Dogs make friends fur ever at day care

A thriving Mount Maunganui business is rushed off its feet providing luxury shampoo and conditioning treatments, grooming and spa treatments.
But it's not women, or even men, who are feeling the benefits of this extra TLC but pampered pooches.
Tatiana Fleury's business, Showdogs, has thrived since it moved from a home-based dog grooming business run out of her garage to a commercial premises in February.
The business is a full-service dog grooming and day care facility, as well as a boutique selling doggie outfits including bling-bling collars, jeans and dresses.
With brightly coloured murals painted on the walls and plenty of play equipment and pillows, Showdogs' day care centre isn't too different from any other - except this one is for fur-babies.
Owner Tatiana Fleury is just 28 but opening Showdogs is a goal she's been working towards for the last 16 years.
The Brazilian import first began working with dogs at 12, when she helped at her family's dog grooming and dog training company.
By the time she was 16 she had three grooming certificates and she's been developing her skills and talents ever since.
She's studying towards a masters certificate in dog grooming and regularly travels to Australia to keep up with international trends in the field.
It's fair to say that running Showdogs is a dream come true for this dog lover, who is "mum" to labrador Boss.
"I can say I am very passionate and I love what I do.
"I always wanted to do this, it's not something I decided yesterday. I think that's a gift.
"I came to New Zealand seven years ago thinking about opening a franchise of my brother's business [in Brazil], then when I decided to stay here, I just followed my dream."
Some of the international dog grooming trends - like painting a dog to look like a horse - are unlikely to take off here.
"I think the people in the Mount are a bit cruisy for that," Tatiana laughed.
But Bay dog owners are happy to send their pooches to day care and spend up to $100 on "the full works" to get their dog groomed.
Pets played an important role in many people's lives, she said.
"A lot of people just have their dogs - they don't have anyone else, the dog is their best mate.
"Lots of people can't have kids, [so] they are getting dogs. People that break off a relationship get a dog, because they are your best friend."
Although Tatiana started the business specialising in grooming, she soon added the day care facility. "Some people don't have the time to take the dogs for a walk if the weather is bad and they end up having hyper dogs at home," she said.
"They also like the dogs to socialise - they come here and get along with other dogs.
"They love it - the owners say when they don't come, they sulk at home."
When the doors open in the morning, regular clients are sitting by the door ready to start their play date, which includes a walk once or twice a day.
Tatiana knows all the dogs' names and personalities and there's plenty of rough and tumble fun.
While day care "clients" are from Tauranga, the grooming side of the business attracts people from as far away as Auckland and Wellington.
"I have lots of clients from out of town - they come to visit family and groom the dog. I have [other] people that travel especially to see me."
Summer is the busiest time, as the Bay's population swells with tourists, and the business grooms at least 100 dogs a week.
While dog grooming is gaining in popularity, New Zealand is still a long way behind Brazil, where it's "big business".
Brazilian dog owners take their dogs to a groomer every week, she said, whereas in New Zealand her clients had six-weekly appointments.
The business, which also employs two fulltime and one part-time staff member, is growing rapidly.
Tatiana hopes to one day open a kennel facility, which she envisions as a "spa and resort" for dogs.
Showdogs is a happy place and one of the requirements of the job is to leave your problems at the door.
"The animals pick up on your energy, if you are grumpy they will be grumpy, that's 100 per cent true. You need to come to work happy."
Tatiana lives and breathes dogs, so it is lucky for her she's marrying a man who loves animals as much as she does.
Bryce, a plasterer, is also a qualified dog trainer. "I've got the right partner, because being with me, it's a dog's life," Tatiana laughed.
FIVE THINGS ABOUT TATIANA:
- Her labrador Boss will be the ringbearer at her wedding in March.
- She's from Brazil but has lived in New Zealand for seven years after following one of her three brothers here.
- She first began working with dogs at the age of 12 when she helped at her family's dog grooming and dog training company.
- She is into online networking and has a "dogblog" and Facebook page for her business. - She's passionate about her work and feels lucky to know her calling.