You don't have to speak with a French accent to get your pet a room at Z Pet Hotel in Santa Fe. But a bit of humor goes a long way at the Harrison Street kennel.

"You've got to have some fun," says Michelle Glasser, a longtime veterinary technician, groomer and chief dog greeter.

And be prepared for canine kisses. Glasser, on this recent Monday, gets up close and personal with dozens of dogs vying for her attention. Some dogs are old friends, while others are new to the facility. Glasser treats all with a kindly word or gentle touch.

"Some of them come in and are scared," Glasser says, squatting down with two newcomers, Cha-Cha and César. "I like to sit with them for a while so they get used to us right off the bat."

That individual attention is key to the kennel's success, says owner Mark Edwards. It's something he's learned from more than two decades of working with dogs of all dispositions.

"You have to read them," Edwards says, "and understand their temperament. They are individuals, just like we are."

Edwards became involved with managing kennels in Santa Fe through Paw Print Kennels on Frontage Road, where he initially trained dogs. As business boomed, he opened a second facility on Harrison Street, which was formerly the bar Shooters.

Last August, Edwards decided not to exercise his lease-option on Paw Print and focus his energy on the in-city site, behind the now-defunct Pete's Pets.

His wife, Renée Edwards, a longtime real-estate agent, came up with the new name for the kennels, which also offers grooming, day care and intensive training.

"It has a catchy ring to it," Renée Edwards says about Z Pet Hotel. It's something Inspector Clouseau (of Pink Panther fame) might say, she adds, with emphasis on the 'Z.'

Renée Edwards became involved with the business in December to help out with the holiday rush. She continues to be a presence in the business.

"I just recognize the potential," she says. "And it's fun."

Renée Edwards says she loves the family aspect of the kennel. Plus the stories customers tell her.

"Everybody has a story," Renée Edwards says. "One customer shared that the minute he drives into the parking lot, the dog's tail starts wagging. They just come running in here."

From the former bar area, Glasser and other employees — Sarah Ulibarri and Tammy Goseyen — can keep an eye on the inside kennels, where once pool tables lined the walls. The 4,500-square-foot facility has 29 dog runs — with a separate seven-run area for smaller dogs — and can house up to 40 dogs. There's also a separate kitty condo area with room for
24 felines.

The dogs start their mornings in the inside kennels, Glasser says, but are transferred to outdoor runs for exercise. That gives her time to clean the indoor kennels and prepare meals. Once back inside, the kennels become quiet for "nap time" until about noon.

Then the restless dogs get another run until evening, depending on their needs, she says.

Many of the regulars not only form bonds with staff, but with other dogs, Renée Edwards says.

"We've seen dogs make friends here," she says. "They sort of fall in love with different dogs. It's so cute."

Keying into a dog's personality, knowing who gets along with whom, makes a safe environment for everyone, Mark Edwards says. While he's had dogs his entire life, his training philosophy was developed through courses in the Aztec School of Dog Training, developed in Albuquerque.

The technique modifies canine behavior through positive and negative reinforcement. It also allows the dog to adjust to new stimuli on his or her terms. The negative reinforcement can be as simple as tone of voice, depending on the dog's temperament.

"I want to go beyond the mechanics of obedience," he says, "the heel, the sit, the down. I want to modify a dog's behavior where he'll want to do things for me."

A former Phoenix resident, Mark Edwards said he once had as many as 54 dogs, where he ran a personal canine protection service. He rescued so-called aggressive dogs from shelters and trained them for his business.

"All dogs are aggressive; it's innate," he says. "They just have different levels of it. I find it, bring it out, and build on it where it's not harmful."

Renée Edwards says her husband's ability to gauge a dog's personality is a gift.

"I tease him that he should open dogmatch.com," she says. "He has such a knack."

That knowledge helps in making sure the kennel is a safe environment. Mark Edwards says it's important for dogs to become accustomed to a new environment on their own time. It can be a long process, he says, but once dogs figure it out for themselves, it's ingrained. "You can't let them get ahead of the curve," he says.

His training philosophy is shared by the staff. Even felines that are fussy around bath time can slowly adjust to the bathing area and walk-in dryers.

"There's an automatic resistance to a new environment," Mark Edwards says. "You have to let them figure it out for themselves, every step of the way."

It also helps that the staff shares a genuine love for animals, he says. The business is also flexible for customers' needs. It's open every day of the year, and pickup times aren't fixed in stone.

"It's effortless to operate this kennel, because everyone enjoys their work," Mark Edwards says. "The success of the kennel is the staff, there's no question about it. Everyone brings in their own talent."

Mark and Renée Edwards say they also enjoying coming up with special offers and packages for their pet family. Renée Edwards says she likes to think of dogs having a "spa" day when they come into the kennel.

One idea that is taking off is to have a pet owner's vehicle detailed while the pet is being groomed. That kind of packaging is easy at the complex, since the building is owned by Jesus Gonzalez, who operates Santa Fe Auto Detail. The detailing business is adjacent to the kennels.

Mark Edwards also uses the spacious garage area for his training classes.

But Z Hotel is more than just a kennel for Renée Edwards. She say she sees it as a home away from home for companion animals.

"People's pets become part of our family," she says. "Once they've been here once or twice, they can't wait to get back."

THE SUMMER OF LOVE

Every pet has a story, either how he or she came into someone's life, or what makes the pet a best friend. We want to hear about them. Scoop and Z Pet Hotel are partnering for a summer writing contest. Send in the story of your amazing pet and you could win a prize and have your story printed in Scoop. Three prizes will be awarded, with $300, $200 and $100 gift certificates for grooming, boarding or training at Z Pet Hotel.

Typewritten essays should be 600 words or less. Deadline is Aug. 15; winners will be announced Aug. 30 in Scoop. E-mail entries to scoop@sfnewmexican.com or mail them to Scoop, Summer Writing Contest, 202 E. Marcy St., Santa Fe, NM 87501. Employees of The New Mexican and their family members aren't eligible.

Additional information about the contest or Z Pet Hotel is available by calling 438-7777, or visiting the Web site at www.zpethotel.com.