I first met Cathy a couple of years ago when I was looking for a groomer for my Standard Poodle puppy, Ebony. After having checked out a number of different places, I went to CJ’s Dog Resort and Spa. I was sold as soon as I walked in the door. Her grooming area was very clean and well organized. Her prices were very reasonable and she was friendly and professional. She showed me a number of photos to help me chose the cut I preferred for Ebony.

Cathy’s vast knowledge of dogs has helped Ebony and me in many ways. As a first time dog owner, I faced a steep learning curve. It was Cathy who first noticed Ebony had an ear infection. At the vet’s, it took three people to hold him to administer the ear drops. He was worse when he got an eye infection. He was never aggressive, but he was like a contortionist. When I told Cathy how difficult it was to administer the drops because Ebony was so incredibly stubborn, she assured me she could get them in herself. She did! She helped me learn how to win that battle with him too. When Ebony’s eye and ear infections kept recurring, Cathy recommended I ask my vet to test him for allergies. Sure enough, that was what was causing the problem.

Every trainer who has worked with Ebony has commented on him being one of the most stubborn dogs they’ve ever worked with. He needs a loving, but firm hand. Cathy has given me countless and practical training tips. As a young puppy, Ebony could be a little rascal and Cathy and Malcolm played a huge role in helping him learn boundaries, how to share and socialize well with other dogs. He is a very high energy dog and requires a great deal of exercise. After a day at puppy daycare, he comes home tired and happy.

The play area outdoors is well maintained and has a good shaded area as well as large kiddie pools to keep the dogs comfortable in the summer heat. Cathy and Malcolm have recently added a second very large play area, giving the dogs even more space to run. It is reassuring to know the dogs are always supervised and given a lot of play time outdoors.

I like to travel and I am able to do so knowing that Ebony will have the best of care. They administer any medications he needs, be it pills, needles or drops. Should Ebony get sick while I’m away, they would take him to his own vet. On my latest trip, I extend my stay and the food I had left ran out so they went out and got the same band I use.

A couple of family members have been dealing with very serious health issues lately. It came as a huge relief when Cathy told me not to worry, that should an emergency arise, to just call and bring Ebony out to them right away. A couple of months ago, I got a call asking me to get to the hospital in North Bay as soon as possible. I was able to drop Ebony off late that day and leave with one less worry, knowing Ebony would be well cared for until I was able to get back.

I love Ebony and want the best for him. Cathy and Malcolm provide that in every way. My only concern is that Ebony doesn’t miss me much at all when he is with them.

Sharon Tallon

While we were living in Grafton Ontario we took our dogs to “CJ’s Dog Resort and Spa” when we had to be out of town or had other commitments. They were recommended by friends who like us were very particular on how their dogs were treated and refused to have their pets in kennels.

The facilities at CJ’s are excellent, there are many large open spaces for the dogs to run and play in. They are supervised at all times and not allowed to go “crazy”. The whole area is kept very clean and obviously policing is kept up diligently.

Our dogs were never reluctant to go there and at the end of the day we were always guaranteed two tired and happy Collies. We always had feedback and informed recommendations if required from the owners when we picked up our dogs after their stay. We would not hesitate to recommend this facility to anyone who wants the best for their friend whether it is a day visit, overnight or an extended stay.

Lisette & John Gerry

Nova Scotia

I have known Cathy for more than 20 years. I grew up next door to Cathy’s facility and she has been our go-to professional for all things ‘dog’. She has groomed and boarded for my family for the better part of 2 decades and we have trusted her with our furry family members. After moving to the city, I got my two Great Danes and they have spent every holiday back with Cathy and her pack. I have trusted her when my dogs were young and they were learning how to socialize, as they grew up and developed their personalities and now, as adult dogs, they just love spending long weekends at her facility. I continue to be impressed by her attention to detail, the way she communicates with any dog in her facility and her fastidious dedication to the well-being of all dogs in her care. Everything from winter-coats on to wadding pools on hot summer days make for excellent care! I have nearly 300lbs of dog that I drop off to her place….and I know they will be treated like one of the pack in their own individual way.
– Jonathan Rogers, 2014

Sansa, our highly intelligent German Shepherd started coming to Cathy’s this winter and she now looks forward to her Wednesday “day off” with enormous enthusiasm. We brought Sansa to CJ’s after we spend $500 at the Vet’s to find out that Sansa was bored. We were worried that she had some sort of urinary issue, but it turned out that she was filling up on water to tease the cats before they could have a drink!! Apparently this was a game she devised to keep herself amused. We had thought that having two boys, three cats, two very devoted adults and a couple of acres of property would be enough to keep Sansa physically and mentally stimulated, but it was not enough. Sansa now has a once a week visit to CJ’s to just be a dog and romp with the pack. Sansa loves this time and really does feel she is entitled to her weekly holiday. She knows when it is Wednesday and starts herding me to the door from about 7 a.m. until we leave just after 8. Normally she follows her own morning routine, but not on Wednesdays! She is like a kid asking “are we leaving yet?” Once we get to Cathy’s she doesn’t even look back to say good-bye – she is gone through the gate to begin her own day where she has made friends with the other dogs. While Sansa is an excellent watch dog in our own home, she does not bark at Cathy’s, so we know she thinks she is on vacation. Since we have started her visits to Cathy’s, Sansa has stopped teasing the cats quite so much. We have also notice that Sansa has much better manners with other dogs. We often care for my father’s rather testy hound dog who Sansa used to really annoy, and we worried that she would get injured. We could not leave the dogs alone. This is no longer an issue. It seems that Sansa has learnt how to properly behave around another dominant dog. We recently received compliments on Sansa’s doggy etiquette when my husband took her camping. When she met other dogs she knew how to greet them, and the other owners were very impress!
ed with Sansa’s manners. She did not know how to behave around other dogs before we brought her to Cathy, who patiently helped Sansa adjust to being part of a pack. We have learnt from this experience, just how much stimulation an intelligent dog requires and we have learnt that sometimes a dog just needs to be a dog – not a human or a cat! Thanks Cathy, for helping Sansa learn some proper dog etiquette and for providing her with an exciting environment that she loves being part of.

