The Pawlished Dog was created with its four-legged customers in mind

Finding ways to keep customers happy and satisfied and eager to return is key to running any kind of successful business, which is why Leesa Nieland and daughter Madison Parkhill always kept their four-legged clientele at the forefront when establishing The Pawlished Dog and all of its amenities.

The Newton-based dog boarding, grooming and training facility is located in the same plat as Nieland’s country home, which gives the canine guests plenty of opportunities for fresh air and outdoor play. The actual kennels are built inside a restored Maytag dairy barn with strict temperature controls for maximum comfort.

Even the paint colors were selected with dogs in mind. Dogs can more clearly distinguish shades of blues and yellows. Leesa was more than happy to paint the training room, grooming areas and kennels with those exact colors. Being able to actually see their environment can alleviate some of their anxieties.

“We designed it so the dogs can see it and it makes them happier and lifts their spirits,” Nieland said. “It gives them a little bit of peace and just some tranquility to the experience. It’s funny when they get in here because they’re so happy because they can see all the colors.”

For a dog that isn’t exactly thrilled to get groomed, Leesa suggested those little pops of color on the walls and on the floor tiles can go a long way.

In line with making sure the needs of every dog are met, The Pawlished Dog’s grooming station is equipped with four different kinds of blow dryers. Depending on hair coat and the age and size of the dog, a high velocity dryer may not be the right choice. Lower velocity dryers and kennel dryers provide staff with options.

“Kennels have security doors on them so they’re highly visible,” Nieland said. “A lot of the boarding kennels you go to are going to be in a cage setup or they’re going to be in a little glass box, and that doesn’t offer a lot of ventilation for the animals. When we designed this, all of our walls don’t go all the way up the ceiling.”

Nieland said there is a big need for a business like The Pawlished Dog. While there are certainly some places around that can board dogs while their owners are out of town, it is not uncommon to see those limited slots fill up. The facility’s increased capacity increases the odds of someone actually finding availability.

People in town also have dogs that could probably use a little extra training, which is primarily handled by Leesa’s daughter, a Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) dog trainer. It is a type of training that encourages humane behavior through positive reinforcement as opposed to punishments.

Within the next month or so, Parkhill is expecting to start hosting group classes at The Pawlished Dog facility, as well as more one-on-one trainings for dogs that need more attention. The trainings are conducted under Parkhill’s business called Open Gate, which she said is all about creating open connections.

Subverting the idea of what an open gate means on places like a farm — which can be a terrifying thought knowing horses or cows or other animals could be loose and in danger — Open Gate finds a more positive spin. The open gate becomes more about giving the dog a freedom to explore.

“You’re going to build a bond strong enough that no matter if there is a hole in the fence or an open gate your animal is going to come back to you, whether it is a dog, cat, horse, cow,” Parkhill said. “I want to focus more on the bond and the connection between your animal and less on the obedience.”

Of course obedience comes along in time with training, but Parkhill stressed the connection between the person and the animal is so important.

“I want to give my animals a level of agency in their life where they have some amount of say,” she said. “The power of ‘yes’ is much stronger when ‘no’ is an option. If they have to say yes to every single thing and you don’t give them the opportunity to screw up, then they’re not going to be that excited to say yes.”

Open Gate will hold classes in the “gym” area of The Pawlished Dog, which is a large open area with soft paddings for all types of dog training sessions. Parkhill said group classes for puppies will focus on socialization early on and then pivot to learning how to be an appropriate dog.

“I will also offer a canine conditioning class where it’s kind of like pilates for dogs,” Parkhill said. “It’s really fun. It helps with their flexibility and helps with proprioception, so their awareness to where their body is at in a space … Group walks is also something we will offer.”

The Pawlished Dog can board up to 70 dogs at a time and is equipped with 11 runs — enclosed outdoor areas — that are 250 square feet a piece, and nine runs that are 5 feet by 12 inches with a 5 feet by 8 inches section inside. With this setup, the facility is able to keep away big dogs from smaller dogs.

“We have the largest setup anywhere around here,” Nieland said of the boarding facility located at 1215 N. 67th Ave W. “I think the closest one to this setup is Paws & Pints or the Paw Spa in Ames; they’re a ways away. Because we have so much space it allows us to facilitate the bigger dogs that most people can’t.”

Since the business is located within a very short walking distance from Nieland’s home, the dogs can be monitored easily and frequently. Nieland said dogs are even checked on late at night and early in the morning. They also get a healthy dose of human interaction when they stay, too.

As an avid animal lover, Nieland makes sure every guest for boarding and grooming is loved and cared for.

“You have to have a love for animals to do this,” she said. “You’re seeing them at their worst. You’re seeing them when they’re sad or depressed or anxious … But it is so cool to see them when they leave and see how happy they are and how great they feel. That makes me feel good.”