We built the place we wanted for our own dogs.
You want your dog cared for the way you'd do it yourself. So did we. Penny and David DiLoreto opened their doors on April 1, 2012, because they wanted something better for dogs. 14 years later, the idea is the same: the dog who walks in here should walk out a little better.
It started with a simple question: why settle?
Back in 2012, Penny and David kept seeing the same thing. Too many places were built to hold dogs, not help them. Grooming was rushed. Training was treated as an extra, when really it's the foundation of everything else. If you've ever picked up a dog who was wound up, stressed, or just not themselves, you know what that looks like.
So they started with what they knew best: grooming and training. Boarding and daycare came later, built on the same thinking. Structured play. Real rest. Private suites instead of stacked cages. And a team trained to Penny's standards.
Here's what that looks like today. No more than 15 dogs per staff member in daycare. An indoor, climate-controlled building. Webcams for clients. The L.E.E.P. enrichment program. A grooming team trained to a Master Groomer's standards. And in 2025, we were voted Best of Escondido for Pet Groomers.
The idea behind it all hasn't changed. Your dog doesn't just stay. They get better.
Since 2012, and counting.
- 1
2012: Doors open as K9 Dog Park
Same spot on Auto Park Way, different name. Penny and David start with grooming, training, and indoor agility classes.
- 2
Then: Hot Diggity Dog Resort
A new name for a bigger idea: one place for everything a dog needs, built around how dogs actually feel.
- 3
Then: Vet days
Dr. Janet Moston, DVM, starts coming every other Monday, so teeth cleanings and vaccines happen somewhere your dog already feels at home.
- 4
Then: Boarding and daycare
Private suites and structured daycare join the grooming salon, so families can bring all of their dog's care to one place that already knows them.
- 5
Then: Penny creates L.E.E.P.
Fifteen minutes of one-on-one enrichment, built from Penny's behavior work. Small daily effort, big change.
- 6
2025: Best of Escondido
Voted Best of Escondido 2025 for Pet Groomers.
Meet Peanut. The dog who started it.
Peanut was our own Boston Terrier, and the face you see in our logo. He's the reason we care for your dog the way we do: the way we cared for him. He passed away a couple of years ago, but every dog who walks through our door gets a little bit of the love we gave Peanut.
Two dog people. Not a franchise.
Hot Diggity isn't a chain. It's a husband-and-wife business, and Penny and David run it day in and day out. When you trust us with your dog, you're trusting the people whose names are on the door.
Co-ownerPenny DiLoreto
Penny is the expertise at the heart of Hot Diggity. She created L.E.E.P., she wrote the books, and her way of reading and handling dogs shapes every service we offer. Our team is trained to her standards.
- Master Groomer
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
- Certified Animal Behaviorist
- Veterinary Assistant
- AKC evaluator for Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy
- Author of dog-training books
Co-ownerDavid DiLoreto
David is Certified in Pet Nutrition, so he's always thinking about the whole dog, not just today's visit. He runs operations and the front desk. If you've called us or walked in, there's a good chance you've already met him.
- Certified in Pet Nutrition
- Operations and front desk
- Co-owner since 2012
Three commitments we make to every dog.
Every hire, every change to the building, and every new service gets checked against these three.
People who know dogs
Loving animals is where it starts, not where it ends. Our team is trained to the standards of a Master Groomer and animal behavior specialist, so the care your dog gets here is a craft, not luck.
Your dog's feelings come first
Grooming, daycare, training, even teeth cleaning: we pay as much attention to the dog as to the job. That's why nervous and hard-to-handle dogs often do well here.
Your dog goes home better
Calmer, more confident, better behaved. That's what we're working for. And if your dog isn't getting better, we want to hear about it.
Six services. One team that knows your dog.
No juggling a groomer here and a boarder there. Each service makes the others better, because the same people get to know your dog across all of them.
Doggy Daycare
Structured play in rotating sessions, real rest in between, and groups matched by size and temperament.
Overnight Boarding
A private suite of their own, indoors and climate-controlled, with daycare included every day of the stay.
Grooming
Baths, trims, full grooms, and de-sheds from groomers trained to a Master Groomer's standards. Voted Best of Escondido 2025.
L.E.E.P.
One-on-one enrichment for body, mind, and emotions during daycare or boarding.
Veterinary Services
Dr. Janet Moston, DVM, comes every other Monday for teeth cleaning without general anesthesia, vaccines, and microchips.
Hear it from them.
What keeps me coming back is their authentic love for the dogs. It's not just because they want your business - it's genuine. My dog was kicked out of another daycare, but Hot Diggity recognized his personality and worked with him. They make every mom feel good about their dog, no matter how challenging.
Luke's dad
A Hot Diggity family, in their own words.
Warren & Amy
Why they trust us with their dog.
Three easy steps to meet us.
- 1
Create your account
Add your dog, upload shot records (Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella), and sign the waiver online.
- 2
Book a Visit
A full daycare day at the regular daycare rate while we get to know your dog. Drop off by 10:00 am and pick up after 3:00 pm.
- 3
Relax
Book daycare, boarding, and grooming anytime, and see the difference at pickup.
Meet us. Then decide.
Picture your dog pulling you toward our front door, tail going, because they know who's inside. That's what we built this place for. Every new dog starts with a Play Date, a full daycare day where we get to know them, and new clients get 10% off their first service. Questions first? Call us at (760) 745-9900, or come in and see the place.