F E AT U R E
HEALING THE
Soul
DEN URBAN DOG RETREAT IS AN OASIS FOR PETS AND THEIR OWNERS
Dogs and their owners can indulge in rituals and healing processes like reiki, an energy healing technique that uses hand motions on and around the body.
Doga, dog yoga, will help owners improve their posture, stretch out tight muscles, and improve quality of sleep. The pup will benefit from increased circulation, stress relief, and extra bonding time with their human.
oCal is a trendsetter for health and wellness, and DEN Urban Dog Retreat in Los Angeles is doing just that for pets. Animal lovers Lindsay Velez and Victorious Solomon opened DEN in November 2019, an oasis for dogs and their owners. Since then, the business has been featured on Netflix and has become a word-ofmouth sensation. “We don’t go around saying we’re in the people service business,” Solomon says. “We say we are in the dog service business. All of our services are perfectly designed for you and your dog to get some relaxation.” Solomon and Velez strive to become an industry leader and help reshape how people view health and wellness with animals and humans. “We want to be industry disruptors,” Solomon says. “We don’t feel that the care available to dogs is as up to par as it could be. “The goal is to have a thriving, healthy space for people and their dogs to get together and learn from each other, as well as create a community that has energy and kindness and creativity. We want to change what people think about both pet and personal care.” DEN offers doggy day care and grooming Monday through Friday, and it provides shuttle service. During day care, dogs participate in activities like hiking, playtime and massages. Solomon says energetic trainers ensure dogs are having a good time, regardless of their ability to mingle. Without cages, he says, the dogs can relax. “It’s really all about keeping them happy and relaxed during day care,” Solomon says. “We have a really great system for socializing the dogs while also letting them do their own thing. They can play and have fun, but with the way we do things they aren’t overstimulated or overexerting.” In addition to its day care and grooming services, DEN offers wellness services for dogs and their owners, using creative and unorthodox methods. The activities include holistic healing services derived from Eastern traditions. “We offer a lot of services that a lot of people may have never even heard of,” Solomon says. “With our programs, we really just try to heal and balance our members and their dogs.” Dogs and their owners can indulge in rituals and healing processes like Reiki, an energy healing technique that uses hand motions on and around the body, sound healing, crystal therapy and “doga,” which is, essentially, dog yoga. “What we do is really unique, and I think that when people are open to this kind of healing it can do a lot,” Solomon says. Crystal therapy quickly became one of the most popular services. Each crystal has its own healing property, and experts work to find the most susceptible spots in the body to guide dogs and people through the healing. “We like to keep everything really balanced. We offer these services as a supplementary aspect because we want to be this Montessori School for dogs — or even, your dog’s crystal shop,” Solomon says. continued on page 12
Submitted photos
S
BY CLAIRE SPINNER
10 | ARROYO | 07.21
10-AM-Den Urban Dog Retreat.indd 10
7/2/21 10:14 AM
