BY Janet McAfee
Are you and Fido missing out on trips to the dog park now that the scorching desert summer heat has arrived? Do you have a friendly, social dog? Would you like to play with your dog in a cool and fun environment? Come visit Venus de Fido, a unique new business in Palm Desert, a health and wellness luxury spa for pets and people unlike no other.
As summer temperatures make playing outside stressful for pups and humans, the beautiful climate-controlled indoor dog park at Venus de Fido offers a variety of fun and healthy hactivities. With the ambiance and décor of an Italian village, the park is the perfect setting for monitored play groups, dog training classes, doggie birthday parties, doggie day care, “Fido and You Fitness” classes, and “Dine with Your Dog.”
My dog, Enzo Ferrari, had a wonderful time working out with me at a FIDO AND YOU FITNESS class at Venus de Fido. He bounced with doggie joy as we made our way through the ten exercise stations, beaming with pride as he finally took a break after skillfully running through the Ladder exercise. Enzo excelled at standing on the balancing ball, learning to feel comfortable in unstable situations. At the next station, the human lift weights while the pup does a modified dog walk up the specially designed staircase.
Tabitha Davies, the facility’s friendly certified dog trainer, is the instructor for the training classes and Fido and You Fitness. She explains, “I designed Fido and You Fitness with the goal of fostering mental and physical enrichment activities that increase the bond people have with their dog. Humans get a work out, while their dogs gain physical stamina and increase their confidence. Our class accommodates all levels of physical ability. All participating dogs are temperament tested and have updated vaccinations and rabies shots to ensure everyone’s health and safety.”
Looking for a cool place to relax and dine with Fido midday? Their new “Dine With Your Dog” program is offered every day of the week from 11AM – 2PM. The Cafe at Venus De Fido serves delicious drinks and tasty breakfast and lunch fare. Their menu features fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, bagels, salads, and a variety of fresh sandwiches and wraps. When you purchase a meal at the café, bring along your dog and dine in the lovely dog park for $5. Or you can bypass the meal, and enjoy the park with Fido for $10.
Kelly Rose-Groves, Fido Services Director, welcomes you to come in for a tour. She enthusiastically explains, “Venus de Fido is the new “IT” place for Coachella Valley dog lovers. I love giving guests a tour and seeing their facial expressions upon walking them into our indoor air-conditioned dog park. Lovingly named Fido’s Forum, our dog park was inspired by the Forum shops in Las Vegas, and it’s a sight to be seen! From the clouds in the sky, to the neighborhood façade complete with a full wall countryside mural painted by local artist Keith Blum, you think you’ve been transported to a beautiful Italian café and park. We have open hourly dog park play sessions pretty much every hour of the business day.”
In addition, Venus de Fido has doggie daycare services, private and group training classes, dog grooming, and a lovely dog retail shop. The humans are relegated to the right side of the 27,000 square-foot spa where they can indulge in a massage, facial, gym workout, or bask in the healing salt cave. Venus de Fido is quickly becoming the centerpiece of our Coachella Valley pet-loving community.
Like them on Facebook, and check out their website www.venusdefido.com for special events and programs. Call (760)834-7070 for information about memberships and day-use costs. Venus de Fido is located at 73-600 Alessandro Drive in Palm Desert. The pups give this palatial venue a 5-star “Woof”!
Jmcafee7@verizon.net
