Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Cottingham.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rob. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I worked in sales leadership for Fortune 150 companies for over 20 years but I grew tired of working in Corporate America. I wanted to do something more meaningful and enjoyable. I had been a consumer of overnight dog boarding/doggy daycare services for over 20 years with my own dogs and thought I could add something unique to the industry by improving the customer experience and adding VIP Concierge Services.
My dogs have always been my children and I believe every dog is special and deserves to be treated like family. I started Underdog Kennels in the fall of 2014 to do just that. It is a locally owned, family-run business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has been one of the toughest things I have ever done! As any small business owner can tell you, it’s extremely demanding and 80 hour work weeks are common. We never close… we’re open 365 days per year taking care of our guests, but it’s also been unbelievably rewarding. We have been blessed to have the nicest customers who sing our praises to their friends, family, and co-workers. Our business has grown primarily through word of mouth and referrals.
Since we’ve opened, we have had 3 expansions adding more rooms to accommodate our growing demand. Our facility is 9,200 square feet indoors with over 16,000 square feet of outdoor play area. Today we have 97 rooms for overnight dog boarding.
Our goal is to open a second location in DFW within the next 2 years!
Please tell us about Underdog Kennels LLC.
Underdog Kennels offers a variety of accommodations for Overnight Dog Boarding ranging from spacious private rooms to Luxury Private VIP Suites with full-size toddler beds, flat screen TVs playing DOG TV (programming scientifically designed to reduce separation anxiety in dogs) and each suite has a unique theme because we believe every dog has a unique personality – so we have a Princess Suite, a Hunter Suite, a Super Hero Suite, a Minion Suite, a Diva Suite, etc.
We have a Room Service Menu serving grilled Grass-fed Ribeye Steaks, Atlantic Salmon Fillets and Boneless Chicken Breasts and Frosty Paws Doggy Ice Cream for dessert.
We also have the SAFEST Doggy Daycare in Dallas! We Temperament Test all guests who wish to play in Doggy Daycare to ensure they are DOG-FRIENDLY and then our guests are divided up into different play groups based on a combination of size, age, play style and temperament to ensure they will be in a playgroup where they’ll have fun and be safe.
We ALWAYS have multiple Doggy Daycare Attendants overseeing each playgroup at all times. The health and safety of our guests is our primary concern!
Our Doggy Daycare is structured based on the latest Dog Behavioral Research which shows our dogs are much like small children toddler age or slightly older. Most dogs who are left in an open playgroup all day long will become over-stimulated. This over-stimulation contributes to aggression and exhaustion.
For this reason, our Doggy Daycare is structured so each playgroup goes out and plays together for 45 minutes to an hour three times per day and then has restful nap times in the comfort and privacy of their own rooms in between their play sessions. This also compliments their natural circadian rhythms (body clocks) as dogs are intended to take multiple restful naps throughout the day.
We have over 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor Doggy Daycare play space at Under Dog Kennels. Our indoor play area is climate controlled and it’s where we play when it’s too hot, too cold or too rainy to play outside, but weather permitting, we prefer to play outside in the fresh air! We have jungle gym type play equipment for the pups to climb and explore.
Outside we have multiple Doggy Daycare play yards. One is an all-natural turf grass play area sodded with St. Augustine turf for the summer and seeded with Rye Grass seed for the winter so we have natural green grass all year round and our other outdoor play yard includes wading pools on all warm days (over 80 degrees) so we also have a Splash Park for our water-loving breeds!
Special VIP programs are available for older dogs who like a slower pace or shy dogs who prefer human playmates to four-legged ones. We also offer Private Playtime where your pup can play Fetch, Tug, receive a relaxing Massage, Tummy Rubs and or Story Time.
Our dedication to treating each and every guest like family has earned us an outstanding reputation and keeps us SOLD OUT for all holidays.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in North Dakota enjoying very cold and snowy winters. Playing outdoor hockey with my older brother every day during our 2 week Christmas break is my favorite childhood memory!
Pricing:
- Doggy Daycare $26 per day – (Frequent Player Packages can lower price to $20 per day)
- VIP Suite Overnight Dog Boarding $55 per night (includes doggy daycare)
- Regular Room Overnight Dog Boarding $42 per night (includes doggy daycare)
- Grooming Baths range from $20 – $50 depending on size of dog (nail trims, teeth brushing and ear cleaning extra)
- Room Service Grilled Grass-fed Ribeye Steak $7
- Room Service Grilled Atlantic Salmon Fillet $6
- Room Service Grill Boneless Chicken Breast $5
Contact Info:
- Address: 7129 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75235 - Website:www.underdog-kennels.com
- Phone:214-267-BARK (2275)
- Email:info@underdog-kennels.com
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Underdog.Kennels.Dallas
- Yelp:https://www.yelp.com/biz/underdog-kennels-dallas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
