HAUTE DOGS

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  A convivial canine get-together at The Pet Lover's Hut in Chhattarpur in Delhi. Pix: JAGAN NEGI

It's an unrelenting afternoon in Delhi and the mercury has soared to the mid-40s (we're talking Celsius, of course). Everyone in the capital is reeling under the spell of record-breaking heat — except for Polo, a big Labrador, his new friend Tintin, a cocker spaniel, and Nefertiti, another Labrador, who have a plan to knock the blistering heat for a six. One after another, they take huge leaps into the air and dive straight into the inviting waters of the huge swimming pool.

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  Proprietor Kuldeep Chauhan with two of the dogs in his charge; Pix: JAGAN NEGI

Welcome to the world of five-star luxury resorts for pets — complete with mandatory swimming pools. Polo is the Top Dog at Canine Elite, a luxury resort for pets complete with boarding and lodging facilities that's spread over three acres in Mehrauli on the outskirts of Delhi. It's a temporary home that's a bit like a luxury hotel for about 50 dogs of all shapes and sizes and some 30 feline personages. Polo, incidentally, belongs to the facility's owner, Sonya Kochhar, and he acts as a head prefect of sorts to the other dogs. 'He acts as a playmate, takes care of other dogs and makes sure that there are no fights,' says Kochhar.

A few miles down the road in Gurgaon is an elite pet facility of a slightly different kind. Alfa 11 is spread over six acres and specialises in taking care of aggressive dogs. But even if Rover, Bonzo or Bruno have been biting the neighbours, or even the hand that feeds them, they can be assured of great treatment at Alfa 11. For, they'll be offered full-size, air-conditioned rooms (complete with a bed and a couch), a large swimming pool and swings for recreation. The dogs also get to chill out on a sprawling lawn that comes complete with a seating area for them.

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  A canine plays ball. Pix: JAGAN NEGI

'Dogs need to experience both human and animal socialisation so that they can channelise their energies in the right direction,' says dog behaviourist Rajesh Bhatt, who runs Alfa 11 and did his training in animal therapy and training in Germany.

Anyone who's ever had a pet will know the difficulties of finding a place to board the animal or bird when they're going on holiday. But for some affluent pet owners ordinary kennels are simply not good enough for their precious beasts. And this is where luxury facilities like Canine Elite and The Pawsh in Pune come into the picture. 'At any given point we do not board more than 15 animals. We wanted to create a space where we know that our own pets will be happy,' says Tanya Kane, who, along with Neha Jangle, set up The Pawsh.

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  Some dogs are trained to jump through hoops as part of their exercise routines. Pix: JAGAN NEGI

The facilities on offer for these upmarket pets are, of course, everything and more than what the animals could conceivably want when they're away from home. 'We have a 10,000sqft open play area, beanbag beds and fully air-conditioned kennels with climate control panels,' says Shravan Krishnan, who runs Hotel for Dogs, a one-of-its-kind facility in Chennai. The outfit can accommodate up to 30 dogs.

The Pawsh also ensures that pets get a chance to rest in comfort. There are separate rooms for each dog with each room carefully decorated and fitted with the mandatory lights and fans. There's even an outdoor verandah attached to each room, where the dogs can come out and relax. For extra-delicate or comfort-loving pets, there are air-conditioned rooms on request.

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  The dogs splash about in the pool at Canine Elite in Mehrauli on the outskirts of Delhi. Pix: JAGAN NEGI

Keeping in shape is important for these animals — just as it might be for their masters and mistresses. So, the canine retreats make sure they keep the dog well-exercised. 'A normal day for a boarder starts at 5am,' says Kochhar. 'Once they've eaten, they get to play together and run around. Some dogs are put through the paces of agility exercises like jumping through big hoops, ladders and other obstacles to keep the dogs in shape.'

In addition, some dogs that have injuries or weaknesses are given special treatments like hydrotherapy sessions. 'These sessions are important for dogs with problems like dislocated hip joints, etc., as the therapy helps them recover fast,' adds Kochhar.

