DUBAI // A luxury dog spa has proved to be a hit with owners and their four-legged friends who want to avoid the outdoors during the summer heat.
At 5,800 square metres, My Second Home Luxury Pet Resort and Spa in Dubai Investments Park 2 is believed to be the world’s biggest indoor dog park.
The spa has an air-conditioned simulated park with artificial turf, facilities for canine daycare, as well as rooms that can be booked for overnight or longer stays.
Vaughn Pillay, an animal behaviourist and trainer who co-founded the facility with a friend, said the idea for the centre came after realising the difficulties many dog owners faced in the Dubai heat.
“We were out walking our dogs and realised how difficult it is for many people during the summer because it’s just too hot to be outside to walk their dogs,” he said.
“The response we have had from people, even though we have only been open for a short time, has been amazing. It’s great to see dogs enjoy themselves so much.”
Staff at the centre use positive reinforcement to train dogs.
“I often say it’s not the dogs you need to train but the owners, and help them better handle their pets, rather than the other way around,” Mr Pillay said.
The spa is equivalent in size to 18 tennis courts and has indoor and outdoor play areas.
“We try to make this a home away from home for the dogs and that goes for how the centre is designed and looks,” said Mr Pillay.
Dogs can play in a large, artificial grass-covered indoor park while their owners can sit and enjoy a coffee.
There are also indoor and outdoor pools where canines can take a dip and also have hydrotherapy. In all, there are 86 rooms where dogs can stay overnight or longer. More rooms are planned for later this year.
Prices range from Dh150 a night for standard rooms and up to Dh500 per night for the larger, presidential rooms.
“We are much more of a hotel than a kennel and customers are charged for the room, not how many dogs they want staying with us,” said Mr Pillay.
Before owners can register their dogs must undergo an assessment to test their behaviour and how they cope with other canines.
Sanjeev Dhiman, who co-founded the spa, said the majority of customers have so far been people who had not used kennels to house their pets.
“Once people see the facilities we have and the services we offer, they feel much more comfortable in having their pet stay here,” he said.
The facility has 10 staff on hand, with each handler having responsibility for a maximum of 10 dogs.
Owners can also see how their pets are coping while they are on holiday via the centre’s website and watching them on a live webcam.
Jonathan Crawford works as a pilot in Dubai and has two poodles at My Second Home.
“It’s a fantastic centre and it’s made it much more convenient to drop them off during the day if we need to,” said the Briton.
“It gets pretty difficult during the summer months here due to the heat because there isn’t really anywhere to take the dogs for walks unless you go very early in the morning.
“But this centre is great and the dogs certainly enjoy themselves while they are here.”
Former England rugby international Tony Underwood said he was impressed with the centre after his two dogs were booked in for a weekend stay.
“For us, it’s ideal because we aren’t always in Dubai and the fact that you can see them online and check up on them in their rooms is a real help,” said Mr Underwood, who now works as a pilot with Emirates.
For more details, visit mysecondhomedubai.com
