today’s purchases: Peanut Butter Puppies, carob-chip squirrel, the dog pot sticker and ginger stocking.

Can dogs smile? “Roxy isn’t usually smiling, because I’m telling her to sit or do something she doesn’t want to do.”

Pat Dunlap, 56,

Redondo Beach

Occupation: Writer.

Accompanying dog: Bailey, a 9-year-old male yellow lab.

First visit? Regular since opening.

Are treats a reward? “He has three treats every night after dinner, but they must be in this order: Kool Dog cookie, rawhide strip, carrot.”

Today’s purchases: Bone shapes in beef, barbecue, chicken, peanut butter and garlic-and-cheese flavors.

Can dogs smile? “Definitely. He has a big smile right here. He starts dancing around in the car as soon as we go by.”

Chris Gaian, 42,

Redondo Beach

Occupation: Stock trader.

Accompanying dog: Brodie, a 11/2-year-old male yellow lab.

First visit? Once-a-week customer.

Are treats a reward? “He knows these are special.”

Today’s purchases: Pizza, puppy bagels, carob-chip squirrels, sushi cookies. “He’s an international dog.”

Can dogs smile? “Yes. Many on our street run free, and you can always tell when they’re smiling and having fun.”