Paradise for Pups: New Dogtopia Offers Home Away from Home for San Diego Area Canines

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Pete Kosowski

‘Everybody Wants to be a Dog’™ as the Newest Dog Daycare, Spa and Boarding Facility Opens

San Marcos, Calif. – There’s a new stomping ground for San Diego area dogs to hang out and have fun while their owners are at work, and it’s already got a long line of tails wagging for a chance to gain entry into the ultimate dog daycare destination.

The new Dogtopia , an upscale dog daycare, spa and boarding facility, will offer personalized care and individual treatment for San Marcos dogs in a fun, safe and comfortable atmosphere that provides a home away from home for up to 50 romping canines while their "parents" are away.

Scheduled to open its doors on Saturday, August 23 at 925 W. San Marcos Blvd., Dogtopia’s design features bright yellow, green and blue colors with the atmosphere of a chic, upscale spa. Laid out with a children’s daycare facility in mind, Dogtopia has two playrooms to suit every personality and size.

In addition to daycare and boarding, Dogtopia also offers a spa, self-service dog wash, and boutique to San Marcos’ pampered pooches. Local canines can even enjoy a Dogtopia special – The Happy Pup™ - daycare in the morning followed by a relaxing spa treatment with pawdicure in the afternoon.

Locally owned and operated by San Marcos entrepreneur Diane Wheeler, the new Dogtopia is one of ten locations throughout the nation that are filling a unique niche in the pet care services segment. Already, Dogtopia has received countless inquiries from local pet owners wanting to reserve a coveted slot for their beloved dog in the new facility, which is known for a number of key factors that set it apart from other dog daycare concepts in the marketplace.

"I’ve always loved dogs, so I totally understand the mindset of pet owners," said Wheeler. "With Dogtopia, our mission is to create a local paradise for dogs, while giving their owners peace of mind while they’re away or at work. Instead of leaving their dogs at home alone or in an isolated kennel environment, Dogtopia provides an opportunity for social dogs to get exercise, playtime with pals and human interaction while their owners are away."

While most dog daycare facilities use chain link fencing and cement flooring, Dogtopia’s canine clients enjoy an open layout where each room has specialized rubber flooring to ease joints, prevent slipping, and provide for safer play. Dogtopia understands that the dogs in their care are more than just pets – they’re members of the family, so Dogtopia employees are meticulously trained to take every measure possible to guarantee their comfort and meet all of their needs.

The typical location cares for between 50 to 80 dogs per day with a ratio of one caregiver per 10-15 dogs. The San Marcos location is 4,500 square feet and has a 2,000 square foot outdoor area, partially covered in a luxury synthetic turf, where the dogs can engage in activities.

"We separate the big guys from the little guys, as well as the overactive and special-needs dogs," Wheeler said. "Just like a child care center, we take every step possible to ensure a safe and loving atmosphere, but we also keep fun in mind. At Dogtopia, the big dogs can run together, while the older or calmer dogs can relax on cushions and futons in another room."

The division of dogs between rooms allows Dogtopia personnel to control air quality, prevent accidents and provide an overall stress-free atmosphere. Generally 25-30 dogs play in each room, and Dogtopia employs web cam technology in each room that allows the dogs’ owners to check on their pets at any time. While most dog daycare facilities don’t use web came technology, the Dogtopia Web Cam logs more than 50,000 hits each month.

Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. Dogtopia’s fees are all-inclusive—owners can bring their own food or Dogtopia will provide it during the breakfast, lunch or dinner feedings as well as administer owner-provided supplements or medications at no additional cost. All dogs undergo evaluations that include a health assessment, vaccination verification and a temperament test to ensure that the dog is social and comfortable in large groups. All dogs receive a report card on their first day, and updates throughout their time at Dogtopia to keep owners informed of their behavior, friends and play patterns.

"The pet care industry is growing at an astronomical rate with over 60 percent of U.S. households owning pets," said Amy Nichols, CEO of Dogtopia, "Additionally, of those surveyed, more than 80 percent of pet owners worry about their pets at work, making dog daycare one of the most popular and fastest-growing pet care services in the industry."

The Dogtopia concept was founded by Nichols, who opened the first location in Tysons Corner, VA in June 2002. Under Nichols’ leadership, vision and drive, Dogtopia has experienced overwhelming success and growth that led to the initial franchise offering of the concept in April 2005. In addition, with a passionate culture committed to giving back, Nichols has created a permanent non-profit arm of Dogtopia, known as K-9 Support, Inc., to support working dogs, such as military dogs, rescue dogs and Seeing Eye dogs. Annual K-9 Support Dog Wash events raise funds to send care packages to K-9 Handlers and their working dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since starting K-9 Support in 2005, Dogtopia has raised more than $30,000 and sent more than 5,000 lbs of supplies overseas.

About Dogtopia®
Dogtopia®, founded in 2002, began offering franchises in 2005. Dogtopia prides itself on being a place where pets are valued as family and¬ where dogs enjoy endless playtime and spa treatments in a positive environment. Dog owners have the assurance of leaving their beloved pets in the hands of trained professionals. Dogtopia® staff willingly nurtures each pet with attention and love. Each location offers a variety of fun activities, sociable training and comfortable boarding for dogs of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities and temperaments. The franchise anticipates 50 Dogtopia locations will be in operation or in development by 2009.