If leaving your fur baby with strangers gives you paws (see what we did there?) relax! The Dirty Dog is the place to go. Located at 3120 S. Kansas Avenue, The Dirty Dog caters to dogs and cats of all breeds and needs. From boarding to training to grooming, they do it all. We spoke with owner, Amanda Biester, about the joys and challenges of running a school, hotel, and spa for our four-legged friends.
“We get it,” Biester said. “These are your babies. They are members of your family and we treat them as if they were our own. We recruit the best talent in the industry and continuously educate ourselves on the latest training and grooming techniques.”
One of the things that sets The Dirty Dog apart from other doggy daycare businesses is that the staff consists of professionals. “Most of the pet care industry operates as babysitters,” Biester explained. “All of our employees are professionals who are credentialed and certified in pet care. They are not high school kids looking for a summer job. They have dedicated their lives to careers in pet care.” Biester said the staff collectively hold multiple certificates in pet care, pet nutrition, grooming, pet agility, and are CPR certified and trained.
“Safety is our number one priority when it comes to the animals we care for,” Biester said. “Safety, health, and happiness are our three keystones.” When they get a new member, they perform an initial assessment based on size, personality, and play style. If an animal has social issues like aggression or anxiety, they work with it individually to help it learn social skills. “It’s not sink or swim with us,” Biester explained. “Sometimes dogs forget the canine language and we have to help them learn to interact and use healthy social behavior again,” she said. “We don’t give up on them.”
The Dirty Dog offers private and group training classes that range from Puppy Kindergarten to Canine Good Citizen to Dog Sports classes. Boarding and day classes include Day Training, Manners Camp, and Boarding School. “The bonding is the easy part,” Biester stressed. “But creating boundaries and changing bad behavior can be more challenging for pet owners. We’re here to help.”
When it comes to boarding your pet, they offer options as well. You can choose private or social boarding, in general lodging areas as well as several suite options. Suites are great for elderly pets, puppies and kittens, dogs or cats who have recently had medical issues, and multi-pet homes. Whether private play or playgroup, the pet care team will make the most of your pet’s days while keeping them on a familiar schedule. “People love the suites because they're less disruptive for the animals and it gives the owners such peace of mind,” Biester explained.
“We try to make our services as convenient as possible for our customers,” Biester said. “We know families are busy, so we encourage doubling up on services to save time. If you are boarding your pet, and planning to add grooming or training services, we encourage you to do it while they are here. It saves pet parents the trouble of scheduling a separate appointment, plus it saves them a trip here and back.” They even offer shuttle service to and from training or grooming appointments to help busy pet owners.
For over a decade The Dirty Dog has been serving the pets and families of Topeka. If you’re looking for a place for your pet to play, or be groomed, trained, or boarded in Topeka, look no further than The Dirty Dog. From social skills to sleepovers to spa days, if your pet needs it, there’s no better place to get it than at The Dirty Dog. Learn more at dirtydogtopeka.com.
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