One of the things my husband and I dreamed about, when
living in our 460-square-foot-ridiculously-expensive flat in Central London,
was moving to Canada where we would be able to afford a house
with a back yard
- specifically so we could get a dog. Fast forward two years. Live in Canada?
Check. Have a house? Check. Have a yard? Check. Have a dog? You better believe
it.
I love my puppy, and like every other working fur-mom, I get
terribly guilty at the thought of leaving my little fur-monster at home by
himself – even if only for a few hours – while I am out earning money to
buy kibble. That is why I was so happy – no, let’s be honest, ECSTATIC – to
discover Watson’s Hound Lounge, a doggy daycare where the emphasis is
definitely on ‘care’.
Located in the Stewart Centre on Kirschner Road, Watson’s
will look after your pet from 7:30am to 5:30pm (late pickups can be arranged
with prior notice) and give them a day packed with furry fun. The facility is a kennel-free 7200 square
feet, with separate indoor exercise arenas for large and small dogs, plus a
chill out zone complete with comfy sofa.
Pack sizes are limited, and there is a strict people-to-pup ratio, so
you never have to worry about Fido getting lonesome. There is also a lovely
outside enclosure where dogs can take in the sunshine and fresh air on nice
summer days.
Watson’s (named after owner Laura Vigor’s gorgeous rescue
Weinmaraner) also stocks quality dog food (Acana) and accessories, and you can
even get a gorgeous custom sweater knitted for your best friend’s birthday.
There is also a grooming service on site, which can turn a visit into a fully-fledged
spa day for your pet; and spa is the key word here, because with its wood floors,
white walls, wing back chairs, chandeliers and contemporary doggy wall art, you
just might want to hang out in reception yourself while your dog is getting
pampered.
Rates are a reasonable $17 for up to 5 hours and $27 for a
full day, and you can arrange a short stay of less than 2 hours for $10 –
perfect for a quick trip to the hairdressers for yourself. You can also block
buy 4 days at t time for additional savings. Oh and did I mention the webcams?
The Hound Lounge is kitted out with ten webcams, so owners can log on anytime,
anywhere and see how their pooch is getting on. Genius.
Watson’s Hound
Lounge:
#185 – 1855 Kirschner Road
Kelowna, V1Y 4N7
Website: www.watsonshoundlounge.com
Tel: 778 484 4479
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Photos by Victor Poirier