Watertown Couple Starts Pet Resort in West Roxbury

West Roxbury Patch spoke with Watertown's Greg and Nancy Wilens about their new business:

It’s a dog’s life at Luxe Pet Resort. It’s also a cat’s life. When they’re not running around in both indoor and outdoor play spaces, pampered pooches loll on elevated beds in premium canine suites.

Cats don’t require the same kind of physical activity, so they’re fine with lounging in ocean view villas. Actually, there are all sorts of living accommodations, in different price ranges, for the overnight guests at Luxe. Located at 1220 VFW Parkway in West Roxbury, the facility, which also has a daycare option, opened last month, the brainchild of Watertown residents Greg and Nancy Wiens.

They come to work each day with their French Bulldog Tycho, and their German Shepherd Kona. Greg, who has a background in commercial real estate finance, and Nancy, who has been working with animals (pet hospitals, wildlife safaris, marine mammal training) for more than 20 years, recently sat down to talk about their new venture.

Why is it called a resort?

Nancy: I think it welcomes people. You don’t want to call it a pet kennel, where animals stay in cages. When people hear resort they think luxury and they know it’s for their pet. They may laugh and get a kick out of it. But it’s pretty much a luxury hotel and spa for your pet.

Where does the spa part come in?

Nancy: There’s the grooming salon, with the manis and pedis.

How many dogs and cats can you accommodate?

Greg: About 50 dogs and 42 cats can stay overnight at any given time.

So there’s a bigger market for dogs than cats as far as boarding?

Nancy: Cats can fend for themselves. If people go away for a couple of days, they’re fine. Dogs are a little different. They need potty breaks, they need to go outside, they need to run around. That’s not to say that cats don’t have to, but they’re litter trained. They’re much more independent.

Can any dogs stay here?

Greg: We will not accept aggressive dogs. Every dog here has to be in a play group setting with other dogs at one point. So we give each one a temperament test by bringing them into the facility and letting them sniff around. Once they reach a certain comfort level, we introduce another dog. We trickle in one easygoing submissive dog and see how the dog does with them. Then we’ll introduce a couple more dogs, and eventually we’ll take the lead off, and let them all sniff each other and get to know each other, and see how they do. This is a playgroup environment where dogs need to be socialized and be on good behavior.

Please explain the "ocean view villas."

Nancy: In the ocean views, a salt water aquarium is pressed right up against the glass of the cat window in the villa. It’s constant entertainment, it’s relaxing, it’s soothing. It’s like TV for cats, all day long.

How did you happen to pick West Roxbury for Luxe?

Greg: It’s a great demographic, and a luxury facility was needed around here. We searched all over Greater Boston for about 18 months before we landed a lease. And we were able to get frontage on VFW Parkway, which was pretty amazing. A lot of the kennel-zoned areas are in manufacturing and industrial areas, and you really get off the beaten path with that type of location.

But are there any noise problems, as far as disturbing the pets, being right on the parkway?

Greg: Not at all. You can’t hear it, plus we have the music in the background.

Right, what is that coming out of the speakers?

Nancy: Soothing music, sometimes rainforest sounds or birds or waterfalls.

What are your thoughts on having an ?

Nancy: I think it would be great. It would be so nice to have a place to take your dog off leash and let them be free outside. Granted you hope that the dog owner is responsible. It has to be a fenced-in, controlled environment.

What did you think of the movie “Best in Show?”

Nancy: I love that movie!

Greg: I’ve never seen it.

Nancy: You have to see it.