Lexington, KY - "Going to the dogs" takes on new meaning at Uptown Hounds. There, instead of moving down the social scale, one is definitely at the top level. This new 31,000 sq. ft. facility, located on Angliana Avenue, offers services and products for dogs that go well beyond the basics.
Co-owner Steve Robinson started the business after spending a couple of years researching trends in the pet industry. He had owned other businesses, but after spending much of his time with animals, he decided he wanted to make working with them a full-time job. Now, he and his co-owner and wife Jennifer bring their two dogs to work.
With the exception of an onsite veterinarian, Uptown Hounds provides everything a dog owner could want for his pet. Overnight boarding is a major portion of the business. Other features include a grooming salon, a boutique with items not found in the typical pet store, and daycare. Everything is provided in a setting more like a small luxury hotel or an upscale salon than a typical kennel.
The boarding kennels at Uptown Hounds are priced by five different room sizes and arranged so that the dogs don't see each other. That extra privacy lowers their stress level and keeps them from needless barking.
"We can have 40 to 50 dogs here and it's quiet," Robinson explained. "Creating a stress-free environment for dogs is one thing we've been able to do well."
Each room has a TV, tuned to whatever station is on at home. Beds, covered in Uptown Hounds signature sheets, are large enough for dogs to stretch out. Prices range from $24 per night to $66. Beginning next year, owners can check on their pets via webcam.
Dogs whose owners work long hours and leave them alone most of the time often develop behavior problems. Uptown Hounds offers a great way to provide the socialization that most dogs need: carefully supervised daycare from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
During daycare hours, dogs are grouped by size and compatibility. Each dog receives individual attention from staff members. The most fun for the dogs, though, is going outside with other dogs in their group. Like a group of preschoolers, they eagerly run around with their friends in the fenced-in back yard. During warm weather they can swim and play in an outdoor pool complete with fountains.
"Owners tell us how much of a change has occurred with their dogs at home. They're more active and so much happier since they've been in daycare," Robinson said.
There is a separate puppy program to help the young dogs learn to socialize with other dogs and people, an important skill in their development. Dogs who don't visit often enough to join a group, or those who are less social, stay in their own private quarters and get one-on-one play time with staff members.
Grooming salon services include baths, breed-specific haircuts and styling, hot oil treatments, paw care, whirlpool times, and massages. Owners who want their dogs to be dressed up with bows and bandanas have lots of style options.
Dog owners are not forgotten at Uptown Hounds. While they aren't eligible for a massage, they can get a savory meal prepared by the Uptown CafĂ's chef. People who work in the area also come for lunch. Dog owners enjoy snacks after classes and events. People whose dogs are in daycare can order their own dinners by noon and pick them up when they arrive to take their dogs home.
The best part of owning Uptown Hounds, Robinson said, "is that it's a happy business. People are going on trips, so they're happy when they bring their dogs in to board. Then they're happy when they return, to see that their dogs are well."
Happy customers make for a successful business. The Robinsons, who have had many inquiries about Uptown Hounds, are now exploring franchising their business. That's something to bark about.