Ruffin' It Resort - Doggy Day Care, Hotel and Spa

"Ruffin' It Resort is the best facility of its kind I've ever encountered." Dr. Roger Abrantes, world renowned ethologist and author of "Dog Language", 'The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior" and "Dogs Home Alone". For more information, visit the Etologisk institute web site.

Dear Ruffin' It Resort,

"Thanks again to you and your amazing staff at Ruffin' It Resort for the wonderful fundraiser held for WAGS! We are so grateful to have friends like you in tough times that lend a generous hand. I was so impressed with the organization and effort put into this wonderful event. Thank you so much!!"

Sincerely,

Aaron

Ruffin' It Gone to the Dogs

"Once again, I'd like to say thank you so much for being good to Jeeves, and being a part of her growing up. I feel she wouldn't be the same Jeeves without your influence.

Thanks again, and I hope all is well in Wisconsin."

Fred and Carrie... and Jeeves of course.

"My black lab, Murphy, experienced his first daycare stay at Ruffin'It Resort on Monday and I wanted to thank you for taking good care of him. He was exhausted when he got home, which is a true indication that he had a lot of play time. Also, I appreciate the pictures I received. Especially the one with him and the hose. I forgot to mention that Murphy loves water and the hose. We play the "hose game" almost every night.

Again, thank you for a positive first experience and we look forward to many more visits."

Thanks,
Jamie

"I must say that Daisy and I are both loving the experience at Ruffin’ It. I’ve had to travel each of the last couple weeks, so Daisy’s been at the hotel and daycare. I like that I can call and be put through to someone in the hotel to give me a detailed update on how Daisy’s week is going. I also love that I can log on to the website and watch the club cams during my lunch hour to see what my puppy is doing. When I pick her up she’s happy, clean and tired.

Everyone I’ve dealt with on your staff is great. I do feel like two of them deserve specific mention. Danielle did an amazing job showing me the facilities and making me comfortable signing Daisy up to be a frequent flyer as a PawPerks member. I also think Eva is something of a miracle worker. Two weeks ago Daisy would “sit” only when she wanted to and she had no idea what “down” meant. Today at home Daisy did both on verbal cue only. I also had her do both sit and down at the dog park (lots of distractions) and I was successful using verbal and hand cues. The work that Eva does with Daisy makes our at home practice sessions a lot of fun – Daisy gets treats and I’m impressed that I have a dog that follows directions so well."

All the Best,

Nate

"I just want to thank everyone for making Niko & Flora's stay at Ruffin' It "like being at home" and comfortable, full of exercise, companions(human and dogs). It was apparent to me when they returned Sat. AM for playtime.........they both were glad to see everyone(wiggling tails) & acted as everyone was their friend. It sure made my trip better knowing that my 2 canines were also "on a trip". Again a big thanks for doing a great job!!!"

Kathy

"We want to sincerely thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty with your care for Toby over this past week. She had been deteriorating with age prior to our trip, but during her recent stay with you, her condition declined rapidly. Her stay with you had nothing to do with her continued decline. To the contrary, you and your staff did everything possible to make Toby as comfortable as possible, and we are deeply grateful.

Please pass on our thanks to Eva and all those that helped with Toby during her stays with you over the last several years. We never worried about how she was treated, and it was obvious that she enjoyed the Ruffin' It experience. You and your staff do a wonderful job. Keep up the good work. It is obvious why you have been rated as 'Best of Madison'."

Paul and Karen

"I just wanted to say a big thank you to Jenn and the other team members who took such wonderful care of Berlin and Shadow this past weekend. We don't have to take them to stay somewhere very often, but when we do , it's so nice to know that they are so well cared for at Ruffin' It. We really appreciate your staff and are so grateful that they really love their jobs. Your place is wonderful and Madison is extremely lucky to have such a wonderful facility."

Judy and Stu

Dear Renee and all staff,

"I was so pleased and thrilled for Amelia and how well she did in the new surroundings! You must have had the right combination of knowledge and compassion to get her to being part of the small dog group! I was able to relax knowing she was well cared for."

Thank you,

Dorothy

"I just wanted to tell you what a great place you provide for our furry friends, the staff are so friendly and caring I look forward to seeing them. Buddy loves spending time there and when he gets home he just wants to kick back so I know he's had a great time."

