Dogtopia of Guelph is a state-of-the-art doggie daycare and spa, catering to your furry family members. This bright and modern daycare is specifically designed for dogs to have fun socializing in a supervised environment. Co-owner Charlene Troubetzkoy says, “We know from our own experience that your dog is a precious member of the family, and giving your pet the best possible experience is our top priority.”
Charlene is committed to protecting the welfare of animals; she has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need since 2014 and in 2021, she opened an animal shelter in St. Lucia called HelpAWS, to care for the many stray dogs roaming the streets. Once the shelter dogs are given a clean bill of health, they are adopted by families all over the world with quite a few living around the GTA.
Charlene’s business partner, Dr. Renee Fleming, is a veterinarian who co-owns Guelph Animal Hospital. Dr. Fleming is passionate about the safety, health, and welfare of not only her patients, but the dogs of the Guelph community. She has a strong passion for community service both locally and internationally and has travelled the world to help dogs in need, which is how she and Charlene met in St. Lucia.
For both Charlene and Renee, this is a family business with a focus on a positive experience for pet parents, the dogs in their care, and the team they employ.
Safe socialization experience
At Dogtopia, the safety of the pets in their care is paramount. The facility is divided into three playrooms and each dog that comes in to Dogtopia has their behavior and temperament assessed to determine which playroom they will enter and how best they can integrate and have fun in a pack.
Charlene says, “We will assess each dog to ensure that they are right for daycare. We want to set everyone up for success and ensure that everybody has the best and safest experience.” Each room is supervised by certified Canine Coaches who are trained to recognize dog body language and work with the dogs to proactively manage their behavior as needed.
The rooms are climate-controlled with flooring made of compressed rubber; the same material used in some children’s daycare centres. These floors are a large investment for the daycare, but because they help protect the dogs’ joints as they engage in run and play, safety must come first. The daycare also has a rigorous sanitization protocol, and the team is trained for common health concerns and disease transmission.
Dr. Renee says, “The training that is provided for the team is very extensive and will allow the Dogtopia of Guelph team to be very versed in canine behavior and inter-dog interactions. As a veterinarian, safety and proper handling techniques is a priority, for both the dogs in our care and the team that is overseeing them.”
She adds, “What I also love about our playrooms is that pet parents have access from our app, to watch how their dog is spending the day. Our dog rooms are equipped with cameras so that pet parents can have the peace of mind to see their family member is in good hands. We are fully transparent about how the dogs are doing – if a pet is not settling in well despite our efforts, our goal is to engage with the pet parents and work towards a solution.”
Benefits of doggy daycare
There are numerous benefits of daycare for dogs in addition to socializing with other animals. Benefits include:
- Better behavior when out in public
- Introduces dogs to new environments and many other dogs
- Safe play in any weather conditions
- Exercise to keep them healthy and extend their lives
Daycare allows dogs to burn off pent-up energy. Dogtopia of Guelph also has enrichment activities. They may play with dogs using balls or bubbles, or they might teach them manners and basic commands. Charlene says, “Daycare offers the dogs physical exercise and mental stimulation. Their minds and bodies are working throughout the day. At the end of day when they go home, they’re tired and happy.”
Dogtopia also offers spa services, including bathing, grooming, nail trimming, and gentle ear cleaning.
Dogtopia of Guelph welcomes all breeds of happy, social dogs who are fully vaccinated and pass their meet and greet test.
Hours:
- Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm
- Saturday 9am to 4pm
- Closed Sundays
Fees and other information can be found on their website. You can also find them on Facebook.
Come in to see if your dog is a good fit for daycare.