Resort pups enjoy one of the canine jungle gyms provided for exercise. Plus there are trails to explore and plenty of space to run and romp.
hat’s up with the dogs?" friends from more Northern locations have been known to ask when visiting our Virginia home. They just can’t understand why dogs accompany their owners everywhere around here, whether to work, to attend a party, or to walk the land enjoying its beauty. I can’t resist telling them about my neighbor who takes his quartet of Jack Russells to the oh-so-proper tea hosted annually by the Warrenton Antiquarian Society. Nike, Gaia, Buster, and Sparta are introduced to all the other (human) guests as if they were equals.
So it is only fit and proper that a magazine celebrating the Piedmont should have a regular department celebrating the Pets of the Piedmont. And the first essay is all about dogs.
Like most pet owners, my wife and I always have a hard time dropping off our two terriers for a stay at a kennel. No matter how warm and welcoming the owner seems, no matter how well cooled in the summer or protected against chills in the winter, no matter how fresh-smelling and clean the facility, we’re still talking cages with cement floors. Wracked with guilt when we leave the terriers behind, we imagine them in a canine version of Alcatraz.
There is, however, an alternative. Located in the farming community of Catlett in southern Fauquier County, Top Dog Resort offers something different: just what its name implies. For canines who qualify, owners Linda and Don Lecher offer a unique boarding experience with a loving family devoted to providing good care. Along with the other four-legged guests and the Lecher’s own four lap dogs, your dog will have the run of the Lecher’s home. Well, at least the first floor. And with nearly three acres of well-fenced yard, your pet will get plenty of exercise.
Canine obstacle courses offer diversion. Kiddy pools with water allow the dogs to splash and play, Together with a large variety of toys in organized play areas, there are trails for dogs to explore while running and romping.
The interior of the Lecher home is also dog-friendly. Stools or low tables are placed near each window so that the dogs can enjoy a “leg up” to see what’s going on outside. Numerous doggy beds and sofas offer comfortable rest and relaxation. Indoor play areas and toys provide entertainment. And, of course, the pups have each other for company.
Before accepting a dog as a resort guest, the Lechers carefully evaluate whether or not the dog will fit in. Certain restrictions apply. For instance, dogs cannot weigh more than 25 pounds. “We were concerned that larger dogs might intimidate the smaller ones,” says Don. He also points out that many smaller dogs don’t do well in a traditional kennel setting.
Prospective resort dogs are carefully evaluated to determine if their personalities are appropriate to the resort’s social interaction. No fighting allowed! Guests must also be house-trained and well-mannered. No chewing on carpets! The Lechers also want to know if a dog is a digger or a climber of fences.
As is the case with any boarding situation, pet owners must have documentation that all vaccine protection is current. Additionally, all dogs must be neutered or spayed. A detailed questionnaire is required so the Lechers have a clear picture of your pup’s needs, especially nutritional ones.