In October of 2013, a Jack Russell puppy made her way into our hearts, and home. Although we were aware of the responsibilities of owning a dog, I also wanted to be sure that she was well mannered, exercised and socialized. After hearing great things about CJ’s Dog Resort, I decided to call them and was warmly received by Cathy. She was personable and professional, and we arranged a “meet and greet”. Just a few days later, Birdie was heading to CJ’s for her first play day, and has enjoyed many visits since then!! It gives me peace of mind knowing that she is in a safe environment, and is treated like one of Cathy & Malcolm’s own. Upon picking her up at the end of the day, she is always happily exhausted, and we all enjoy a good night’s sleep!

Holly Labow

We were fortunate to find Cathy’s new sign up by the highway just as we were needing a place to board our dogs while we went to warmer climes for a week.  We followed the signs and found a warm, enthusiastic and dog-loving woman with terrific, brand-new facilities.  Although she was in the middle of having her hair done, she immediately jumped up and showed us around.  We were sold!  (We’re also sold on her preserves and baking at Christmas, but that’s another story.)  One thing that we particularly liked was that the dogs stay in the house with the family, and each boarder has his or her own “room”–our dogs would become family pets while they stayed there.  The house had been recently renovated to make this possible.

 

When Theodore and Punkers came for “their” vacation, Cathy didn’t blink once as we went over all of the peculiarities of how we spoil them.  We went off on our trip without any worrying about them, except perhaps to wonder if they missed us a little bit.  When we picked them up 9 days later, it was clear that they had been in good hands, and had been havingway too much fun to be wondering where we were.  

 

We continue to take them out “to the farm” three afternoons a week so that they can run around off-leash in the VERY BIG fenced-in yard and play with other dogs.  This has done a great deal for Punker’s socialization skills (he was a rescue), and Theodore has completely fallen in love with Cathy.  We think that he’d be happy if we just left him there all the time.  He’s also become much better at dropping the ball when he plays fetch with us.

Cathy can also groom your dog.  We’ve been very happy with the dog’s “do’s”. 

 

If you are looking for a safe, homey and very reasonably priced place to leave your dog or dogs, you have found it.  Don’t go anywhere else.  Calling CJ’s a kennel would be an insult–this is your best friend’s home away from home.

It was 1983 when our family moved from St. Catharines to the Cobourg area with our 3 children and 2 dogs (poodles) in tow. One of the major hurdles in our relocating was to find a suitable dog grooming operation.

We initially tried a few dog grooming establishments without satisfactory results.

It was recommended that we try Cj’s Grooming located on Orange Street in Cobourg at the time and BINGO we hit it off with Cathy on all cylinders. The dogs got a good, professional grooming with all the trimmings. They receive top notch care while with her because she cares about dogs and continues to this day.

We continued with Cj’s Grooming when they relocated to Danforth Rd until the time when Cathy temporarily changed careers.

Now that Cathy has re-established her business as Cj’s Dog Resort & Spa, we have returned to her with our dogs (now numbering 3).

Cj’s Dog Resort & Spa is now much more than a dog grooming operation and Cathy along with her husband (Malcolm) have created an exceptional facility for pampering your dogs in a homelike setting.

This has always been the dream of Cathy that has finally come to fruition and if you care about your dog(s) it certainly is worth a visit to see the new facilities or at least take a look at their website

Bob & Madeline Line – Cobourg, Ontario

　

Once again, Marley enjoyed her stay at your doggie spa.
Marley was so excited to say goodbye to us as we went to yet another hockey tournament,
and she loved seeing all her ‘friends’ again. When she got home she was pooped from all the playing over the weekend!
It was especially nice during Marley’s last stay to come home to her all
fresh and clean from a bath and grooming!! Finally.
So nice to have that all taken care of too!
You have such a great spot and it certainly helps put our minds at ease and leave her behind
when we know she is having fun, getting exercise and getting love and attention too!
Thank you very much for taking such good care if our baby!!
The Cattell family

New Dog Resort and Spa comes to Northumberland County

click to view article

Cathy Carruthers has a love and passion for dogs, she says “I could be with dogs 24/7”.

Cj’s Dog Resort and Spa is located at 9883 Danforth Road,  five minutes from Cobourg.

It is a full service dog retreat, everything from shampooing, grooming, daycare, and overnight stays. The resort is located in a beautiful fenced country setting with groomed trails for long walks outdoors and a comfortable indoor lounge area. It also has a swimming pool for those dogs that love to swim. Click on the magazine to view a copy of the article.