If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you probably know by now that Henry’s first birthday is right around the corner, so we thought it would be a great time to schedule his first ever groom! Henry has only ever had baths at home, and I’m no groomer. Living in the city, I never really could get him 100% clean, plus he’s not a big fan of the blow dryer. Also, considering how anxious and excited we all know Henry can get, I needed to find the right place that would be able to handle him, that would take their time and of course, make him look fabulous. Needless to say, I was already nervous about the whole thing; I wanted to make sure Smol’s first groom would be a positive experience. Well, when we booked with Doggieville, the luxurious Montreal dog resort, the entire process from start to finish was an absolute dream!

If you ever wished for a dog resort where you could leave your fur-baby for the day, get them groomed, shop for them, enjoy a meal with them AND go swimming with them, look no further than Doggieville Montreal.

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?  That’s because this one-of-a-kind doggie complex is a one-stop shop for all your dog’s needs right near the Lachine Canal—which is so conveniently located for us! You can really tell that DV’s founder and CEO, Tatiana Custode, put so much thought into creating a beautiful, welcoming luxurious dog resort that caters to both dogs and their pawrents. This passion is carried through to her entire team. From the moment we walked in, we knew that Henry was going to be in great hands. In fact, even before heading over there, our initial interactions through Instagram DMs or by email were always very professional, reassuring and offering many helpful details. Each service they offer is named after a pup in the founder’s family: Sam’s Lodge (boarding), Ruby’s Café (restaurant), Chloe’s Spaw (grooming), Lola’s Corner (shopping) and Yoda’s Splash (hydrotherapy). Plus, there are additional services like daycare, an indoor play area and behavioural training. You can even book their venue, Le Lab, for your next doggie event! (HELLO, Henry’s 2nd birthday pawty!)

We had a whole morning planned and boy was Henry in for a treat: a hydrotherapy session at the Yoda’s Splash Pool, followed by a groom at Chloe’s Spaw. When we first arrived, we were greeted by the groomer who took the time to go through all our needs and make sure we set our expectations with her. I really appreciated this, considering how nervous I was. I’ve heard horror stories of groomers accidentally shaving Cavaliers; I think I repeated myself over twenty times that I didn’t want Henry shaved under any circumstances (sorry guys! It was the nerves talking!)

Once Henry ate all the treats—and then some!—and dried off a little, we left him in the trusting hands of the DV crew for his first grooming. We had absolutely no doubt he’d be well looked-after, and we were right. Their behavioural groomers did an outstanding job: upon our return, he came prancing around the corner with the biggest grin on his face, looking so floofy and fresh. We knew the experience had been positive for him. Of course, Henry’s first grooming session was fit for a king. They trimmed his nails and cleaned his ears, gave him not one, but two baths—one for deep cleaning and a second express one—each with natural, environmentally friendly shampoos. This was followed by a blueberry facial—yes, yes, you read that right—which they say is their secret to keeping the puppy kisses smelling amazing (they’re right!) The finishing touches included thoroughly brushing his coat and giving him an overall refreshing trim. He is the softest he’s ever been and smells AMAZING. I’m so glad we opted for trimming his little “grinch paws”, I think this is going to be so much cleaner for us in general, walking in the city, plus I find it makes his paws look like cute little cupcakes! Adorable! You can find their complete list of grooming services and pricing here. 

On top of swimming and grooming, a week earlier, we had the pleasure of attending the launch pawty for Ruby’s Café, their super cute dog-friendly restaurant. Delicious meals and treats (for both humans & dogs!) fill their menu—little preview of what you can expect, below!