D PET HOTELS Scottsdale: A Doggie Daycare Unlike Any Other [PHOTOS]

Like any obsessed dog owner, or “dog mom” as I like to call myself, there are two things that are in the back of my mind every year: 1) Where am I going to board my beast of a dog when we go on our annual vacations? 2) How am I going to keep my dog active and social during the 115-degree Arizona summer? I wouldn’t walk bare feet on concrete in that kind of heat, so I don’t force my dog to, either, but he still needs his exercise. My questions were answered after about five minutes at the new Scottsdale paw-spot, D PET HOTELS.

Founded originally in Hollywood, Calif., D PETS HOTELS Scottsdale owner Lauren DeHorta felt she needed to bring that same quality and care to the Valley of the Sun. The best part is that these five-star, luxury accommodations come at price points that any dog owner can afford.

To get the best idea of what D PET HOTELS has to offer, I brought my beloved Dogue de Bordeaux, Dexter Taco, to the hotel for a trial run. At 125 lbs. of muscle and drool, if there is any dog that can test out a new facility, it’s Dexter. Don’t let the drool fool you; he is also the biggest wimp who suffers from serious separation anxiety when we go on vacation (yes, dogs get separation anxiety), so we are always looking for a place at which he will be happy while we’re gone.

The building itself can’t be missed; along the exterior windows boasts some amazing pet “headshots” by Furtographs. We entered the Registration and D-Boutique area and were immediately greeted by the wonderful staff. They headed straight to Dexter with pets and scratches, which, as a pet mom, is always nice to see. The area is lined with more great photos and everything from specialty food and treats to fancy collars to a car-shaped dog bed.

The Indoor Dog Park

As Dexter sniffed everything in sight, we continued to the indoor dog park, one of my favorite parts. It was already 100 degrees at 9 a.m., so the indoor park was perfect, clean and air-conditioned! There are separate areas depending on your dog’s activity level and each is equipped with everything imaginable that they can jump on, play with, crawl through and lay on. The great part is that the parks are always fully staffed to encourage play, prevent doggie scuffles and clean up any puppy mishaps. Whether your dog is there for just the day or staying for a long vacation, they are in the dog park for much of the day to encourage socialization and to wear them out — so they go to bed happy.

Spend Less, Play More: The Cost

Most of the pet hotels I have been to only allow 40 minutes a day of socialization unless you buy extra time. Here, the day-long adventure at the dog park is included in your day care/boarding fee. The rooms run from $60-$100 a night. This is great for me; I usually spend about $70 a night for Dexter when we go out of town but end up buying additional playtime and toys for him each day, so my daily fees run upwards of $90+. But because the all-day playtime, toys, bedding, etc. is included at D PET HOTELS, I can actually pay less and still get a nicer room for Dexter’s stay as well as more play time.

Relax with Class: The Suites

In addition to the great dog park, they also offer three different types of boarding rooms for your pampered pooch. Each room features its signature, modern styling, but still maintains a comfortable, home-like atmosphere. Their goal in creating the space was to make it feel as little as a kennel as possible, and they wanted to create a relaxing, clean, safe and stress-free environment for the doggie guests.

And they succeeded. Dexter, naturally, has his mother’s taste and took a liking to the aptly-named, Uber Suite. The Uber Suites are 12’x22’ in size and feature a queen bed, snazzy, modern décor and a 42” flat screen TV, so he can watch his favorite movies until he falls asleep. The other rooms are equally as wonderful; the Sensational Suites are 12’x12’ in size and feature a twin bed, the same great decor and a 32” flat screen TV, while the Standard Suites are 4’x9’ and feature a clean and comfortable dog cot and a smaller, flatscreen TV.

Here is the kicker for me: Instead of wire or solid doors on the rooms, each room has a clear door so the rooms feel open — albeit some dogs, like Dexter, might take some time getting used to the door as he did run head first into it. The good news is Dexter has the world’s thickest scull, and the doors are shatterproof. Having adopted Dexter from the Maricopa County Animal Control, I have issues with putting him in small kennels with wire doors that even the nicest pet hotels still use. D PET HOTELS puts those fears aside.

Spas, Chauffuer and More: The Amenities

The icing on the cake is the additional fun items they offer. Don’t have time to drop-off or pick-up your pup? Use its D Chauffeur Services and have your dog driven through town in style. They offer this service in multiple forms; Fido can be driven around in anything from a new Honda Element to a Bentley or a Rolls-Royce. They also offer spa and chef services (for the picky eaters) and will send you updates and pictures of your pet while you are away to keep your mind at ease that your pup is enjoying its vacation at D PET HOTELS.

Our experience from start to finish at D PET HOTELS was incredibly enjoyable, and I hope they look forward to seeing Dexter again when he returns as an overnight guest during Christmas this year.

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View photos of Dexter’s trip to D PET HOTELS Scottsdale:

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