Similarly, The Pet Lover's Hut in Chhattarpur — spread over 2,500sqft — is a farmhouse with four rooms with coolers and one air-conditioned room. 'We can accommodate around 30-40 dogs and the male, female and aggressive dogs are housed separately,' says owner Kuldeep Chauhan. A big lawn and a swimming pool keep the dogs busy. Says Chauhan: 'We also have a TV room for the dogs and, trust me, they love to watch Cartoon Network!'

As any holidaymaker will testify, holidays at luxury resorts are all about good food. So The Pawsh, for instance, offers tailor-made menus with extra treats like toasted bread with butter and other goodies. Says Kane: 'We also have a festive menu that includes treats like meatloaf, pizzas, sushi and cupcakes.'

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  A Labrador gets the works at pet spa The Pawsh, Pune

At Canine Elite, too, pets are indul-ged with their favourite delicacies. Says Kochhar: 'We provide both home-coo-ked as well as commercial food to guests as their owners specify. Sometimes we get requests like feeding their pets chicken tikkas from a specific shop!'

The Pawsh goes one step further and calls itself a one-stop destination for everything that a pampered pet might need. So, there's a string of facilities from boarding to grooming and from training to nutritional advice. Besides, The Pawsh has tied up with the 5th Sense Clinic, which offers veterinary facilities. And, at its Salon & Spa, a dog or cat can be given luxurious bath, styling treatments and even great massages.

Canine Elite, true to its name, offers grooming services like nail clipping, bathing, ear cleaning, etc. Each dog in installed in a temperature-controlled kennel of its own and felines live in pretty and decorated catteries. There are CCTVs and 30 staffers keep a close watch on the pets.

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  The day’s special menu at the spa

Believe it or not, but Canine Elite organises pool parties and even theme parties for the animals and their owners. 'The pets wear dresses designed by our in-house designers. It's a like a big get-together of the pets and their owners. This helps in human socialisation, which is very important for the sanity of pets,' says Kochhar, who is a devoted animal lover, has 10 dogs of her own and comes armed with a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from Auckland University.

In Chennai, Krishnan also does a monthly event to bring different dogs and owners together. 'We've had a beach party and a pool party. This month we are planning an obstacle race for the dogs and their owners,' says Krishnan.

At Alfa 11, Bhatt specialises in taking on troublesome and aggressive dogs and it's a point of honour for him that the animals are never on a leash here. Some of his dogs are permanent or semi-permanent residents and there's even an open kitchen that becomes operational over the weekend for get-togethers with the owners.

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  Four-legged guests are persuaded into the pool at the Hotel for Dogs in Chennai

A South African Mastiff has been with him for three years. Says Bhatt: 'His owner brought him here from Goa. The dog is so aggressive that at one point the owner wanted to put him to sleep. We also offer package deals for those who want to keep their pets here forever.'

Bhatt has two of his own dogs who help to train the other canines. He says: 'I have a Jack Russell Terrier, who is a swimming instructor and acts as a playmate, and a Malinois to keep the dogs in check.' He also has several dogs from the embassies and has to organise special diets for them. Says Bhatt: 'These dogs have different commercial dog food requirements. So, their owners import the food and we feed the dogs with it.'

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  Proprietor Rajesh Bhatt playing with one of the dogs in his charge at Alfa 11 in Delhi. Pix: JAGAN NEGI

On a slightly different note from Alfa 11, The Pawsh doesn't encourage long stays. Says Kane: 'We generally don't recommend that people board their dogs longer than one month. We don't board cats for more than 10 days, especially if the cat is an outdoor cat.'

And since many owners cannot bear to be separated from their pets, Kochhar keeps sending the videos and photos of the pets daily via Whatsapp. She says: 'I make sure to keep the clients updated about their pets every single day.'

Inevitably, all these services don't come cheap. Canine Elite charges Rs 1,200 plus taxes per day. That includes a pick-up and drop. Says Kochhar: 'All you have to do is fill in a form and leave your much-loved pooch with us.' Similarly, Alfa 11 charges Rs 1,000 a day (exclusive of taxes) for small dogs and Rs 1,500 per day for puppies up to five months and big dogs. It also gives a pick-up and drop facility.