At Doggie Day Care, Dogs Treated Like Woman's Best Friend

Rose Cotter admits that she should have named her doggie day care business after her true inspiration, her first dog, a chocolate labrador retriever named Augie.

Cotter said she realized, after spending lots of money on training for Augie, that Augie wasn't the problem. It was her and her husband's lifestyle.

"We were novice dog owners," she said. "We just didn't have enough time to give her. My husband worked downtown. I worked fulltime. The things I know now ..."

But Augie inspired Cotter to leave her job in marketing and learn how to be a dog trainer. After completing her coursework and  apprenticing for over a year with Jane Masterson at Canis Sapiens Dog Training in Chicago, Cotter began working professionally in the field and making plans to open her own facility.

In November 2007, Cotter opened Alfie's Poochie Playlot, named after one of her two long-hair dachsunds.

"I just really wanted a place where people could bring their dogs to have fulfilled lives," she said.

Located off of Willow and 97th Avenue in Mokena, Alfie's Poochie Playlot features large, climate controlled, enclosed play areas where dogs are grouped by size, age and energy level. Specialized rubber flooring and an outdoor "potty area" cater to the canine crowd.

"We have web cams so people can go online and check them out," Cotter said.

She compared her doggie day care to people day care, saying that her goals for the dogs focus on physical, mental and social well-being. Cotter wants her clients to:

• play well with others
• learn good manners (they're not allowed to jump on people or mouth caregivers)
• be active and safe so they stay healthy

Alfie's also carefully evaluates all prospective playmates. Dogs must be current on their shots and be on veterinarian-approved year-round flea and heartworm preventatives. 

New dogs, after paperwork has been completed, come for a four-hour meet and greet so they can get comfortable with the staff and the facility, Cotter said. During this time, the staff is watching for any fearful aggression, overtly aggressive behavior or signs that a dog is feeling overwhelmed.

Current daycare dogs are then introduced to the new dog one at a time with staff on alert for any potential problems.

"The staff really has to be calm so they're not giving off any vibes that spook the new dog. We want the dogs to show their true colors (on that first visit) for an accurate placement," Cotter said.

Day care is on a drop-in basis, although supervised overnight boarding and long-term care is available, including suite accomodations for multiple dog families and special areas for puppies.

"You can never have a bad day here. It's like therapy. (The dogs) are so happy to see you. I work 14 hours a day, six days a week, and I'm not tired of it. That tells you a lot," Cotter said with a smile.

Call 708-478-8886 for more information or to arrange a visit or check out Alfie's Poochie Playlot on-line.