Contented dogs living in the lap of luxury at Lilleshall's Pooch Palace

The phrase couldn't be further from the truth, though, when it comes to those wonderfully contented and happy dogs visiting Pooch Palace at Lilleshall. 

When man's best friend, our favourite pooches, are taken for a stay - be it for overnight boarding or day care - at this business, they well and truly live the life of luxury thanks to a passionate, dog-loving team. 

Self-confessed 'dog mad' Zoe Pope, from Newport, got the idea for Pooch Palace, a luxury boarding and doggy day care facility, in 2018, when looking for accommodation for her chihuahua, Ralph.

And in six years since, the family-owned  dog hotel in Littlehales Road has seen incredible growth and now has 15 suites, complete with four poster beds, televisions and so much more to give dogs staying there a 'home from home' feel. The team look after up to 100 dogs a week for day care and 60 for boarding.

 Zoe works alongside daughter and day care manager, Hattie, and a small dedicated group of seven staff. And they all simply love dogs. This is the kind of job which is always a pleasure and never a chore.  

"I have always loved animals -  dogs and cats etc - and have had dogs since I was a child," says Zoe. 

"I have my own, a German Shepherd, a cavapoo, two chihuahuas, and a toy poodle - a complete variety and I love all breeds. 

"So to be able to spend time with even more dogs and to create something I love doing every day really doesn't feel like a job. I just absolutely love it. 

"I'm proud of what we have achieved here from what I only really set up as a hobby. 

"We were looking to go on holiday and we were searching for a kennel for our chihuahua, Ralph. We went around lots of different kennels and couldn’t find any that had a homely, cosy and warmly  feel for him.

"I had the idea to set Pooch Palace up as a luxury boarding for the smaller and medium sized dog. The plan was for four rooms, luxury suites, to see how it would go."

 "And it's just been a fantastic journey ever since as we have witnessed growth and expansion, with 15 suites now and heading into our seventh year."

Set on over five acres of paddock and woodlands in Shropshire,  Pooch Palace offers a 'truly unique experience for  dogs' says Zoe. 

For boarding guests, the business has a fantastic range of luxury suites all with their own unique theme so there’s something for every dog. 

All suites are complete with 24 hour CCTV, underfloor heating and large flatscreen televisions to keep dogs company all day long.

"We have even had people saying 'can we book in instead!" Zoe says. 

"We have worked hard to make this a five-star place and all of the dogs are treated as if they are our own. We love them as much as our own."

The  grounds are home to some stunning woodlands which is perfect for scenic daily walks and a paddock area for dogs to roam safely as they please. 

There is also a dedicated large soft sand agility area for dogs to play games. 

There are also multiple indoor areas with luxury soft furnishings designed to offer important home comforts. 

A  grooming facility also opened up in May. 

“It is like a  children's nursery, rather than kennels in a way," explains Zoe. 

"It's all centrally heated inside and the dogs can enjoy outdoor play with members of star and having cuddles rather than being locked away all of the time. 

"The dogs get up at 7am, they go outside, play all day, have nap and then it is lights out at 10pm.

"Some dogs get so into the routines we have here that when owners come, they don’t want to go home! 

"It’s such a rewarding job and we do a lot of work through our day care and boarding to build  socialisation and confidence. I think that's something we enjoy most," she adds. 

You can find out more about Pooch Palace at https://poochpalace.vip/