About Us

Rex Dog Hotel + Spa is a family owned and operated facility that has been welcoming dog guests since 2006. The Rex offers 24 hour supervised care in a truly unique and custom designed hotel that your dog will love! Please visit our Press page to browse some of the articles about us and our facility that have been printed since we opened.

The Balshaw family have been in the dog care business since 1996. Our first facility, The Doghouse at Granville Island was one of Vancouver’s first dog daycares. We opened our second dog daycare on West 8th and Manitoba Street in 1998.

It is our pleasure to serve our hotel guests, both two legged and four. If you have any questions, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

FAQs

I'm interested in your services. How do I get started?

Great question! For all new clients we always suggest that you come down to the hotel for a tour (available Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm, no appointment necessary). That way we can show you around and you can ask us as many questions as you like. From there we will ask you to fill out our application form and we will confirm your dog’s vaccinations. Last step is to arrange at least one daycare visit with us before booking any overnight visits. Voila! You are now a client!

If you can’t make it for a tour just give us a call or send us an email to get your dog set up with us.

Can I skip the first daycare visit?

Unfortunately no. We need to be sure that your dog will be happy and comfortable in our open concept hotel environment. So we need to have spent some time with him or her in order to be able to make that assessment.

What if my dog doesn’t like other dogs?

In this case we are not the right fit for your dog. We are set up for well socialized dogs that are comfortable in a group.

I’m from out of town. Can I still book my dog into the hotel?

Out of town requests are a bit tricky. Because we are not a kennel and operate the hotel as an open concept environment, we ask that all new dogs come in for at least one daycare visit in advance of an overnight stay to assess whether our hotel is a good fit for him or her. Usually clients from out of town cannot meet this daycare requirement so we unfortunately have to say no to a reservation request.

What vaccinations do you require?

We require that the following vaccinations are up to date:

Distemper combination
Bordetella (aka kennel cough)
Rabies

Do you accept Titre Tests?

Yes. We just need the results of the titre test to confirm that the level is sufficient to be considered effective.

Who are the owners of Rex Dog Hotel + Spa?

Rex Dog Hotel + Spa is a family owned and operated business. We opened our first dog daycare location (The Doghouse) in 1996 and opened Rex Dog Hotel + Spa in 2006. Barrie and Karen Balshaw are involved in all aspects of the business on a day to day basis!

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How old do puppies need to be to stay at Rex Dog Hotel + Spa?

Puppies must have completed their 3rd set of puppy shots plus bordetella.

Some veterinarians are now recommending that rabies be delayed a few more months and so rabies can temporarily be waived with confirmation from your vet clinic. This means that puppies are generally about 4 months before they are safe to stay with us. Please note that this policy is in place for the safety of your puppy!

Do you accept dogs that are not neutered or spayed?

We don’t accept male puppies over 7 months that are not neutered.
Female dogs don’t need to be spayed but must not be in a heat cycle when staying at the hotel.

Do you have any breed restrictions?

Yes. After many years of experience with dogs in a group environment there are some breeds that we have unfortunately had to exclude. These are American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Mastiff, Akita, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso, Chow Chow and Weimeraner. This policy was made exclusively for the safety and well being of the entire group of dogs and our staff. In no way does this mean that we think these breeds of dogs can’t be wonderful dogs.

A note about Bulldogs:
We love them! Unfortunately most do not work out in our group environment. They can tend to exhibit the “bully” behaviors and ignore the body language of other dogs. They can also be toy possessive or people possessive and exhaust themselves by not knowing when to stop!
We will try out a bulldog if it seems like it may be a good fit (younger dog, well socialized with an emphasis on good dog manners). In many cases, however, we will have to say no to meeting a new bulldog (older dog, little or no socialization).

A note about Rotweillers:
We love them too! Like with bulldogs, most do not work out in our group environment. This is again based on our many years of experience with dogs in groups. In certain cases we will try out a rotweiller but in most cases will have to say no.

My dog just had surgery. Can he stay at the hotel?

We are not set up for dogs recovering from medical procedures. Our hotel is a fun and lively place and not a suitable environment for convalescing. Sorry!

Is food included in my rate?

No. Please bring the food that your dog normally eats. We have a full kitchen so are able to accommodate whatever your dog’s regular diet is.

Will you feed raw food at the hotel?

Sure! If you provide it we are happy to feed raw food. We have two fridges and two freezers and are all set up to accommodate raw food diets.

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What if I forget to bring my dog’s food or treats?

If you forget your food or run out of food we sell a few different types of dog food. Please see the food menu page on the website for details. We also have mini bar treats that can be purchased at check-in or check-out. We offer bones, beef chews, biscuits and other fun treats at great prices!

Can I check my dog into the hotel after 1:00 pm?

Generally no. We are a group environment and so all the dogs need to have spent some time together to get comfortable with the group. Dogs that check-in later in the day often disrupt the group and make the evening less happy and comfortable.

Can we come for a tour?

Sure! Tours are available Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm. No appointment necessary. Bring your dog with you if you like!

Can my friend visit?

We request that you not send friends or family members to visit with your dog while they are staying with us at the hotel. Generally this confuses your dog and does not add to his or her overall happiness and well being. We welcome your friend or family member to come for a tour of the hotel where we can show them your dog in the group without your dog noticing them.

Do you offer grooming in your spa?

We offer a bath (shampoo/conditioner) with a full blow dry and brush out. We also offer nail trimming. However, we don’t offer grooming. We want your dog to have positive associations with the hotel and be excited to come and stay here with us so we discontinued grooming many years ago.

Do I need a reservation for my dog to stay overnight?

Yes please. We do have dates that get sold out in advance so we ask that you make a reservation.