Courtney DeDi strives to provide a home away from home for her staff, clients, and guests at her upscale doggy day care and boarding facility, Club DiOGi. In a newly renovated 10,000-square-foot space, DeDi boasts a strong staff with a mission to provide high-quality care for the furry clientele of Club DiOGi.
Before 2020, DeDi was in the dog walking and pet sitting business for over a decade. In an interview with Georgia Voice, DeDi said the pandemic highlighted the need for change.
“While I loved the dog walking and pet sitting side of the business, DiOGi Pet Services, for 12 years, the pandemic changed the employment landscape,” she said. “…Shifting my focus to the day care relieved stress in countless ways.”
Club DiOGi’s sense of community expands beyond just the dogs that come in every day.
“I love dogs, AND I love people; that has been how Club DiOGi has grown and continues to thrive,” DeDi said. As a member of the LGBTQ community herself, DeDi works hard to create a supportive environment for everyone who comes through Club DiOGi. The Club regularly hosts parent appreciation nights and other members-only events, including a Pride Party to celebrate Atlanta Pride in October.
The Club’s staff, of course, is a dog-loving bunch. The trainers practice the least intrusive, minimally aversive (LIMA) training method, which prioritizes positive reinforcement to address basic training needs and behavior issues like fear, aggression, and reactivity. Club DiOGi also employs an array of safety measures and methods to ensure the pups are returning to their owners well-cared for and well-trained.
Club DiOGi asks owners to keep a regular day care schedule so the playroom “Rufferees” can build personal relationships with each pup, work on social skills based on individual needs, and build friendships with their peers. The Club also offers indoor and outdoor play areas, individual zen suites for overnight guests, aromatherapy, and classical music to reduce stress and keep the dogs comfortable.
Community is invaluable, DeDi says, owing her success to the support of local business owner groups and chambers of commerce. A 2017 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, DeDi said, “that program changed the trajectory of my life in business. I have a cohort of 10,000 and other small business owners to reach out to.” Finding the proper support and resources with other like-minded individuals made all the difference for DeDi.
The National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) estimated in a 2016 snapshot that LGBTQ-owned businesses contribute over a trillion dollars to the U.S. economy. The report found that lesbian-owned businesses make up almost 30 percent of all LGBTQ+-owned businesses in the U.S.
Club DiOGi continues to grow as it now offers confidence-building “Ruff Mudder Sessions.” DeDi credits her client-turned-best friend, Lynda Rowan, with the idea.
“Adventure is not reserved for big dogs only,” DeDi said of the program, which seeks to empower both little dogs and their owners to explore the natural world through enrichment and confidence-building equipment at Club DiOGi.
DeDi knows the power of community and she uses it to provide for her furry friends. Each fall, Club DiOGi runs a collection drive for unopened pet food and new toys to give to a local dog rescue. Donations can be dropped off between September 15 and November 15 at Club DiOGi at 2080 Cheshire Bridge Road.
You can join the club or learn more at clubdiogi.com.