Applewood Team

Your Dogtopia Applewood Family, Dog Lovers Unite!

Our Dogtopia Applewood team is committed to welcoming every new furry friend into our family with open arms! We want every pet parent to know that their pups are in the best hands they could possibly be in. Our Team is made up of several people that all share a very important trait; a love of dogs!

A big shout out to one of our artistic coaches, Shawna, for making this beautiful image for us!

Jorge & Graciela, The Owner & The Love Of His Life

Jorge’s passion for dogs started at an early age. His father managed a cattle ranch where Border Collies were used as herding dogs. Jorge would hop on his horse from the age of 10 to “help” the staff herd the cattle with the dogs!

Jorge’s gorgeous wife is Graciela; a hard-working professional with such a big heart. She is sure to make the Team and our clients feel at home with her loving nature and cheery disposition every time she comes to visit us! Though she leads a busy life with her career, she makes time to drop off treats for our team whenever she has the opportunity!

Jorge’s fur baby these days is Milka, a 7 year old Chocolate Lab. Milka is the first Labrador that Jorge has owned, and he couldn’t have made a better choice! She is a sweet girl that LOVES to play fetch!

Sonia, Manager and Multi-Artist

Sonia has spent pretty much her entire life loving dogs! Her family has owned big and small dogs throughout her life, so she never discriminates against a pup’s size! Whenever a dog marches through our doors, you can see Sonia’s face light up at the opportunity to make another fur friend!

Sonia has a dog named Deku, who you’ll see in the Romper quite daily! She also has a 3 legged cat! Sonia is a mom to an adorable daughter, and she is a multi-artist, dabbling in miniature painting, singing, gaming, streaming, and so much more!

Becky, Pup Stylist and Resin Artist

Becky is our AMAZING groomer! Always friendly and ready to converse about pups! Becky has never lived in a home without dogs, and feels that her life would be incomplete without them. At home, she lives with 2 doggies with very different personalities!

Becky has been a certified groomer since 2016, we are so happy to welcome her to our team! Any time your pup needs a new haircut, just give us a call and speak to Becky directly about all of your needs!

Amanda, Front Desk Rep and Grooming Wizard

Amanda is a face you will commonly see in the lobby of our daycare. Her bright smile and calming voice makes every person and dog feel at home. From her skill at bathing and tidying up the messiest pup in the salon, to making sure every pet parent is up to date on daily going-on’s, Amanda is a guru of passion and mastery!

Shawna, Social Media/Events Manager and Canine Coach/Rover

Meet Shawna! Ever since she could crawl, she has been obsessed with dogs. As an only child, her best friends were her pets and her cousin Brandon. Her passion for canines came from her first puppy, a German Shepherd named Eli.

Shawna is the coordinator behind our social media posts, and the organizer and photographer of our events. She is a loving mother of 2 children, and she freelance illustrates books and cartoons. Her busy schedule never stops her from showing up with the biggest smile whenever she comes in for a shift! You’ll also find her in the playrooms sometimes, or as a Rover on the weekends!

Jen, Rover and Machine Master

Say hello to Jen! Jen came to us early on in Dogtopia Applewood lore, with a strong background in canine knowledge. She is a passionate Rover, making sure dogs get to their pet parents safely at day’s end, and insuring all dogs staying overnight are ready for a wonderful slumber party! When we’re looking for mechanical know-how, she is the one we run to the most!

Jen has a pup named Cuervo, who she shows the utmost attention and love towards! She always has a tip or trick to lend a team member when they’re in a pickle.

Brandon, Front Desk Rep and Twitch Streamer

Meet Brandon! His is one of the most common faces you’ll meet in the mornings during the week. His deep wholesome voice and friendly demeanor draws all of us in extremely easily.

Brandon spends his personal time making incredible artwork, gaming, and streaming for all of his fans! He has an adorable cat named Poochie who he adores more than life itself.

