Meet the DPA 2024 winners: Reservoir Doggy Resort & Spa
Earlier this year Reservoir Doggy Resort & Spa in Ripley, Derbyshire, won the Dog Professionals Awards 2024 for Best Pool and Best Boarding Facility. This week we catch up with owner Maria Smithem to discuss the company’s success.
Can you tell us about your business and the services it offers?
Our business stands out from other boarding facilities as we offer dogs a real doggy holiday. Someone recently described us as doggy centre parks. The suites are luxury with air conditioning and televisions. We play our guests music and set up activities throughout the day.
We have an indoor heated swimming pool with doggy boats and life jackets, an indoor play centre called The Doggy Arcade with a ball pit, soft play and an area to relax.
We have freedom fields and The Doggy Jungle which is lots of castles and tunnels for the dogs to climb and adventure. We have our sand arena at 40m x 20m which is our very own beach, this is a big hit with the dogs they just love it.
Then we have our agility course and Little doggy football pitch. We’re always thinking of lots of ideas to add on. Owners like to come and hire the pool for private swim sessions with their dogs.
How many people do you employ?
We’re a family run business but employ our friends who have always supported the dream as they love the dogs as much as we do. There is 10 of us that make the dream a reality.
How did you get into the industry?
Just over eight years ago our children were playing with our dogs in the hot tub and the dogs were loving it I must admit. One of the children asked if dogs could go on holiday and I said yes, however in a young child’s mind holiday is the beach and the seaside. I looked at boarding facilities and I couldn’t find one that represented that idea, so I got to work and created the ideal holiday for dogs.
Our sand arena represents the beach and the pool represents the sea. With all the different activities and luxury suites it’s a holiday for all dogs. We have something for all ages and sizes.
Why do you think you were chosen as award winners?
I think we were chosen as winners for the pool as it stands out for cleanliness. We have changing facilities and a wet room to shower off, we even allow people the use of our grooming room and we clean after every use. We like everything to be white so ever gone can see how clean it is. We provide toys, doggy boats, life jackets, even shampoo and conditioner for dogs and humans. We have safety matting throughout and it’s all private.
I think we were chosen as winners for the dog boarding facility as we offer so much more than what the standard boarding facility offers. We go the extra mile to provide and care for each guest individually. We even send regular updates every morning, dinner and afternoon privately to each individual owner.
Cleanliness is paramount for us so we like to clean several times a day. We really do try our absolute best and give our all to making every dogs holiday dreams come true.
Do you have any advice for other pet professionals?
My advice for any pet business would be follow your dreams anything and everything is possible. Always think outside the box and no idea is a daft idea. What we have found is our daft ideas are the most loved and enjoyed by the dogs our guests. The ball pit is a huge hit with the dogs they can’t get enough of it.
What are your future plans for your business?
Our future plans are to build an onsite veterinary practice as my eldest daughter is studying to be a veterinary nurse. We have some plans and ideas creating for a splash pad so we will see what 2025 brings to us at Reservoir Doggy Resort & Spa.
