NORTHAMPTON – Elizabeth Staples wasn’t allowed to have a dog as a child. Today, as owner of The Good Dog Spot, Staple is surrounded by canines.
Staples, 36 of Easthampton, has been running the doggy day care in Chicopee for almost a decade. Last month, Staples opened a second location in Northampton at 139 King St.
The Good Dog Spot offers grooming and day care as well as overnight boarding for cats and dogs. The business has a unique approach to pet care from personalized parties where dogs can bob for hot dogs to a “Bark Bus” shuttle service to transport dogs to and from day care.
The Northampton location offers a new addition to the business, a self-serve dog wash, allowing owners to use space in the facility to wash and bathe their dogs.
“Dogs are really part of the family,” said Staples who has three dogs in her household of four people.
Since Staples could not have a dog when she was younger, she started volunteering at pet stores, and by age 16 she was employed at a kennel. In her 20s, Staples was on the board of directors for the American Boarding Kennel Association.
At age 27, she was inspired to create an interactive and unique program for dogs. Staples wrote a business plan and opened the first Good Dog Spot in Chicopee.
While the start-up was slow, Staples said it was memorable. She had another job at MassMutual Financial Group during the day, but found time before and after her shift as well as on weekends to manage the Good Dog Spot. She said Lisa Peloquin, a senior groomer, took care of two dogs in day care, grooming and answered phone calls.
Although they started small, Staples said they learned what it takes to grow a business. The Chicopee site started with just one dog and now serves about 50 dogs per day. And now that the Northampton location has opened, Staples said there could be a third in the future.
At Good Dog Spot, each new dog is evaluated based on play style, size and supervision requirements.
During day care, dogs exercise and interact with other dogs at the indoor play area as well as time outside for fresh air. And for a few hours each day, the dogs have nap time.
“They’re just like kids,” Staples said. “They’re cranky if they don’t get their sleep.”
The Good Dog Spot hosts birthday “pawties” as well as special events. For Halloween, dogs can come to the Good Dog Spot dressed in costume, and on Election Day, dogs can “vote” by choosing a Democratic or Republican cookie.
Pet owners interested in services at the Good Dog Spot may visit www.gooddogspot.net.
Kathy Jarvis, 53, of Huntington, has worked as a groomer for the Good Dog Spot for about three years.
“I really cater to the dog,” Jarvis said. When it comes to grooming, she said some may take longer to groom than others depending on temperament and personality.
Five of Jarvis’ six dogs are frequent guests at the Good Dog Spot.
Jarvis said, “The care they get here is like a home away from home.”
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.