May, Front Desk Rep and Expert Rover

May is our resident giggler, but that doesn’t stop her from professionalism! Her love for living creatures–especially dogs– shines brightly through her sweet personality! She never misses an opportunity to greet the daycare pups, and her knowledge of dogs grows by the day. She literally sees every Dogtopia Applewood dog as her family. And she is ALWAYS there for family.

She is a strong and passionate student, as well as a human rights defender and writer.

Ashley, Head Rover and Shiba Mom

Ashley is most often the first team member that every new dog and pet parent meets on their Meet & Greet day. She knows every daycare dog by name, and she makes all of the pups feel incredibly comfortable and safe. Her position entails a lot; conducting Meet & Greet assessments, preparing lunches, organizing boarding dogs and their belongings, and covering coach breaks.

She has grown immensely in her knowledge of canine behaviour and mannerisms. She is a powerhouse and we are so happy to have her with us every day! She has a young Shiba Inu pup named Akira, who means the world to her.

Catherine, Rover and Super Mom

Catherine is the kindest person you could ever come across in Dogtopia history. She looks out for everyone, and even if someone or some pup doesn’t show it, she can tell that they could use some help with something! She is one of our Rovers, specializing in taking dogs to and from the playrooms, administering medication, and getting boarding pups settled in for the night.

She is an amazing mom to some creative and comedic kiddos, and a wife and friend. Her dog Iggy joins us in the Romper and has been with us for many years.

Megan, Canine Coach and Comedian

Megan has been with us almost longer than most of our senior staff! You’ll see her on the webcams in the Toybox, playing fetch, cuddling pups, or comforting a dog on their first day at daycare. As a senior canine coach, we all look to her for an example of how to be the BEST coach we can be.

Megan has hilarious tendencies, and she loves to joke around with the dogs throughout the day. We would not be what we are today if we didn’t have her.

Lexi, Canine Coach and Co-Op Graduate

No matter what we do, we can NOT get rid of this girl! Kidding! She started out with us as a wee little Co-Op student, trying to find her passion. She gained SO much knowledge during her position, learning how to do Rover duties, admin duties, and even coaching! After a brief time away from us, she returned with a vengeance and is now one of our strongest canine coaches!

Lexi is a strong-willed and tough individual. She is a treasure here and we hope she stays forever!

Angie, Front Desk Rep and Canine Coach

Angie has been with us for quite some time, and she has inherited so much knowledge of every single aspect of the Dogtopia Applewood environment! A Jill-of-all-trades, you can find her in the playrooms, doing Rover tasks, and manning the front desk with ease. She has the most love for every dog in the building, and it shows. Pack members often refuse to leave the premises unless they get some cuddles from Angie first!

Angie is loving, kind, caring, and everything you could ever want in a team member.

Rossana, Canine Coach and Tenacious Team Member

Rossana is one of our newest coaches, but you’d never guess it. She brings an array of confidence into the rooms that all the dogs respect and appreciate! She is strong, dependable, and an iconic team player.

Rossana radiates likeable energy, which is why so many dogs flock to her for attention. Her love of dogs and passion for keeping them happy are clear indicators of a wonderful canine coach. We are so proud to have her on our team!

Abee, Canine Coach and Artistic Gamer

Abee must have come to us from some magical video game world, because she is just too cool to be true. She is one of our best canine coaches and has even dabbled in Rovery. No one can talk about Abee without getting a huge smile on their face, because that’s what Abee brings to this daycare; pure love, care, and happiness. She cares for the pups as much as her own, and she’s always sad to see them go home at the end of a fun day of play.

Abee is quite the avid gamer and appreciates all things gaming. She also has fantastic art skills that she sometimes shows us in chalk form on the playroom floors; her art is fantastic!

Jason, Groomer and Right-hand Man

Jason joined us in the spa as a groomer’s helper, bringing with him a wealth of amazing skills and grooming artistry. His talent and reliability have quickly made him one of the most valued members of our team.

Beyond his professional abilities, Jason is a super cool father to an amazing little girl, a loving husband, and an awesome friend to many. His warm personality and gentle touch make the dogs adore him, and they are always excited to see him when they start their spa day.