POSTED: Monday, Sep. 21, 2009

Dogs live the good life at Lap of Luxury

Each week The Bellingham Herald takes a closer look at a business. This week: Lap of Luxury.

What it is: Lap of Luxury is a dog spa that provides warm water therapy using a hydrotherapy pool built just for dogs.

Ownership: Carrie Lane and her husband, John, opened the business in February 2009.

Employees: One.

Clients: Pet owners bring their dogs to Lap of Luxury for a variety of reasons, Lane said. Some dogs have physical ailments, others are just learning how to swim and some are training for upcoming competitions. Lane also works with senior dogs that aren't able to take long walks or exercise normally.

"I have the best clients in the world," Lane said. "These people love their dogs and would do anything for their dogs."

Lane said she has worked with all different breeds - from a Great Pyrenees to a 2-pound Chihuahua. One of Lane's most memorable clients was a bulldog named Billy Jo that was brought in to lose some weight. Billy Jo was afraid of the water; she would visibly shake, Lane said. Her owner continued to bring her twice a week, and after some coaxing, she learned to love the water. Now when that reception door opens to the pool room, Billy Jo runs in and belly flops into the pool.

What makes it different: The pool is multi-leveled so Lane, who is trained in canine aquatic therapy and is certified in small animal massage, can perform massage and bodywork during the session. The in-ground pool has a gradual slope and is 5-foot-6-inches at its deepest level. The concrete floor around the pool is heated so it feels good on a dog's paws. During each session, meditative music is played through the spa's speaker system.

Unlike most dog spas, Lap of Luxury was built for dogs from the ground up, Lane said. Many other spas were places with pools that were converted into dog spas, but Lap of Luxury has always been about the dogs, she said. The spa was designed to be a stress-free environment; dogs never see each other while coming in and out of sessions. Dogs are brought in to the front reception area where they wait until it is their turn in the pool. After their session is over, they leave through a back exit. "This reduces the opportunity for dogs to see other dogs and get amped up and get stressed," Lane said.

Lap of Luxury

644 Pangborn Road

Lynden, WA 98264

360-354-1212

E-mail: K9LapofLuxury@aol.com

K9LapofLuxury.com