TUCK-INS & BEDTIME STORIES: A dog's life at DogsWorld Canine Resort
Jupiter’s latest luxury day care offers more than spa services, with options for overnight and extended-stay lodging.
It offers nightly tuck-ins along with a bedtime story.
Sounds inviting?
Well, this day care is reserved solely for our canine companions.
Dream into reality
Having worked in the dog care industry in Manhattan for the past 10 years, Justin Phillips turned his dream of a full-service luxury dog resort into a reality, opening DogsWorld Canine Resort in Jupiter on April 18, 2016.
Jupiter provided the ideal location — catering to the local dog-friendly population who recognizes that canines are not just pets, but rather are full-fledged family members.
With about 7,000 square feet of outdoor dog park space and an additional 5,000 square feet of climate-controlled indoor play yards, Phillips and his highly trained staff ensure a fun, safe, quality experience catered to each of their canine clients.
'Sights, sounds and smells of nature'
“We are the only place in the area with a natural outdoor dog park complete with grass and trees. We don’t have dog turf or concrete and that’s because when dogs are outside, they want to experience the sights, sounds and smells of nature." Phillips said.
"These lower their anxiety as opposed to being on artificial turf or concrete. We also find because we have natural turf that we have a lot less accidents inside than other pet resorts because it encourages dogs to do their elimination outside on bushes and grass."
Additionally, all activities are supervised, with the indoor play area built with a soft canine-friendly surface to ensure there is no undue strain on paws and joints. DogsWorld Canine Resort has separate areas based on the size of the dogs, including a puppy playroom, and can accommodate canine guests with special needs.
A typical day ...
A typical day begins at 7 a.m., when doors open.
Dogs are escorted outside for a little activity and to eliminate, then brought to their individual nap rooms until group activities begin from 9 a.m. to noon. Dogs are constantly supervised, according to Phillips, who said, “We maintain a safe level of play. Our goal is to get them tired, but not exhausted.”
This works perfect for Laura Marabello, who brings her husky, Shila, to DogsWorld.
“You can really tell they love the dogs, and the most important thing is my dog loves coming here. I am very comfortable leaving Shila here," Marabello said. "The best part is they work her like crazy and she comes home tired and happy. My dog is so full of energy and this provides a great outlet.”
Noon to 2 p.m. is nap time, and each canine guest has an individual comfortable room with bedding, water and custom treats available.
Then, 2 to 5 p.m. is back to indoor and outdoor play and activities.
No guilt
Canine parents don’t have to feel guilty working all day and leaving their pet at home.
“Dogs are social animals and they crave interactions," Phillips said, adding that "more and more people recognize that if their dog is alone 10 hours a day, they become under-stimulated and depressed. Studies have shown lack of social interaction and physical and mental stimulation actually does depress dogs.”
Cosmo
Gina Delisa has been bringing her 10-year-old border collie Cosmo to DogsWorld Canine Resort since it opened.
Delisa brought him there to help him cope with the loss of his sister and, she said, “lose 25 pounds. As of today, he has lost 18 pounds and is back to his happy, healthy self."
"He loves coming here and he doesn’t like those mornings when I leave for work without him anymore,” Delisa said.
Luxury lodging
In addition to dog care, DogsWorld Canine Resort offers luxury lodging with single-room or suite accommodations.
All lodging areas have open tops for ventilation so dogs don’t feel boxed in, and are constructed with 6-inch tempered glass.
Phillips encourages people to tailor their dog's stay based on how much activity and interaction with other dogs they want. They have different levels of activity and perks.
“We do things for our lodgers like nightly tuck-ins and bedtime stories," Phillips said. "Our staff actually get in the room with the dog and spend time petting and reading stories. That really helps lower their anxiety and lets them know they are being cared for, which helps them sleep better.
"A lot of other places put bells and whistles in the rooms, like flat-screen TVs high on the wall," Phillips said.
"We put our effort into building the stay around their experience, e.g., how much play or pampering they get. For some older dogs, who don’t want social interaction with other dogs, they can choose to have one-to-one cuddling and petting time. We also offer suites which can accommodate three to four dogs from the same family.”
Future expansion plans include the addition of a pool and more terrain features, including a sand box.
DogsWorld Canine Resort is located at 603 Commerce Way W., in Jupiter. For more information, call 561-320-9122 or go online to www.dogsworldresort.com.