Thank you,

Leanne and Buddy

"We just want to thank Ruffin' It Resort for always giving Kona a wonderful stay! Kona comes to the Saturday play groups weekly, and has been a hotel guest a few times now! We will NEVER even think twice to send him elsewhere!!!!!!!!

Kona always comes home happy, healthy and tired from all the play time he gets!!!! I really love the report cards Kona receives after daycare or a hotel stay- it makes us feel very informed and at ease!

My husband and I feel at ease taking short vacations while Kona is in good hands! Here is a picture of Kona right after a looong weekend at Ruffin' It Resort for Easter Weekend."

Monique and Paul

"I wanted to thank you again for being so gracious and supportive of our little ideas concerning Lilly.. I felt so good getting that plaque on the bench.. and we do appreciate you letting us do that.. we truly were blessed with Lilly in our lives.. she taught us so much about acceptance and love..

Ruffin It is an asset to our community.." Us dog people" need someplace like yours that truly understand the bond of love that takes place between man and his dog."

Love,

Margie and Tom

"I told the gals at the front desk as we were picking up Bella that Sarah wants to work at Ruffin' It (maybe in 10 years- she's only 6!) and that one day after taking her there with me to give Bella a bath, she came home and cleared out her entire play room so it could be a Ruffin' It Resort for all her stuffed animal friends."

Jill

"My dog Sophie goes to Ruffin' It once a week for doggie day care, and has boarded here multiple times over the past year. Ruffin' It is the best place I can imagine for day care and boarding. For boarding, in addition to the kennels, you can have your dog stay in one of the 2 staff offices, so that people are in and out all day and evening (that's where Sophie likes to stay the most, since she's such a people dog). The dogs are kept OUT of their kennels as much as possible, spending lots of time in the clean, large yards and play rooms. There are video cameras in the play rooms so you can see live streaming video of your dog, and seeing Sophie playing when I'm out of town helps me miss her a little less.

Whether we are arriving at Ruffin' It for day care or overnight, Sophie jumps right out of the car and heads inside. At 2 other places in the area where she went for day care, she started to refuse to get out of the car when we would arrive-we don't go anywhere but Ruffin' It anymore. Her excitement about going there even when she's boarding says more than anything I could write about how great this place is. The staff is wonderful, loving, professional, and enthusiastic. It's a little more expensive for boarding than some other places (but not much more), and it is well worth the cost. And her weekly day care days are wonderful-she plays hard and comes home worn out and happy."

Vickie

"I just wanted to thank Eva, Mallory, Kathy, Rachel and the entire staff at Ruffin' It for making Chaz's first stay there a great experience for him as well as us. Chaz can be a bit of a challenge and we were a little worried about him, but it sounds like he did well and had a fun time. Perhaps in the future he'll be able to romp around with his dog friends. But now he gets some quality one-on-one play! We are thrilled that he'll be welcomed back.

I also want to say how impressed we were with the whole experience, starting with seeing his name on the chalkboard! We really liked being able to take him back to his room to see where he'd be staying and to say goodbye to him there. He looked great when we picked him up, nice and clean and fluffy! I loved his Halloween bandana and the report with all the pictures of him, it's such a nice touch."

Thanks again,
Becky and Steve and of course Chaz.

"Everyone at Ruffin' It-

Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate the care you give to Scout and Murphy while they are there for daycare or "vacationing" with you. We recently had them there for two weeks while we traveled abroad. I was able to thoroughly enjoy the trip knowing they were being well tended to. Your patience (especially with Mr. Murphy) and kindness is much appreciated. Thank you all!"

Sincerely,

Megan

To Eva and the rest of the fabulous people at Ruffin' It,

"I just want to start out by saying thank you. Thank you for having such a wonderful place and thank you for taking such great care of our baby... To you, Eva, and everyone else that works at Ruffin' It, thank you for running it like a real daycare. I feel like I am taking my child to a daycare. Because he really is our baby. Our world revolves around Tyson and I would be devastated if anything ever happened to him and you guys understand that. I don't trust him with very many people but I feel like he is safe with you guys and that I can relax and do what I need to do when he is with you. Thank you so much for being an amazing facility, providing such an amazing service, and for being such amazing people. You truly are amazing!!!!!!"

