Trade and Service of the Week.

Good service and a lifetime of love and care for dogs is why people keep coming back to Shangri La Dog B&B.

Operated by Judy Player and her daughter Michelle, the business has been in operation since around 2012.

Their base is at “Shangri La”, a property on the Amaroo Road near Molong, near Fairbridge Farm just off the Mitchell Highway.

The Shangri La Dog B&B started as a hobby, and is now a small business that can have as many as 20 dogs at peak times like Easter, Christmas and school holidays.

“We sort of started off looking after our own dogs and our family’s dogs and neighbours dogs,” Judy said.

“We’ve always had three or four working dogs of our own.

“When neighbours or our children went on holidays we used to look after their dogs and pets, and it just went from there.”

Sometimes the kennels may have just one dog, but when holiday periods approach business ramps up.

Brisbane, other parts of Queensland, Mudgee, Dubbo, Dunedoo and Canberra are just some of the centres clients come from.

Shangri La Dog B&B offers personalised care to keep clients happy, attending to regular care and treatment schedules/maintenance as required per when the dogs are at their usual home.

“People love their dogs, that’s whey they board them,” she said.

“Otherwise, they’d get the neighbour to throw a bone over the fence.

“We want to look after the dogs like they are our own.”

Shangri La Dog B&B also offers safe kennels inside and out, good yard sizes and fresh food and water twice a day. Each dog has their own individual yards available if required.

“We send our visiting dogs home happy and healthy from their visit here,” Judy said.

“We like them to be happy.

“The dogs get all excited when they arrive.

“Some of our visiting dogs are quite funny. They love to come here and sit and jump in the door trying to get in their usual kennel.”

Judy relayed a story about a St Bernard dog that didn’t want to go home after his visit.

“He trotted to the trailer ready to go home, but then stopped half-way, turned around ran back to the kennel, jumped on the gate, busted it open and sat back in our kennel” Judy laughed.

The business does not take pit bull, mastiffs or rottweilers or other dog breeds that may be aggressive.

“We keep it working dogs and dogs that can be people’s friends,” Judy said.

Asked what good service meant to her, Judy Player replied: “To be polite to your customers and to try and help them in what they want in their care. It’s important to look after people’s dogs the way they need them to be looked after.”

In attracting repeat customers, Judy wasn’t entirely sure of the secret but said word-of-mouth certainly assists.

“People tell me that so-and-so told them to ring here,” Judy said. “It’s nice.”

Shangri La Dog B&B is contactable via phone on (02) 6366 9659.