Indoor dog park getting on its legs

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/05/2011 (5490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mandy Krivoshea always figured she would start up her own business, but never thought she’d be on the cusp of opening Winnipeg’s first indoor dog park.

The 26-year-old Wolseley resident is about a month away from finishing up converting a 6,000-sq. ft. warehouse on St. James Street into Sophie’s Dognasium.

“I always actually thought I’d start my own business, but I always thought it’d be a restaurant because I’ve worked in restaurants since I could work,” said Krivoshea, cradling her two-year-old Chihuahua/miniature Pinscher cross Sophie in her arms.

“But then I got her, and things started to change.”

Krivoshea said the concept came to her two summers ago after wanting to take her dog outside to play on a rainy day. Her brother suggested the idea of an indoor park, and Krivoshea enrolled in some business classes to give the idea legs.

“There are indoor dog parks in other places in Canada, there’s one in Toronto and a few in the States, so it’s not an absolutely new idea,” she admitted, adding the concept makes sense with Winnipeg’s long winters and increasingly wetter summers.

“I just wanted to have a safe place for dogs to come.”

Inside the vast warehouse, the walls are painted blue, and fluffy clouds form the shapes of dog paws and bones. Fences are scattered about, along with ramps and an obstacle course.

Krivoshea’s friend Mike Dudgeon has lent his hammer and carpentry skills to help build and paint the place.

“I think it’s coming along great,” said the River Heights resident, adding that a dry run with 20 dog owners the other week proved successful.

“The dogs never looked happier, the owners were happy, and not worried about having their dogs off their leash and getting away.”

Krivoshea added she still has to install more flooring, add a few benches to add, finish painting, and turn steel beams into trees to make the park feel more outdoorsy before opening. The park will be sectioned off to help keep little and big dogs apart, she said.

Monthly memberships with unlimited visits will run about $180, Krivoshea said. A one-time visit will cost $10, or visitors can purchase a 10-visit pass for $80.

Launching in the spring when the weather is nicer and the outdoor dog parks dry off won’t be much of a hindrance, she hopes.

“I almost think it might work out in my favour,” she said. “Just so that I’m not swamped right at the beginning. A nice, slow start into the fall to get out all the kinks before the winter hits when I’ll obviously be the busiest.”

Once the business is established, Krivoshea plans to add a grooming service and a doggy daycare.
“I really want to make this a one-stop shop for dogs,” she said.

For more information, visit www.sophiesdognasium.com.

matt.preprost@canstarnews.com