About
Canine to Five
A love for Detroit, entrepreneurship, and dogs inspired Liz Blondy to found Canine To Five in 2005. What started as a single location in Midtown has grown into Metro Detroit’s premier dog daycare, boarding, and grooming destination. Today, Canine To Five is a staple of Detroit culture, with additional locations in Ferndale, Commerce Township, and on the Eastside in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. It’s where dogs come to play, build lifelong socialization skills, and burn energy in a safe and engaging environment.
company mission
"To provide exceptional care for dogs, while offering pet parents peace of mind."
Core Values
We care.
We care about dogs; their safety, health and general well-being are our highest priority. We care about our dogs’ people; we strive to provide superior customer service with each and every interaction. We care about our team; we aim to make our work environment purposeful, meaningful, supportive and rewarding. We care about our place; our city, community and buildings are each an integral part of Canine to Five.
We are safe.
High staffing ratio; cleanliness is a priority; extensive staff training.
We are flexible.
We are flexible with dogs; our canine friends are living beings with changing needs that can sometimes be unpredictable. We are flexible with our customers; their convenience, requests and concerns are always considered. We are flexible with our team; scheduling needs are accommodated whenever possible and the team interacts to support each others needs as such.
We are appreciative.
We are appreciative of our patrons; we know that being entrusted with the care of four-legged family members is serious business, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so. We are appreciative of our team; the day-in day-out hard work is important and the effort is recognized. We are appreciative of our community’s support.
We are forward thinking.
We are improving and growing every day. We set goals and exceed them. We strive to educate ourselves with best practices. We work to send home a dog improved in both temperament and behavior at the end of each visit. We expect our team to work harder every day. We are open to new ideas.
We are positive.
We see the best in every situation. We look at challenges as opportunities. We are “can-do” people.
Get to know Canine to Five
Canine To Five has been caring for Detroit’s dogs since 2005 — practically ancient when viewed through the prism of “New Detroit.” At the time, premium dog daycare in the Cass Corridor seemed like a wild idea. But our founder, Liz Blondy, believed Detroit dog owners deserved a safe and reliable place for their pets. She made a plan, took a leap of faith, and built a business that would go on to become a community staple.
What began with one location in Midtown has grown into something much bigger. Canine To Five Ferndale opened in 2013, in 2021 we welcomed Canine To Five Commerce, and in 2023 we expanded again with Canine To Five Eastside. Along the way, our Midtown facility completed a major renovation to better serve our growing pack.
Detroit has weathered its share of challenges — from bankruptcy to recession to a global pandemic — and Canine To Five has been right here through it all, continuing to provide exceptional care for dogs and peace of mind for their people.
Today, two decades later, Canine To Five offers daycare, boarding, and full service grooming, all rooted in the same vision Liz set in motion back in 2005: to give Detroit dog owners a trusted, professional place where their pets can play, learn, and thrive. What started as one woman’s idea has grown into a way of life — and a valuable part of the Metro Detroit dog community.
Well-Being & Happiness
Dogs are welcome to play in the safe and secure facilities including 7,000 sq. ft. of indoor climate-controlled play space and 4,000 sq. ft. of fenced-in area complete with agility obstacles and a small pool in warmer months.
The safety and well-being of every dog is of the utmost importance at Canine to Five, that’s why our well-trained staff of Pack Leaders and enthusiasts adhere to strict cleaning standards helping to provide a safe and sanitary environment. And in order to provide the most socially centered indoor/outdoor environment for dogs, Canine to Five provides each dog the time and attention it deserves. The high employee-to-dog ratio and Canine to Five’s trained staff is knowledgeable in canine first aid, CPR and animal behavior.