AWARD-WINNING DAY CARE OFFERS ‘PAWSOME’ FUN FOR POOCHES

If Carlsberg did dog care, then it would probably look like Bruce’s Doggy Day Care, the award-winning company that promises to unleash the happiness of your four-legged friend in a fun and caring environment.

A Lifeline IT client, Bruce’s was founded in 2008 by dog-lover Bruce Casalis and it now has five centres across Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Kent.

We speak to marketing director Leah Hill to find out more about what makes the business so special for dogs and their owners.

How did Bruce’s Doggy Day Care come about?

Our founder Bruce has always been a lifetime dog owner and lover – since his early days as a toddler when he was found sleeping in a crate with a litter of puppies, he’s been genuinely passionate about making dogs happier.

He began with a dog walking service, which he used as an opportunity to canvass dog owners on Clapham Common with home printed business cards and a simple survey asking their views on dog day care. From this, he went on to launch the first Bruce’s Doggy Day Care 12 years ago in the Surrey countryside with the aim of unleashing happiness and enriching the lives of every dog and their families.

We’re the UK’s recognised leader in doggy day care. Bruce also sits on the board of directors for the Pet Industry Federation and has acted as an adviser for DEFRA, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA.

What’s a typical day for dogs at Bruce’s?

We match individual dogs to the best group based on their size and play style, and make sure they get up to eight hours off the lead fun, as well as 1-2-1 expert care.

All dogs enjoy a full day of enriching activities – everything from agility adventures and nature trails through to ‘hide and treat’ obstacle courses and a ‘sniffing safari’. And for those wanting to chill there’s the ‘zen garden’, which helps encourage relaxation and calm, and at the end of the day there’s a warm home-time bath for muddy pooches!

What makes Bruce’s special?

We really do care about the dogs and our aim is to give them the best experience. We take the time with every dog to understand what will be fun and enriching for them, as every dog is different. We have a lot of regulars who have been with us for over 10 years which is testament to the great experience dogs have with us.

We also offer sleepovers for when owners are away and we have an on-site grooming salon. And our ‘doggy bus’ service goes as far as London to pick up dogs form their homes and bring them to our Surrey centres.

What about dogs who may struggle to socialise and get involved in the activities?

Here at Bruce’s we would never make any dog do anything they don’t want to. It’s about finding what’s right for them. Our Head of Enrichment, Louise, came to us from the Dogs Trust and she does a lot of 1-2-1 work on behaviour and structured play.

How have you been affected by COVID-19 and lockdown?

In the first lockdown in March, we stayed open for dogs of key workers and now in the second lockdown, we are fully open. Although more people are working from home, they still want their dogs to come to us as they get so much out of it. We’re also taking on new customers and we have organised special ‘virtual tours’ so people can see what we’re all about. To find out more go to www.brucesdoggydaycare.co.uk.