Thank you again,

Megan, Aaron, and Tyson

"I just wanted to thank Ashley and all my other friends for taking such good care of me. I absolutely loved my blanket fort yesterday in Lil' Yukon. It made me feel like I was home in my closet.

My mom and dad were so happy that I had a special fort and that all of you take such good care of me with my "special needs". I really do look forward to coming, but sometimes feel overwhelmed once I'm there. The fort really helped. My mom and dad could tell that I was especially happy and energetic when I arrived home."

Love,
Chloe

“We wanted to thank everyone at Ruffin' It for treating our little man Baci so well. I've never seen so many people go out of their way for him, and for us. Baci gets so much attention when he's there and I can't tell you how relieved I feel when I have to leave him. The way you all play with him, give him lots of love & attention and take care of him puts my anxiety at ease. I cannot express how priceless that is for a mommy and daddy who get more separation anxiety than our dog does!!! Thanks for doing such a great job with our little man!!!

We are always telling everyone we know about Ruffin’ It and trying to get them to go there. :-) We love the whole pj party idea. we're going to try to get him into one of those. You guys are so creative there!!! It’s impressive & very unique which is what's so great.

Thanks!!!!”

Andrea & Auric

"I wouldn't have gotten a dog if it weren't for Ruffin' It!"

Cathy

"Thank you for my new pink & white blanket. It is sooo soft, it is my very favorite! I really liked sitting on your lap and getting so much attention! Us Toy Poodles like that! Woof! Yip!"

Coco

"My dearest caregivers,

Although I may present you with some challenges, I need you to know that my New Year's resolution is to master the zen of impulse control. Having said that, I appreciate more than I can say (quite literally) your patience, your expert guidance, your tenderness, and your spirit of play. I will try to make the Resort proud in the coming year. You're the best! I love Ruffin' It."

Enthusiastically yours,

Frieda, aka Fred

"To all the wonderful people at Ruffin' It!

I am so pleased with the care and attention my baby Armageddon received at your resort! He has been my pride and joy since I got him 10 years ago and it is very difficult for me to leave him anywhere but I could tell by the way he responded when I picked him up that he had a wonderful time as I don't like to leave him unless absolutely necessary. I am so pleased to have found a place for him to stay that I am completely comfortable with. I would recommend you to anybody looking! A special thanks to Shane, Jeff, Casey, Jenn, Holly, and Mandy!"

Thank you with much appreciation,

Lindsay

"I wanted to let you know that I've been nothing but thrilled with Ruffin' It and all it's staff. I'm very particular about who cares for Sherlock and watches him -regardless if it's a day or a week. Since he's started going to Ruffin' It I've felt nothing but complete comfort in leaving him in your care. My own separation anxiety has gone way down when I'm away from him."

Hope

"Tom and I wanted to thank you for going the 'extra mile' for our Lilly. She seems happy with you all and we appreciate everything you have done for her. You gave our Lilly a chance and for that we will always be grateful."

Tom and Marge

"Our donations are in memory of our dear friend and companion, Lilly.

May your resort continue to serve the special needs of our beloved pets throughout our community."

Sincerely,

Marge & Tom

"Thank you all so very much fo helping us out, we know our girl is major responsibility and truly we do depend on you so very much! The whole family thanks you since this trip for Grandma would not have been possible if Shasta had not been able to stay with you."

Thank you ALL!

Jodi, Raymond, Grant, Grace, Kevin, and Perry J

"Dear Ruffin It Resort:

'The boys' a/k/a Dookie and Ricky, would like to say 'thank you' for being such a wonderful home away from home. We have so much fun during our stays, and love all the first rate attention we get from your devoted pack leaders. Our family feels confident knowing that we are always well cared for...We are so excited when we realize that's where we are going! We love ruffin it resort!"

Patricia

"My neighbors, along with my daughter, picked up Huckleberry tonight and were sooo impressed with the photos of Huck at the daycare, and that he got a bath today before he was picked up and even washed his bedding. You do such an awesome job there! Just know that everyone that experiences your services sings your praises!"

Lisa

Ruffin' It Resort staff,

Taze's visit had been extended due to a family emergency. It's reassuring to know that he is being taken care of. Your personal focus on the dogs is greatly appreciated. Thank you again for the great job!

