Midwest Canine owner Dave Crawford, rural Beaver Creek, helps Grady, the Weimaraner, onto the bed in one of his business's new doggie suites.
By Jolene Farley
Pampered pets in Rock County have a new place to park their paws thanks to Midwest Canine, rural Beaver Creek.
Construction on a new dog boarding and training facility with room for 40 dogs and six "doggie" suites was completed the first week in July.
More than 100 people attended Midwest Canine's open house on June 28 and 29, according to owner Dave Crawford.
Crawford began his business in 1995 with a facility built for 11 dogs.
"It's (the expansion) been in the planning for about three years," said Crawford. "This last year has been so crazy it was a must."
The suites in the new facility offer discerning pets a private suite with a bed (complete with mattress), a television and a basket of doggie toys. Doggie massages may be offered in the future if clients request it.
Leaving the television on helps canines feel more at home while their masters are away, Crawford said, because many pet owners leave the television on during the day for lonely pets.
Crawford said it isn't long before canines make themselves at home, crawl up on the bed and gnaw on complementary rawhide chews.
"I would say out of five stars, they (the dogs) probably gave it five stars," he said about recent canine guests.
While attending the West Virginia Canine College, Crawford became aware that some dog kennels on the east coast offered pet suites as a boarding option.
Before construction at Midwest Canine, Crawford contacted facilities in the Twin Cities area that offered suites to see how popular they were. He was told suites usually fill up faster than regular boarding.
Midwest Canine has clients that travel long distances to make sure their pets are well cared for by Crawford.
Dogs in both the suites and the regular boarding area are exercised four times a day and allowed up to an hour in a play area.
"They know us," he said. "They know their dogs love it out here."
Dogs stay in the deluxe suites for $15 per day. Regular board is $10 per day.
In addition to boarding, Crawford trains dogs. Currently, he works with mostly large breed dogs but will train all breeds and sizes of dogs.
Owners can choose different levels of training for their pets.
Stay and train lessons, which cost $325, are month-long with the dog boarded at Midwest Canine.
Dogs are taught 26 commands including heel, sit, stay, go outside on command and "a lot of things people run into every day."
Private or group lessons for a few hours once or twice a week are also an option for dog owners.
Midwest Canine doesn't have set business hours but clients can call 673-2571 for more information or a drop off or pick up time for their pet.
Crawford hasn't ruled out further expansion for his business. "I have a feeling future expansion probably will be for more suites," said Crawford. "It seemed like it went really well."