Page 8 - BSB_8_24

8www.bsbhighlights.comAugust 2024K9 Country Club:aMore thanTrainingAcademyfor Your DogDock Diving all year at K9 Country Club’s Splash ZoneExpansion of the training program begins this August with a new 5,000 sqft indoor training facility. It has always been Catherine’s goal to make K9 Country Club an Olympic style training facility for dog sports. What better time to open a new sports facility than during the Summer Olympics!K9 Country Club’s commitment extends beyond pet care. Through Catherine’s Service Dog Training program, K9SWAT.org, and her role as Executive Director of the non- profit Paws in Prison, she leverages the club’s resources and her expertise to train service dogs for military veterans and run a rehabilitative training program for women inmates in Lockhart, Texas. These programs prove her belief that compassion, rehabilitation, and giving back go hand in hand.Catherine’s Service Dog Training program leverages the club’s resources for military veterans and rehabilitative services.In sum, if you want your pet to experience their own vacation at a one-of-a-kind private playground, consider K9 Country Club. It’s a place where pets can enjoy luxurious care and diverse activities, under the care and guidance of two sisters who love being a part of their community.K9 Country Club& Training Academy31305 Oakview Road Bulverde, TX 78163 (830) 980-8476 www.K9countryclub.netBy Sally KalosW hen envisioning country club life, images of expansive, beautifully landscaped grounds with amenities like a pool, spa, gym, and pro shop likely come to mind. But did you know dogs can have such luxuries too? That’s why sisters, Catherine and Cheryl Laria, founders of K9 Country Club and Training Academy in Bulverde, Texas, modeled their innovative business around the finest human countryclubs.Drawing on her background as a former social director and tournament coordinator at a private club in San Antonio, Catherine designed K9 Country Club to offer pets the same level of luxury and care that humans enjoy at their exclusive retreats. The facility boasts a full-service salon, overnight and daily accommodations, a K9 workout area, a pool, a beach club, a pro shop, and an array of sporting activities. They even offer membership opportunities.Catherine and Bliz running at the USDAA Nationals (winning a Gold medal in the Biathlon).Catherine’s journey into the world of pet pampering began from a personal need. She noticed that after stays at traditional kennels, her dogs would return home worn and stressed. This observation led her to envision a place that could offer pets a home-away-from-home experience, or perhaps something even better.Family-owned and operated since 2001, with owners residing on-site, the club ensures 24/7 oversight. Over the last 23 years K9 Country Club has grown into a 10,000-square-foot facility, sprawled over 10 acres, boasting 63 kennels and suites, and a variety of amenities not only for dogs and cats but their human companions too. These include a pet bakery, daycare, overnight boarding, grooming, in-house training, and even a lagoonDogs love spending time at the Beach Club.for swimming. The facility provides a multitude of training classes from beginner to competition level across various canine sports and disciplines. Each kennel at the club is climate-controlled with indoor and outdoor access, and the facility requires all pets to be current on vaccinations, including canine cough, at least seven days prior to arrival.What sets K9 Country Club apart are its unique offerings like the Beach Club—a half-acre, off-leash water park with a 25,000-gallon filtered and chlorinated lagoon next to a private competition dock diving pool, surrounded by majestic oaks. Memberships grant access to the water park and training areas anytime, along with discounts on boarding and other services.Beyond these leisures, K9 Country Club is renowned for its training programs in obedience, agility, scent work, barn hunting, and dock diving. Whether your dog needs basic manners training or specialized instruction like private swim lessons or scent work, the club’s professional and award-winning instructors are equipped to handle various needs.Catherine and Cheryl go beyond providing exemplary pet care; they aim to create a community for pet lovers. K9 Country Club’s spacious grounds are often host to pet-friendly events and social gatherings, fostering a sense of community among members. Regular workshops and seminars are also held, providing pet owners with valuable insights into pet health, behavioral training, and nutrition.