It's a dog's world at BrightDogs in Joliet

JOLIET – A funny thing happened on the way to opening an indoor, family-owned dog park Dec. 21 in Joliet.

Co-owner Diana Bright didn’t want it to resemble a dog park.

At least not a dog park with an industrial, concrete environment. Bright stressed “bright, airy and welcoming” so anxious dogs would feel at ease. Even BrightDogs’ motto speaks of doggie hospitality: Sit, stay, play.

But don’t take Bright’s word for it.

“We want people to come in, check out our facility and realize this is a passion for our family,” Bright said.

Along with boarding, doggie day care, classes in training and agility, and special events, BrightDogs features non-­permeable turf “grass” for easy cleanup, murals depicting New York’s Central Park and Chicago’s Grant Park, and five-star pampering for boarders.

“I tuck them in bed with aromatherapy and a nightlight to keep it homelike,” Bright said. “We have music playing.”

Kyle Bright, BrightDogs' co-owner and Diana Bright's husband, is a certified trainer with the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. He said he offers classes in basic training and behavior modification. A second teacher, Sarah Pyle, teaches agility, nose work, rally and basic obedience.

In the spring, Kyle Bright said he will begin training through Next Steps Service Dogs, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain disorder.

“I strongly believe in what a dog can do for stress and anxiety,” Kyle Bright said.

Two important team members are Diana and Kyle Bright’s children: Madilyn, 10, and Jackson, 8. Both help out with “dog doody duty” and Jackson entertains the dogs by tossing a variety of balls.

“He gets everyone running,” Diana said.

Madilyn is as especially big help on weekends when BrightDogs is busiest.

“That means lots of dogs – and lots of messes,” Diana said.

In a roundabout way, Diana and Kyle Bright’s three dogs – Maxiumus, a 10-year-old Anatolian shepherd; Barnes, a year-old basset hound; and Rufus, a 5-year-old pit bull/Plott hound mix – inspired the park.

Basically, the dogs need exercise year-round, but Diana Bright “doesn’t like being outside in the cold,” so the couple discussed options, including starting their own indoor dog park.

“[Kyle] had volunteered at shelters so we had an idea of what we didn’t want in regard to boarding and the physical characteristics of the building,” Diana Bright said.

She and Kyle Bright spent most of the summer visiting dog facilities in a 30-mile radius of Joliet, taking note of elements that did and did not resonate with them and discussing services they wanted to offer.

One factor was absolutely key.

“We wanted to build relationships with the customers,” Diana Bright said.

Part of the BrightDogs philosophy is flexibility and sensitivity to client needs. For instance, when a dog day care client had an emergency, Diana Bright brought the dog home for a couple of hours. Even in the evening, boarders don’t sit for long periods in kennels.

“We take the dogs for a nice long walk to wear them out and then bring them back for play for half an hour before tucking them into bed,” Diana Bright said.

BrightDogs will board no more than 15 dogs at one time. Full- and half-day options are available, Diana Bright said. BrightDogs will only care for 20 dogs total – boarders and day care dogs – at one time.

An additional 25 dogs can take advantage of the dog park aspect, since those dogs are under the care of their owners, Diana Bright said.

She said BrightDogs also is hoping to attract clients with short-term boarding needs, such as a dog that recently stayed so its owners could attend a basketball tournament.

She’s also planning more events, such as the recent Puppy­palooza for dogs 6 months old or younger.

Because Kyle Bright is on-site all day and every day, he constantly interacts with the dogs. “They’re not alone in a crate all day,” he said.

Kyle Bright rotates structured play through the different-sized rooms and takes them for walks outside. He ensures personality clashes don’t escalate to fights. He calms anxious and socially awkward dogs and knows when they need time alone to de-stress – on the sofa in BrightDogs’ living room.

And if the public wants to drop in with their dogs during normal hours for some playtime, that’s cool, too.

“Or you can make a reservation,” Kyle said.

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: BrightDogs indoor dog park

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

WHERE: 3105 Theodore St., Joliet

WHAT: Structured play, day care, boarding, classes. A schedule of class times and prices are listed on the BrightDogs website.

KNOW MORE: Visit www.brightdogs.net

CALL: 815-342-0956