All Fur Dogs, a new dog daycare, boarding and training facility opens today at 503 27th Ave. NW in Austin.

Visitors got a first look Saturday during an open house at the operation, owned by Andy Gray, housed in a 9,100 square foot-facility. The new business is home to 61 boarding suites, two large indoor play areas, training room, and another 3,500 square-feet of outdoor space. Also included are office, retail, and reception areas.

The need for such a facility seemed apparent Saturday, as scores of visitors flooded the new business.

It is a beginning and, in some ways, a culmination. Gray nodded to a portrait of a Norwegian Elkhound on a wall of the front reception area.

“It is because of her that I am here,” he said.

The dog’s name was Kaja, and when told that a Norwegian Elkhound could never be trained as a therapy dog, Gray was determined to prove otherwise.

“And that’s what I did,” he said, adding he learned to train Kaja.

Kaja died in 2016 at the age of 11, but before then served for years as a therapy dog. Gray and Kaja visited nursing homes, hospitals, schools, libraries and the Ronald McDonald House. It led Gray to found Austin Area Dog Training 11 years ago — which led to him opening his own facility.

“I had this dream” of establishing a training and boarding facility, and began actively planning the move five years ago.

“I kept waiting for someone to tell me it was a bad idea, but no one ever did,” he said with a chuckle.

“I really wanted Kaja to be the first dog to walk through the door,” he said, but it wasn’t to be. “So it is her face that is on our logo so she’ll always be a part.”

Eventually, he hopes to add grooming to the business, but has not found a groomer yet. Until then, the area will be used for one-on-one training.

Boarding can be done for just one night or up to a month or more. All suites are climate controlled and dogs are taken out at least three times a day for social interaction and exercise. Pricing runs from $25 to $50 a day, with four different sizes of suites.

Daycare includes off-leash playgroups in play areas that have one area for more energetic or younger dogs; the other area would host older and less active dogs. Daycare costs $20 a day or $12 for a half day. Other amenities — from individual play, bath, nail clip, etc. — have individual pricing.

The business offers online reservations for daycare and boarding, through a Gingr system.

For more information about hours, reservations and other amenities, go to: www.allfurdogs.com, or call 507-355-3647.