By Christine Graf
Guilderland’s Jason and Bobbie Sellie, Dogtopia franchise owners, are preparing to open their second Capital Region dog daycare and pet spa in Clifton Park. The couple has operated the Latham Dogtopia for just over a year, winning the franchise’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Expected to open in late March or early April, the Clifton Park Dogtopia will be located in North Country Commons at 1208 Route 146. A major renovation of the plaza is underway, and new tenants include Goldfish Swim School, CrossFit House Party, and Flipside Gaming. Ocean State Job Lot, Cartwheels Gymnastic Center, and Clifton Park Bottle & Can are longtime tenants of the plaza, one of the oldest in Clifton Park.
The new facility will feature four spacious doggie daycare playrooms, an outdoor play area, and a grooming salon. Open play daycare will be available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and overnight boarding services will also be available.
Each of the four playrooms will be staffed by Canine Coaches, individuals who have completed a rigorous three-level certification program. Dogs are divided between the rooms according to their size, temperament, and play style, and animals must complete a temperament evaluation before being allowed into one of the rooms for the first time. Pet parents must also show proof of vaccination and spay/neuter.
“We require all of our dogs to pass a meet-and-greet,” said Katrina Moessner, general manager of Clifton Park’s Dogtopia. “We are temperament testing each dog, making sure that we are a good fit for that dog and that the dog is a good fit for us. We also need to be sure it is safe for that dog to be around other dogs.”
Dogs that pass the temperament test are brought into the appropriate playroom for further evaluation. That gives staff members an opportunity to ensure that the dog is able to get along with other dogs in the room.
“We introduce them to a few of the dogs, and if they do well, they can go right into our open play area where the dogs are playing with one another,” said Moessner. “The safety of the dogs is our highest priority.”
Canine Coaches interact with the dogs, engaging them with games, bubble parties, and other activities. Dogs are given a special treat each day, also receiving report cards and first day photos.
“We focus on safe and healthy play and try to make it really special,” said Moessner, a certified professional dog trainer.
In addition to offering full-day and half-day daycare drop-in rates, Dogtopia offers a variety of wellness plan options.
“You will get more savings when you do one of our wellness packages,” said Moessner. “You will be able to choose one or more days a week, but it’s not a contract and you aren’t locked into anything. You also don’t have to pick the same days every week.”
For overnight boarding, pet parents will be able to choose between dog suites or homestyle crates. All boarded dogs will spend their days participating in daycare activities in one of the playrooms.
As part of its grooming services, Dogtopia will offer baths, blowouts, nail trims, ear cleanings, and teeth brushing. For added convenience, dogs that are dropped off for daycare can be scheduled for time in the grooming spa.
Grooming, daycare, and boarding can be scheduled by phone, online, or through an app. Pet parents and other loved ones will also have access to web cameras that are in each of the playrooms.
As Dogtopia franchisees, the Sellie’s and their employees are supporters of the Dogtopia Foundation, one that funds service dogs for veterans, therapy dogs for students, and employment initiatives for adults with autism. As part of the program, Latham’s Dogtopia has completed training of their first veteran service dog.
For more information, visit dogtopia.com/newyork-clifton-park/