Pet Services in Paradise Valley

Featuring four spa-style dog-wash stations stocked with John Paul pet products, Pawzapalooza has provided dog-grooming services for more than 15 years. Self-serve washes include shampoo (seven varieties), conditioner (apricot or unscented), towels, aprons, blow dryers, eye and ear wipes, tooth and gum wipes, brushes and combs, and spray cologne (think Axe for doggies). Pawzapalooza’s stand-up grooming stations are equipped with hand-held showerheads and tall tub walls that minimize splash back. Customers can also browse a variety of dog products and accessories for home-based scrubdowns.

In 1955, 50 horses and their handlers gathered on the grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel for the first Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Over the next 58 years, the event moved twice—first to Paradise Park, then to WestWorld—and grew to nearly 2,500 participants. Today, the 450 members of the Arabian Horse Association, which was incorporated the same year as the horse show, help to oversee the annual flagship event. Many of the members also serve as competition judges, work to foster youth participation in the equestrian arts, and raise awareness about which tiny hats look best on thoroughbreds.

The annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show draws competitors from local Arizona farms and across the country. The showcase gathers thousands of horse enthusiasts for seminars, competitions, galas, international cuisine, and more than 300 vendors. Though the Arabian Horse Association holds the show as its main event, it also oversees the Arabian Breeder Finals, a halter and breeding showcase; the annual qualifying America Cup Championship; and yearly endurance rides and stallion auctions.

Sonoran Desert Pet Resort's 1,500-square-foot, air-conditioned indoor dog park simulates the outdoors with the same artificial turf used for professional football fields so pooches can wrestle, dive for balls, or perform elaborate touchdown dances safely during daycare hours.

Overnight guests bed in private rooms, some equipped with televisions playing soothing music, movies, or the NYSE ticker. They enjoy two meals a day, playtime with dogs of similar size and temperament, and air-conditioned quarters. Feline patrons lounge in two-room suites; their litter boxes are in a separate area from sleeping quarters, which are both well ventilated.

Pet parents can also opt for extras for their pooches, such as more one-on-one time with the human staff or a nice bone to gnaw on. Certified groomers primp four-legged friends with FURminator treatments to reduce shedding and ramped bathtubs for less stressful baths. Pets and owners can even attend the pet resort's training sessions to teach basic obedience or correct behavioral problems such as anxiety or refusing to salivate when a bell rings.

With a knowledgeable staff trained in pet CPR and first aid by her side, Malinda draws on 13 years of experience as she entertains and grooms pets at her upscale and secure facility. Each day, tail waggers enrolled in daycare and boarding programs roam freely amid fanciful murals of dogs and cats playing in fountains, relaxing under giant sunflowers, flying in balloons, and selling stocks. Experienced handlers supervise their play, keep their networking areas clean, and take them outside for periodic walks. Overnight guests spend the evening hours in private suites, which come equipped with fleece beds, exhaust fans, air vents, and dimmed lighting.

When they aren't looking after their houseguests, staffers groom dogs and cats with warm-water massage baths, custom shampoos and conditioners, hot-oil treatments, and facials. They also teach CPR and first aid to help pet owners to act well and wisely in the event of an emergency. As a certified pet trainer through Animal Behavior College, Malinda helps humans and their canine friends to reach their full potential and boost their GPAs by offering obedience classes. Guests are welcome to peruse Malinda's shelves, where she stocks Solid Gold pet foods as well as nutritional supplements, toys, treats, and grooming supplies.