hen Allison Strauel became the owner of SkyDance Pet Lodge in 2017, it consisted of a single location in Dousman, Wisconsin, staffed with just 10 employees. Now, SkyDance has a total of 96 employees between the Dousman location, a second facility in New Berlin and a third location in the works.

“When I took over SkyDance, I focused on the basics,” says Allison. “I concentrated on foundational business practices, like making sure there was a working budget and that we had standard operating procedures for every department and all of the staff. I also looked at all the facilities in our area and what they provided, then identified what was missing in the market and how we could fill that gap.

“What I wanted to do was provide a really customized, individual experience for not only the pup, but also for the pet parents,” she continues. “We started with boarding and daycare services, but soon added grooming and training departments, and put them all under one roof. I have always focused on scalability and quality.”

When Allison bought the New Berlin location in 2020, they fully renovated 13,000-sq.-ft. building from the ground up. Those renovations were very important for the unique type of pet care services she had in mind.

Allison found that there was a lack of facilities that could safely handle dogs that have behavioral concerns. At SkyDance, they accept and welcome dogs that have challenges, such as aggression or anxiety. With the large space, the dogs can be put in different parts of the building based on their needs and whether they can be comfortable around others or not.

“Our daycare and boarding programs are not just for warehousing and babysitting the dogs,” stresses Allison. “All of our services are enrichment based, but we have moved toward a curriculum that includes training-based programs. In our groups we practice door manners, games, etc. We want every dog to leave better than when they came to us.”

Each SkyDance location can accommodate 150-170 dogs per day in their boarding, daycare, grooming and training services. With their crate-free model, the dogs stay in actual rooms with real beds. The homelike atmosphere is more conducive to a comfortable and stress-free experience for them, and the pet parents really like the at-home feeling.

“There are a lot of things we do to make sure that the environment we have is peaceful, calming and quiet, and that the pets are enjoying their stay with us,” explains Allison. “For example, we use reward-based techniques implemented by our training team when we move dogs throughout the building. It keeps a tranquil and soothing environment.

“Our training department consults on certain cases,” she adds. “And some of the dogs that board or do daycare with us are actually handled primarily by our training team and not our caretaking team. That allows us to give a higher level of care to those dogs that need it.

“That’s something I’m very passionate about,” Allison continues emphatically. “It’s very important to me to provide people who have dogs that are not a good fit for traditional boarding and daycare the opportunity to have a training-based facility where they can thrive and be successful. Just like our mission statement says, no matter the dog that comes to us, we try to ensure they live their fullest life possible.”

A day at SkyDance looks different for each dog. For example, a super-social two-year-old lab can go into a playgroup and participate in group games, while a nine-year-old German Shepherd who doesn’t do well with other dogs because of behavior concerns or separation anxiety will have a much different day. That dog may be paired with a trainer to work on individual activities, go on a nature walk or participate in a customized enrichment session.

Because many families have other pets in addition to their dogs, SkyDance also offers “Cats and Critter” boarding. They accept small pets such as hamsters, hedgehogs, bunnies and small birds, as well as cats. The pet parents really appreciate that all their pets can be cared for in one place.

The staff at SkyDance is an integral part of its success, with many of the team members being employed for five-plus years. Allison emphasizes that a business can’t grow without a dedicated and great team of people. All staff are trained in pet first aid and are CPR certified. In addition, they participate in continuing education and attend leadership summits to increase and solidify their skills.

Their marketing director handles their website, www.skydancepetlodge.com, as well as their social media. Their Facebook and Instagram pages feature many great photos, including some of the incredible events they have held, such as their 2024 Champions Unleashed Olympic Games, drive-in movies, themed holiday events and birthday parties.

Involving the pet parents in these kinds of activities helps to build a relationship and provide a customized luxury experience for them as well as their pets.

“At the end of the day, the dogs don’t have the ability to tell their owners the experience that they’ve had,” Allison says. “It’s up to us to make the clients feel special and make the pet parents feel involved in the experience.

“We empower our guest experience and front desk teams to always go the extra mile to ensure that the clients also feel like they are having an enriching experience,” she continues. “For instance, if an owner is getting married, we send them flowers after they return from their honeymoon, or if there is a new baby, we will send the family a personalized gift. We’re not just a business to them, we build a relationship with the client. That’s really helped us to propel our growth.”

SkyDance Pet Lodge is involved in the community as well. They go to the schools and hold classes on how to interact with dogs, and they have career fairs at the high schools. In addition, they also do a lot of work with local rescues to help dogs find their forever homes by fostering and training free of charge. Since 2020, they’ve helped over 120 dogs.

“At SkyDance, we have a place for every pup,” Allison states. “We’re here not just to make a profit, but to make a difference!”