Pet Services in Diamond Springs

Aiming to keep the friendship between man and man’s best friend as fresh as possible, SplashHound is home to an easy and fun dog-washing system that helps your favorite canine companion stay clean without splashing your home bathroom in eau de dirt. With the self-serve dog wash (a $12–$15 value), owners don’t need appointments to completely cleanse their dirty pooch, and the only clock they’ll be racing is a broken one. Standing in a well-spaced and waist-high line, six large metal washtubs allow walk-in entry for the biggest dogs while leaving plenty of room for complicated pre-bath exercise routines. After donning a waterproof apron, parents purge impurities from their animal children with SplashHound’s special bathing wand, which conquers the thickest of coats with cleansing hypo-aloe and hypo-watermelon shampoos while also administering a satisfying massage to worn-out cat-catching muscles. After the bath, dogs are blow-dried and pampered at the grooming station.

"I like to say that I traded four wheels for four paws," says Pamela, who left behind a career in the auto industry to found Launder Dog. She made the decision after her german shepherd developed health problems and she found a vitamin regimen that successfully treated the dog's condition. Focusing on healthy and natural products, Pamela assembled a supply of specialty foods and medications for cats and dogs to fill her new shop.

The addition of self-service washtubs has helped the pet haven build a loyal cast of regulars since its founding in 1996. "We are like Cheers, but for cats and dogs," Pamela says. Owners come in to socialize, chat with staff members about proper pet care, and exchange fashion tips with the shop's resident cat, Ben. His eyes cruise lazily across the shop as Pamela and her team stay close by to assist patrons as they check out supplies ranging from colorful doggie bags to canine arthritis medication. Staff can also custom-order products and rare colognes that smell like the mailman.

The equestrian trainers at Foxtail Farms conduct horseback-riding lessons for riders seeking leisure time atop a steed and for those considering competition. Amid a rural landscape of patchwork crop fields and untamed plains, horses lope, gallop, leap, and waffle on which shoes to wear that day as instructors lead intimate training sessions. Skilled in teaching the ins and out of hunter, jumper, and equitation riding, instructors help to foster horsemanship skills while preparing riders for many situations, including the show ring. Believing that success can only be found when both rider and horse have created a special bond, the trainers also work to create an atmosphere in which that bond can be nurtured and tempered.

Doggie District Pet Resort treats canines not as pets, but as welcomed guests of its boarding and grooming facility that doubles as an oversized doghouse. A groomer with over 20 years of experience can snip and style canine hair in a calm, spa-like environment. During overnight stays, dogs relax on personal beds and enjoy the comforts of home with their favorite toys or pinup calendars of giant bones. Four-legged friends can roam safely in the 10,000-square-foot outdoor play area, where a closed-circuit camera system that monitors the lot at all times.

On Carson Valley’s Cutter Ridge Ranch, the steeds of Fitzpatrick Performance Horses spend their days roaming more than 100 acres of lush pastures and their nights dreaming of never-ending saltlicks in a heated 50-stall barn. Bridget Fitzpatrick, the owner and head trainer of her eponymous business, guides the horses with a steady hand that has produced nationally recognized amateur and youth riders. Her skills seem to have rubbed off on the facility’s hooved residents as well; among her many accolades, she can take credit for training several prize-winning arabian horses.

Fitzpatrick continues to introduce new students to equestrianism in lessons that impart the principles of styles such as Hunter and Western. Though the echoes of galloping hooves carry across the outdoor arena during warmer months, horses tend to retreat to an indoor arena and switch their shoes out for semicircular slippers when the weather gets colder.