Indoor Dog Swimming Pool in Oshkosh, WI

Matt

Managing Director

Hello, I am Matt, Owner of The Doggie Paddle. While growing up with and loving dogs all my life, I can honestly say my Labrador, named Gunner(middle picture), changed my life. He is after all in our logo. With him I joined a retriever training club and found out that a dog is more than just a dog and with the right time and knowledge they can learn countless abilities. Through the training group, I met a gentleman that was looking to sell his boarding kennel and well, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my days then caring for dogs. So we bought Curve Crest Kennels in 2018. About that time Gunner had torn his CCL (ACL in Humans) and after having it surgically repaired, that Veterinarian told me with Gunner being a working dog, it was better to do my own research and my own rehab with his guidance. He said water therapy was crucial, so that’s where we started. 

After extensive rehab in the pool and on land we went on to earn Gunner’s AKC Master Hunter title. My passion to helping dogs was born, and I knew I wanted to open a facility of my own to help dogs. I truly believe our pool is a fountain of youth for dogs!!! We can help with rehabbing injuries, weight loss, senior dogs that struggle with mobility, and that is the passion. Teaching young dogs or dogs that don’t know how to swim, is also amazing to watch. Being the son of a teacher, the excitement and joy from watching a dog “figure it out” is a close second. I also help owners with their dog on obedience, like walking on a leash, house manners and communication between dog and human. 

Lisa and I have 5 Labradors, Gunner, Remmi (top and bottom), Oaks(bottom), Echo(bottom), and Timber. They all have or do train and test for Hunt tests and Remmi and Oaks have started Dock Jumping. They all think they are pretty lucky that their Human has a pool they can swim in year round!!

Ashley H.

Partner

Hello, I am Ashley and I am the manager here at The Doggie Paddle. I have been with The Doggie Paddle since we opened and I couldn’t have picked a better business to be a part of. I grew up on a farm with my mother, breeding Brittany Spaniels and Friesian horses. We traveled the country my entire childhood, competing in field trials and dog shows. Going to Nationals and Westminster in both sports many times throughout the years. We also trained and hunted our dogs for bird hunting all over the country. It was an incredible way to grow up, traveling and working with our animals. This is where my love of animals grew its start. Helping my mom train the dogs taught me so much discipline and compassion for animals and the sports we competed in. As a teenager I ran my own dogs in many competitions and titled many dogs. 

Here at The Doggie Paddle I help teach dogs to love the water and help injured dogs recover and strengthen their injured muscles. It is the most rewarding job I have ever been a part of. I love coming to work every day and seeing the improvements each dog is making. Watching a dog come in who can barely walk up the stairs, and after a few weeks of swimming they are running around like they are a puppy all over again. Or watching a dog realize how fun the water can be and go from scared to a water addict. The pool can change a dogs quality of life and I am so happy to be a part of that!!

I do have 2 dogs of my own, Hickory(middle, bottom) a Brittany Spaniel, and Aspen, a German Wirehair, who are the light of my life. They go on every adventure with me. From camping, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, snowshoeing and winter camping. They are the best adventure buddies you could ask for. And they both absolutely loves swimming, to the point they thinks this pool belongs to them!

Ashley G.

Partner

I am also an Ashley, but I go by Ash here at the pool! I am the newest partner, starting in April of 2021. I have been involved with animals my entire life. My dad raised hounds and hunted with them. I also started riding horses when I was 10, and started venturing into the dog sport world when I was 11. I had a yellow lab named Molly and we did 4-H together. She started my love for dog training and dog sports! 

My passion for working with animals has only gotten stronger throughout the years. I’ve been working in the animal industry since I was 15 at various kennel and horse stables. I knew when the listing for a job at a dog pool popped up, that I had found an amazing opportunity to help dogs. I absolutely love to see the change that swimming has on the dogs! Whether it’s an injured dog who feels like their old self again, or a dog who has found their new favorite place to play!

I have many animals of my own including 3 dogs, 3 horses, and 3 cats! I have a young border collie named Jetson(bottom), a familiar face on the Facebook page, who is training for a plethora of sports including dock diving, disc, flyball, and many more. I also have a little 21 lb. rat terrier mix named Rigby(middle) who LOVES to fly off the dock! My newest addition is a little Labrador named Maeby! We are hoping to do hunt tests, dock diving, and possibly agility when she is older!