City's new canine crèche offers bark and ride service for dogs

IT sounds like a barking mad venture but two businesswomen are hoping to prove that every dog has its day (care) with the opening of the Capital's first canine crèche.

Pooch-loving entrepreneurs Sally Maxwell-Forbes, 46, and Sarah McLean, 35, have decided to open the city's first 9am-5pm daily dog-sitting service, complete with a "Bark and Ride" pick-up option.

Every day the dog-minding duo will collect the dogs from their homes for a day of fun and games at the Citidogs Crche in Colinton, before dropping them off after their masters finish work.

The dogs get multiple walks every day in the Pentlands and after exercise sessions they can chill out in the relaxation zone, complete with leather sofas and a range of gadgets including ropes, balls and chew toys. In summer they will be able to bathe in a paddling pool.

The pampered pooches will reside in the home of either business partner during their stay, although the pair have set a limit of 40 dogs at a time. The crche is set to open on 1 March.

Miss Maxwell-Forbes, who has a golden retriever called Molly, said: "When I was working I always worried about leaving my dog at home. There was no such thing as drinks after work or weekends away because the personal angst and guilt I felt after leaving Molly was huge.

"So myself and fellow animal-lover Sarah decided to make a career out of caring for dogs in a crche set-up with a family feel.

"It is not just about fun and games. We are committed to giving dogs a lot of exercise and we will take them to the vets for all their boosters or any treatments they need. We also pick them up and take them home."

As well as a menu which includes 15 different foods to choose from, there is also a selection of grooming options.

Unruly paws or shaggy hair can be dealt with through treatments including pedicures, baths and hair styling.

The service, priced at 15 per day, compares to daily childcare costs of about 30 to 40 at a city crche.

So far the pair have signed up 26 dogs to the crche. If all goes well they intend to set up a second unit in June, which will also offer puppy obedience training.

Miss Maxwell-Forbes said: "We think people are getting excited about the business.

"Although we want the crche to be our livelihood, as dog lovers we're more concerned with making sure dogs are happy and banishing doggy depression, which often seems to develop when people leave them at home.

"We're already talking to a landowner about building a second dog house soon."