Spring Break
Denton pets get pampered
Melissa Crowe
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
Whether your dog struts in Louis Vuitton slippers or munches on organic puppy treats, your dog might be more pampered than you realize.
"Dog owners are funny people; some treat their dogs like children," said Rachael Amble, a biology senior and employee at Windcrest Pet Resort in Denton.
Pet owners no longer have to settle for cramped crates and inadequate attention for their four-legged family members.
Windcrest Pet Resort and The Dog Lofts of Flower Mound treat pets like hotel guests, minus the room service.
"We do a daycare as well as short- and long-term boarding and grooming services," said Pat Walsh of The Dog Lofts of Flower Mound.
Walsh said the doggie daycare service is great for people living in apartments who are not comfortable socializing with their neighbors' dogs.
"It gives dogs a controlled safe place to interact with other animals," he said. "There are fields for big dogs and a room that's set up like a room you might have at home, complete with a TV and couches for little dogs."
Animals are only allowed to interact together if they are same-owner pets at Windcrest.
"Here, we only let out one dog at a time," Amble said. "We can't allow separate-owner dogs out together because we have no spay or neuter restrictions."
Windcrest calls itself an "all-inclusive pet resort." Parents choose a room, or run size, and staff takes care of all pet needs for a flat rate, depending on small, medium or large run sizes from $18 to $22 per night. Afternoon stays at The Dog Lofts' daycare cost $21, and overnight stays range from $22 to $34.
"Price does not mean a whole lot unless you have deep pockets," said Dixie Reedes, owner of Dixie's Dog Grooming on University Drive. "It doesn't always mean you're getting a better job because you pay more, and a lot of the time it is just the opposite."
Pet owners take time choosing a hairdresser, so they should take time choosing a pet groomer, she said. If they research hotels for vacation, they shouldn't forget about the dog.
Finding a groomer is "like trying to find a hairdresser, but there is a whole lot more involved than just dog hair," Reedes said.
Because pet grooming does not require a license, she said, experience is the biggest factor in choosing a groomer.
"You have to know the individual breeds of dogs," Reedes said. You have to "know what kind of clips each dog gets, you have to know what to do to treat the skin if there's a skin problem, clean ears and express the anal glands."
Above everything, you have to know "dog psychology" and how to read the animal, she said.
"A lot of people need to remember that even though they are domesticated, dogs are still wild animals," Amble said. "They want to be outside - socialize your dog."
"Dog owners are funny people; some treat their dogs like children," said Rachael Amble, a biology senior and employee at Windcrest Pet Resort in Denton.
Pet owners no longer have to settle for cramped crates and inadequate attention for their four-legged family members.
Windcrest Pet Resort and The Dog Lofts of Flower Mound treat pets like hotel guests, minus the room service.
"We do a daycare as well as short- and long-term boarding and grooming services," said Pat Walsh of The Dog Lofts of Flower Mound.
Walsh said the doggie daycare service is great for people living in apartments who are not comfortable socializing with their neighbors' dogs.
"It gives dogs a controlled safe place to interact with other animals," he said. "There are fields for big dogs and a room that's set up like a room you might have at home, complete with a TV and couches for little dogs."
Animals are only allowed to interact together if they are same-owner pets at Windcrest.
"Here, we only let out one dog at a time," Amble said. "We can't allow separate-owner dogs out together because we have no spay or neuter restrictions."
Windcrest calls itself an "all-inclusive pet resort." Parents choose a room, or run size, and staff takes care of all pet needs for a flat rate, depending on small, medium or large run sizes from $18 to $22 per night. Afternoon stays at The Dog Lofts' daycare cost $21, and overnight stays range from $22 to $34.
"Price does not mean a whole lot unless you have deep pockets," said Dixie Reedes, owner of Dixie's Dog Grooming on University Drive. "It doesn't always mean you're getting a better job because you pay more, and a lot of the time it is just the opposite."
Pet owners take time choosing a hairdresser, so they should take time choosing a pet groomer, she said. If they research hotels for vacation, they shouldn't forget about the dog.
Finding a groomer is "like trying to find a hairdresser, but there is a whole lot more involved than just dog hair," Reedes said.
Because pet grooming does not require a license, she said, experience is the biggest factor in choosing a groomer.
"You have to know the individual breeds of dogs," Reedes said. You have to "know what kind of clips each dog gets, you have to know what to do to treat the skin if there's a skin problem, clean ears and express the anal glands."
Above everything, you have to know "dog psychology" and how to read the animal, she said.
"A lot of people need to remember that even though they are domesticated, dogs are still wild animals," Amble said. "They want to be outside - socialize your dog."
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