Rick, Sue, & Taze

"Thank you so much for your patience with the dogs and their lunatic owners! You are so sweet for taking them shopping; thanks for the very generous engagement gift. We look forward to staying at Ruffin' It Resort with you and the other great staff throughout the summer."

Natalee and John

"Good morning to everyone at Ruffin' It Resort.

We would like to start off by saying thank you to everyone that works at
Ruffin' It Resort. Chris and I enjoy the opportunity to bring Chopper to
your doggie day care. We thoroughly enjoy the daily report card that
update us on Choppers daily activities. Ruffin' It Resort has been a God
send to us. We have noticed a real difference with Chopper's behavior
and overall attitude. His acclimation to a new life with us and us with
him has been made much easier with your help and desire to take him in
where two other day cares would not.

This last four day weekend was a true testament to the difference you have made within our lives. Chris and I really noticed a difference within Chopper. He did not show the extreme signs of anxiety when one, or both, of us would leave the house. Your service has made this a successful transition from a dog living on the streets to living with two working adults.

Chris and I have definitely breathed easier and laughed much with

the improvement within Chopper. We have notice a truly playful spirit

and calmness within his overall demeanor. Thank you again for all of

your hard work and understanding." Chris, Doug & Chopper

"Dear Ruffin' It Resort Staff,

Thank you so much for caring for Sadie and Marli while we were gone

over thanksgiving. We missed them terribly but knew they were well cared

for and enjoying their time with their 2nd family @ Ruffin' It. Its so

reassuring to know they are with you...when we return they look SO
happy and healthy. We are grateful to have you taking such good care!

We are SO very happy with you and your

incredible staff.May I add that walking in

and seeing both of the girls looking so

pretty and sitting next to you and the other

staff was precious ...I am happy to be a

reference for Ruffin' It Resort anytime.

Congratulations on opening a business that I believe will only continue to

grow with the wonderful people on board. Everyone has been warm and

welcoming...its evident that Ruffin' It is a family and not just a 'business'."

Kathi and family

"Zeek loves everything about your facility and without you I

would not have been able to continue at a job that I really enjoy. Your entire staff are amazing and I would like to THANK them all

for taking care of our pride and joy! Everyone is so nice and helpful

and the way that they are with Zeek is amazing. I can tell that you really take pride in what you have created and again I thank you

for that." Nikki, Ryan and Zeek

"When you consider your pet as a part of the family, like we do with Cooper, it is nice to know that they are receiving the same loving care that they would get at home. On behalf of all the satisfied guests of Ruffin' It Resort, I would like to say thank you for the wonderful service you provide for our dogs. I will continue to recommend your services to my friends and family. I am sure

Cooper is looking forward to his next stay with you."

Amber, Chris and Cooper

"I want to thank Jenn, Lauren, Tara, and the entire staff of

Ruffin' It Resort for taking extra special care of me. My mom

was so happy to see the pictures of me playing with my new

friends. I have never been away from my mom so long, so

I'm glad she chose Ruffin' It Resort to be my home away from home." Miss Sophie

Dear Ruffin' It Resort,

"My momma and I wanted to thank you for the super fun birthday party and for taking such good care of me this past year. Every time my mom says those magic words, daycare, my butt starts to wiggle and I give her tons of kisses. Everyone is so nice to me, I love being spoiled by all the caretakers. Thanks so much!" Sherlock and Hope

"Thank you so much for taking such good care of Mokie while we were away. We really, really appreciate the love and attention you gave him."

Sincerely,

Matt and Jennifer

"May 8th was Finny's first day at Ruffin' It - the report card still hangs on my refrigerator - and since I'm sentimental about 'all things Finnegan,' I wanted to acknowledge his 1st anniversary at Ruffin' It ...and to thank you so much for taking such good care of him every week. I literary couldn't manage without Ruffin' It - it makes my life work ...and Finny would be a much less happy dog without Ruffin' It. Your staff are great - I hope you know what special care they give Finny - of course Mandy's devotion to the boy is now legendary. Thanks so much for all you've done for Finny."

With appreciation,

Jennifer

"We also wanted to thank you all again for being so patient with our situation and so wonderful with Emme. We checked our records, and our first (unsuccessful) attempt to get Emme spayed was in the beginning of August ’06. Bruce and I can’t even imagine what these past thirteen months would have been like without all of you and the Resort. We have no doubt that there are many dog owners who feel the same way about their own particular situation, but we also know that you went out of your way even more than usual with Emme. Clearly there were additional challenges anytime you put her in the mix (as if taking care of a pack of dogs isn’t enough), but we never heard anyone complain. In fact, all we ever saw were great smiles, wonderfully creative report cards, some very impressive problem solving techniques, and an incredibly happy dog! Thank you so much."

