Chilled Dawgz: A Small-Dog Daycare with Big Heart in Glasgow

Chilled Dawgz Dog Daycare & Pet Services in Glasgow is a step above your average dog daycare. It’s a warm, welcoming space thoughtfully designed for the specific needs of small to medium-sized dogs. But behind the rubber flooring, cozy napping areas, and calm energy is a story rooted in passion, empathy — and a bold career change.

Owner Nicola Fleming has always had a deep love of animals. She grew up with dogs, cats, birds, and just about every other type of household pet. But it wasn’t until she and her husband brought home their first puppy together that she understood how challenging it could be to balance work and pet care.

At the time, Nicola was working full-time in the NHS — a demanding, high-stress role. Managing a young dog was difficult, and when the couple added a second puppy to the mix, it only became harder to leave them at home. Like many pet parents, Nicola struggled to find reliable, suitable care. Eventually, she made a major decision.

She left the NHS and started a new chapter as a full-time dog walker and home boarder. Her business quickly gained traction, and when demand outgrew her capacity, Nicola decided to open a daycare center.

“We opened on July 1, 2019 with one employee and absolutely no dogs on the books,” Nicola said. “We worked hard and have taken over a unit that is double the size we started with.”

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs outside of Chilled Dawgz

From the very beginning, Chilled Dawgz has been all about creating a stress-free environment for the dogs in their care. Nicola and her team noticed early on that their own Cavalier King Charles Spaniels weren’t comfortable around larger dogs, so they set out to design a daycare tailored to that specific population.

“We became Glasgow (Scotland)'s first Dog Daycare catering solely for small to medium-sized dogs," she said.

Carving out her niche set the business apart, and soon, she earned a loyal customer base — as well as the SME Scottish Enterprise Awards for best Small—to Medium-Sized Dog Daycare Facility in Glasgow for 2021, 2022, and 2023.

dogs relaxing in a cozy environment in Nicola's dog daycare

Supporting Every Dog's Journey

Nicola’s favorite part of the job isn’t about accolades or numbers, however. It’s about watching dogs grow into their full, happy selves.

“[I love] watching a shy, timid pup who is terrified to come into daycare flourish into a confident dog who pulls their owner off their feet to get into daycare,” she said.

That transformation is made possible by thoughtful care and holistic services. Chilled Dawgz doesn’t just offer daycare—they also provide professional grooming, raw feeding, and even animal Reiki to support every pet's emotional well-being.

A Holistic Approach: Dog Reiki at Chilled Dawgz

One of the most unique offerings at Chilled Dawgz is in-house Reiki therapy, provided by a certified Reiki Master. Reiki is a natural, energy-based healing system that helps animals rebalance themselves emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Animals, like people, experience stress, anxiety, and fear. Reiki sessions are designed to help soothe nervous dogs, promote faster healing, and even support behavior modification by addressing issues at the energetic level. Sessions are customized for each dog and can be done in person or remotely.

The daycare even incorporates chakra alignment, starting with the brachial chakra—unique to animals—and working through the full system to help restore balance and flow throughout the body.

Whether it's easing separation anxiety, helping an aggressive dog overcome fear, or simply offering a moment of calm to an energetic pup, Reiki adds another dimension to Chilled Dawgz's truly holistic care model.

A Facility Designed for Comfort and Care

Every detail of Chilled Dawgz’s facility reflects Nicola’s experience and thoughtful planning. The space features:

dog on outdoor exercise equipment at Chilled Dawgz

Shock absorbent rubber flooring
Indoor and outdoor exercise areas
A cozy nap area with individual sleeping pens
Quiet zones for elderly dogs
A designated toileting area with toilet training support
Trained daycare assistants on staff
On-site grooming services
Professional Reiki therapy sessions
Raw feeding consultation and prep

Raw Feeding That Works for Busy Pet Parents

As a raw feeder herself, Nicola knows firsthand how much time and effort goes into meal prep. What started as a favor to friends—making up raw meals for their dogs—soon turned into one of Chilled Dawgz’s most in-demand services.

Now, the team offers Prey Model raw feeding services that align with each dog’s nutritional needs: 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% offal. After a one-on-one consultation with each pet owner, daily meals are prepared and available for pickup during daycare hours. Clients can choose between convenient plastic bags or eco-friendly reusable containers that are returned and reused to reduce plastic waste.

It’s the perfect solution for pet parents who want to feed raw but don’t love handling raw meat—or simply don’t have the time.

The Technology Behind the Business

As Chilled Dawgz grew and added more niche and in-demand services, Nicola knew she needed a software platform that could help her manage day-to-day operations more efficiently. She turned to Gingr after a recommendation from another dog daycare—and it’s been a game-changer ever since.

“It has greatly reduced the time and paperwork required to run the daycare," Nicola said. "Everything is at our fingertips, and reports can be run off for most things.”

Gingr’s robust feature set allows Nicola to easily:

Accept and manage pre-paid bookings (with automatic tracking of remaining sessions)
Monitor daily operations through the dashboard
Keep a running waiting list to manage demand
Send personalized report cards to pet parents
Instantly access records needed for licensing inspections

“It really helped when renewing our dog daycare license—we had all the proof/evidence at our fingertips to show when assessors came out,” Nicola said,

These tools not only streamline admin work, they help Nicola deliver a professional, seamless experience to every pet parent.

Chilled Dawgz dog daycare and pet services external building

Building Trust Through Transparency

In an industry where trust is everything, Chilled Dawgz proudly displays their glowing Google Reviews directly on their website—an important credibility booster for new clients. Thanks to Gingr’s latest integration with Broadly by Vendasta, pet-care businesses like Chilled Dawgz can easily collect, showcase, and manage online reviews from one centralized platform.

Chilled Dawgz Google reviews and reputation management

By automatically prompting customers for feedback and publishing top reviews, this feature helps businesses improve their online reputation and confidently attract new pet parents.

Whether it’s hand-preparing a raw meal, calming a nervous pup with Reiki, or using smart software to simplify operations, Nicola and the team at Chilled Dawgz are proving that a little heart—and a lot of care—can go a long way.