Here in C-U, I think it’s safe to say that we love our dogs, and they love us. I mean we feed them, right? And is there really any faster way to a creature’s heart than with food? But I think it’s also safe to say that despite the love we have for our four-legged, shaggy friends, we probably wouldn’t want to spend every day of every week with our dog and about 20 of his or her closest friends. Dogs are basically two-year olds that can’t talk; and two year olds that can talk are enough of a challenge of their own. Ken Reiterman, a retired military vet of 21 years and owner of the Dog Den, gladly embraces this would-be nightmare though, seven days a week, every week of the year.
The Dog Den, located at 52 East Washington in Downtown Champaign, has been open for a little more than a year and is a little slice of heaven for the dogs of Champaign-Urbana. Sign your dog up for daycare, boarding, grooming, or for new dog owners, the puppy socialization program and training with Jessica Pippin. Reiterman and his staff are committed to providing dogs with a safe and structured environment to play and interact, that’s the Dog Den Distinction. Owners can be happy knowing that their dog(s) will be kept in a supportive environment where the staff, “assertively and consistently let pets know their boundaries and limitations, so they can be free to play with each other in a non-aggressive manner.” Safety and fun are the cornerstones of this local business. It allows dogs to interact with new pets and people in a new environment, as well as exercise, a critical aspect of dog development and behavior.
The Dog Den is 6,500 square feet of fun, divided into four different play areas, designed to separate dogs into playgroups based on size, temperament, and play style. Even if your dog isn’t necessarily into rowdy play, there is a space created for them, to engage and have a good time. For dog boarding and the downtime daycare dogs get in the middle of the day, there are kennels of numerous sizes ranging from 4×6 feet to 3×3 feet, as well as gazebos and crates. One thing that sets the Dog Den apart from other boarding services in the area is that boarded dogs are kept out of kennels or crates for at least eight hours a day, allowing them to interact in playgroups or be kept in their own separate area should they not get along with the other dogs.
In order to ensure that all dogs have a positive experience at the Dog Den, new dogs go through a temperament test in which they are introduced to the other dogs to see how they get along. Unfortunately, to uphold its high standards, Reiterman cannot accept dogs that are afraid of other dogs or people, and aggressive dogs cannot be accepted for daycare because at some point they will get into an incident that will negatively impact the safety and experience of the other dogs. However, it is important to know that there are different kinds of dog aggression, Reiterman says. Some dogs are fence fighters, which means the dog gets aggressive around other dogs when separated by a fence, some dogs are leash aggressive, and other dogs are toy and food aggressive. The distinction to make though is that while these may be triggers for a dog, that dog might be okay to interact and play with other dogs in an open area. Knowing how to identify and deal with these challenges is just one part of how he and his staff work to ensure dog safety and supervision. For instance, Reiterman himself owns two dogs. One isn’t allowed at home because it’s destructive. The other isn’t allowed at daycare because, according to Reiterman, he’s “the fun police.”
It is also important to note that dog daycare is for dogs that are already socialized, not for owners who want their dogs to become socialized. Dog socialization is a process that should begin early, before a puppy is older than 8 months, and ultimately results in a well-rounded adult dog. Just like it’s important for young children to interact with their peers and adults who aren’t their parents, the same can be said for puppies. Beginning in the small dog area, the puppy socialization program allows young dogs to become used to new people, places, and dogs. As the puppy becomes more used to its surroundings and area, it is permitted to interact with bigger dogs if he or she feels comfortable. The Dog Den also requires proof of vaccinations for any incoming dogs, just another small piece of the safe, fun the Dog Den aims to provide.
Reiterman has owned dogs all his life and is primarily self-trained through his personal experiences. He has, however, attended a number of seminars and training programs by Knowing Dogs such as Body Language and Group Play. The Dog Den employees, and student interns from the U of I Animal Sciences department (about two selected per semester), are also required to take these classes.
Even with all of his personal experience and acquired knowledge, Reiterman says there’s a huge learning curve to owning his own business. There’s always more knowledge to be gained when looking to provide the best experience for each dog. Even though he enjoys being his own boss, and relishes the possibilities for the future of the Dog Den, it is a challenge and there’s no way he could do what he does without relying on his staff and others. Being the owner of the Dog Den is a constant learning opportunity. One way that Reiterman takes the opportunity to learn about how to make his business better is through membership in a Facebook group of dog daycare owners from around the world where he can pick other daycare owner’s brains, learn from their stories, and they can share their horror stories about the dogs, and sometimes their overdramatic owners. After all, everyone needs a place to commiserate.
One of the greatest things about owning the Dog Den and running his own business, Reiterman says, is that despite the long hours and having no days off, is the control it affords him. For example, he has access to a new bay area now that he can decide if he wants to expand his services into or not. He loves the control over the growth and considering where his business could be in five years. Though Reiterman does sometimes wish the dogs could talk to him, he finds the experience very rewarding and doesn’t find it too overwhelming as long as the dogs are carefully managed and separated. Part of that is ensured by limiting the number of dogs allowed to an average of 20 per day, at least until he can hire more staff.
In addition to engaging with the dog daycare community of the world via Facebook, Reiterman also tries to engage with the community of Champaign-Urbana. If you go into the Dog Den, after being greeted by barks from the little dogs that play in the front room, you’ll also find a donation bin for cans. Though the donations so far are meager, any proceeds go to local pet organizations like Mobile Mutts. He tries to support these organizations by making a presence for them and going to events, which are often advertised, on the Dog Den Facebook page.
With few services like it in the area, the Dog Den is a great resource for pet owners. For anyone with a destructive dog that needs a place for their furry friend to go while they’re at work, or owners who just want their dog to have a good time, the Dog Den is no doubt, the place to go. If you happened to drive by the Dog Den in the morning, when dog drop-off typically occurs, you’d see dogs excitedly pulling on their leashes trying to get to the door. And if you needed further proof about the dog’s happiness, just go check out the numerous photos of smiling pups on the businesses Facebook page. Reiterman and his staff are quite obviously committed to each animal’s happiness and safety, providing a great service to the dog owners of C-U and maintaining positive engagement with the community.
To contact Ken Reiterman about the Dog Den’s various services, you can reach him at (217) 552-1318 or [email protected].
Photos by Ken Reiterman and Ashley Huddson.