Coming Soon: Cranberry's Luxury “5th Avenue Fido” Readies for Opening

At 5th Avenue Fido, the luxury doggie day care center and indoor kennel opening soon in Cranberry, the rooms are fit for a princess—literally.

While all hotel-inspired sleeping rooms for dogs at the facility have a different theme, the “Princess House” is outfitted in pink and features a chandelier. Linda Beard said she named in honor of her own dog, Princess.

She said there’s nothing else like it in Pittsburgh.

“Nobody has these ‘houses,’ ” she said.

Along with Janet Best, Beard, a longtime dog trainer, is co-owner of 5th Avenue Fido. Located along Route 19 at the former Northgate Honda building, the facility offers what Beard calls “guilt-free” boarding.

The indoor kennel features separate dog “houses,” complete with siding and roofs, in the building’s “Residential” and “Fifth Avenue” sections.

Each “house” also has a raised bed and a different décor. Some of the themed rooms include a Steelers room, an outdoors-themed room and a “doga” studio. There’s also a “Kibble Café.”

Beard said her sister, Karen Kocher, also plans to offer Reiki and massages for dogs at the facility.

“We wanted the dogs to have nice surroundings,” Beard said.

Beard, of Cranberry, said 5th Avenue Fido is definitely not a traditional dog kennel. There will be no chain link runs, no cages and no concrete blocks at the facility. The floors also are made out of rubber to be easier on the dogs’ joints, Beard said.

She added the dogs would not be locked in their rooms for most of the day.

Instead, the pups will be interacting with each other in play areas policed by “dog wranglers,” who also are responsible for giving dogs their individual cuddle time.

“They’ll go in and spend time with them,” Beard said.

Beard said the play areas would be separated, depending on the dogs’ size and temperament. The only time the dogs would head to the fenced-in outside area would be for supervised potty breaks.

5th Avenue Fido also will offer dog training, including puppy, basic and socialization classes. Dog owners may drop off their pups before they head to work at the facility’s doggie day care. There also will be dog grooming services at the building.

Pending the approval of licenses and other paperwork, Beard said she hopes to have the facility open within the next three weeks.

“We’re planning to have a grand opening at some point, too,” she said.