“In the Dog House” has moved!

“In the Dog House” has moved!

By Cynda Green

Shhhh!  Don’t tell anyone.  Yet.

Just like the Colts slipped out of Baltimore, Marnie George’s “In the Dog House” day care, training and boarding business has left its spacious facility on Great West Avenue and has relocated about six miles south of Pagosa Boulevard to Marnie’s residence in Aspen Springs.

I was privy to this information a week ago.  My dog Cody was boarding at “In the Doghouse” while I was in Annapolis, Maryland.  I received a phone call from Marnie on May 5.  “We’re moving today!” she said.  The reason:  overhead expenses.  A much too typical Pagosa scenario.

I was surprised and a little concerned because now my dog Cody was being transferred to some place that hadn’t received my seal of approval.  But I figured he’d roll with the punches.  He did.  He even got to sleep in Marnie and Mike’s bedroom because he is such a good boy and a people person dog.  More person than dog, I might add.

Marnie George, for those readers who haven’t met her, bubbles with enthusiasm when she talks about anything dogs, and has the knowledge and experience to back that enthusiasm.  Marnie is dedicated to improving dogs’ lives through behavioral training, obedience, exercise and canine sports, and a lot of love.  She fosters and rehabilitates dogs that were to be  euthanized.

“In the Dog House” will reopen, Marnie hopes, by June 1.  The property has 2.5 fenced acres and is projected to have 5 fenced acres for the dogs to romp and run in. A grassy agility/training/obedience field is planned.  Marnie’s insulated garage is being converted to a boarding facility that is heated and cooled.

The dogs at the new “In the Dog House” location get to go on a morning and afternoon hike in the national forest that is adjacent to the property.  That’s one or two hours of hiking each day, depending on the dog.  This exercise is integral to their good behavior.  Cody was happy and well exercised when I picked him up.

The dogs in day care and boarding don’t spend time in enclosed kennels.  Marnie and the dogs go everywhere as a pack.  “It’s like a home,” she said.

Marnie is a defender of dogs’ rights.  Her daycare facility is actually a training day care, and she is only interested in caring for dogs with involved owners.  “My day care is not a dumping ground for neglected dogs,” Marnie said.   “You have to invest in your dog.  Dogs have needs that need to be met.  You can train all day long but if training isn’t continued when they go home, the dog will not generalize the training and they will lose it.”

Lucky is the dog, and the dog’s owner, that gets to spend time in the dog house with Marnie.

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Posted by normvance on May 13 2011. Filed under Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.