Sincerely,

Bruce, Bernadette, and Emily Thomsen

"Sturdy dog leash and padded collar: $25

Dog hammock for rear seat of car: $45

Full day of daycare at Ruffin' It Resort: $20

A dog that is too tired to lift her head when my cat walks by: PRICELESS

Thank you for wearing out my dog. It's been two hours since I picked her up and she looks like she can't wait to be kenneled for the night. Maybe I'll even get some more work done!"

Suma

Renee,

"You and your staff have been such a gift to me. I always know Brady is well taken care of and loved. Thank you for having such a wonderful place and taking care of my puppy as if he was your own!"

Happy Holidays!

Kimberly

"Thank you for being Omar's other family. I get great comfort when I have to leave him in all your hands. Omar says 'great job!'"

Ann & Omar

Dear Ruffin' It Resort Staff (and especially those in Lil' Yukon),

"Thanks so much for all you do taking care of Delilah. She is so happy to come visit/play on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She wishes every day could be a 'daycare day.'"

Mary & Greg

"Thanks so much for taking such good care of Jessie and Gracie! You guys are the best!"

"Thanks so much for my birthday bandana and treat. My mommy said I look very handsome in it! I want to let all of you know how much I LOVE coming to visit. Thank you for always taking such great care of me. You're the best!"

XO Tucker

"Just wanted you to know that Chance loved his weekend stay at Ruffin’ It and I’m sure he’s looking forward to his extended stay over Thanksgiving and all the days he’ll go to daycare in between. We’re very lucky to have such a great place to take him. It gives us a very good feeling to know that he’s being well taken care of and is having fun when we can’t be in town to take care of him ourselves. Our only fear is that one of these days he’s going to refuse to go home with us and will just want to stay there instead! He’s been sleeping ever since we picked him up at 4:15 today. We had to wake him up to have dinner. Unheard of for a Lab. The picture that was attached to his report card was adorable and we were wondering if you could email us a color copy of it. We’d love to add it to his scrapbook."

Thanks,

Bob & Jackie (Chance too!)

"Thank you for taking such good care of us while our humans were on vacation. We had a great time and can't wait until we get to come back. We are even more spoiled here than we are at home - and we didn't think that was possible."

Cassie and Chloe

“When I first walked into Ruffin'it I knew immediately that this was the place where Luna was going to stay. Your staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. They asked a lot of questions about our expectations and Luna's personality, etc.. It was a complete 180-degrees from what I experienced at other places around town.

Luna had a wonderful time, and my interpretation of Ruffin' It is it's a dog's home away from home.”

"Hello Ruffin it!

I am the grandmother of one of your guests. I told my daughter that the next time I visit to book me into your resort!

I am writing to compliment one of your day care attendants. He was on duty yesterday at around 4 pm your time. From what I see (don't think we grandmothers don't watch) he is a true dog lover, gentle and genuine. At one point I tuned in to find him sitting on the floor with one dog on his lap, dogs cuddled up on either side and many more lying close by. He truly understands that these dogs miss their family and need the human contact they are used to. And, by the way, my grand-dog wasn't even one of them.

What will I watch when my Yosemite dog goes home?"

"Thank you for taking such good care of my babies, Gibson and Lucky. I had peace of mind knowing they were in your hands. We will be back."

Carrie

Dear staff of Ruffin' It Resort,

"I wanted to write and extend a thank you for the excellent care you gave our dog Cody while we were vacationing in Colorado. We picked him up yesterday and he was happy and content, just as if he would have been at home. You really allowed us to have a relaxing and enjoyable vacation knowing that our special boy was having lots of fun and being well cared for. We will definitely be back!

...I really can't stress enough how very wonderful every member of your staff that we met was ...very professional and great with dogs! It was so nice to see Cody so happy when we returned ...we could just tell by his behavior that he had great care.

Thank you again for everything. I will recommend you 100% to anyone who needs to have their animal cared for."

Sincerely,

Martha and Dave