Bark and Play Chicago

Hi! I’m an 8 month old frenchie pup and I love going to Bark and Play Chicago. The owner, Fernando, takes great care of me and I loved spending the weekend with him while my parents were out of town. They even have helped me take my medicine that weekend and sent my parents pics of me having fun! I have lots of energy and come home exhausted after playing all day with the pals. Can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

Bark and Play is AMAZING! Our boxer mix pup, Theo, has been going there 4 days a week since we moved to the Bucktown area 6 months ago. He absolutely loves it and it allows him to get all of his puppy energy out.
I previously used another daycare in our old neighborhood and while we loved the trainer there, he got kennel cough/​flu twice within a few months and came home over-​exhausted every day.
When we were initially trying to choose between the 20+ options in the area — Fernando responded immediately and set up a time to come by and meet Theo that weekend.
Bark and Play offers a complimentary pick up/​drop off service which is one of my favorite parts. I don’t have to worry about dropping him off somewhere and then rushing to get him after work. They pick him up around 9am and they drop him off in the afternoon. I come home to a sleepy puppy every day! Also, they are extremely professional. They lock all the doors and handle the dogs with great care. Theo’s tail starts going crazy when he sees his «school bus» pull up. Fernando also posts tons of pics on Instagram and Facebook which is great!
Bonus: when we go out of town — Fernando will actually take Theo to his home and keep him while we are gone. This is a huge weight off my shoulders as I don’t have to worry about my baby while I am on vacation. I know he is in great hands and having a blast with all of his friends.
If you live in the area and are looking for a Doggie Daycare — you should absolutely check out Bark And Play!

I highly recommend Bark and Play for daily dog day care to anyone looking for a home away from home for their pup. Fernando has been so accommodating to us and our dog throughout our entire experience with them. He is always extremely quick with responding to any questions I have, and we love how much care they put into their business.

I love Bark and Play! Fernando and the gang are fantastic… Very responsive and responsible and you notice they take really good care of our dog… Can’t recommend Bark and Play enough!!!

Great service, I wish I could give more stars. They have taken great care of my dog since she was a puppy. Very reliable and never crate her which is wonderful. I travel a lot and this service has been there for me every single time.

BEST DOG DAYCARE EVER! Fernando, Mari, and the entire staff are wonderful! :)
I recently moved to Chicago in beginning of April from Florida with my (now) 10 month old puppy, Jax. He is a Boxer/​mix that I rescued when he was 5 weeks. We moved here never using any sort of daycare service. Being the over-​protective dog mom that I am, Jax had the luxury of my Mother watching him during the day while I was at work Monday-​Friday, so this was a huge transition for the both of us. I called all around the city trying to find the best, affordable fit. After being turned away due to waiting lists, or no «transportation services offered» I went with the last option which before I had to start work the very next day, which was a dog walker. Two different companies came (I won’t disclose which) and BOTH denied Jax right away because he was too skittish (obviously, we just moved!) and was barking, hiding behind me.
Shortly after, I stumbled across Bark and Plays website and gave it a shot. Within 1 hour I received an email from Fernando setting up a time for someone to come meet Jax. The very next day, Mari came over and met with him. She came right in, very patient and calm (considering Jax was barking nonstop) & we both sat on the floor while talking as Jax sniffed around and eventually became comfortable. Before we knew it, he was licking her, being playful and overall wasn’t being protective of me and barking at her.
The very next day I sent all the paperwork in and Jax started that following Monday. WHAT A LIFE SAVER. They pick him up and drop him off 3 days a week, which is a huge bonus being that I sold my car prior to moving. Every time I get home Jax is relaxed in his crate, and usually worn out from playing all day. Fernando is very accommodating when things come up unexpectedly. I highly recommend this daycare for anyone who is looking. Plus, it’s always a bonus when you’re scrolling through Facebook and Instagram and see a picture of your dog on their site.

When we first got our puppy and we decided we wanted to do a doggy day care, I had a very hard time finding one that seemed professional and clean. Bark and Play came recommended from a friend, so I decided to give it a try. I couldn’t be happier! They are so amazing with the dogs. During the week, our puppy sits in the window wagging his tail non-​stop just waiting for Bark and Play to arrive. He comes home and sleeps for hours! Whenever dog owners ask me where I send him, I always recommend Bark and Play to them!

My 10 year old dog Bitsy absolutely loves Fernando and his team. She’s kind of a brat to new people sometimes but whenever I see her get near Fernando she lights up and runs to him — she barely does that when I come home from vacation!
We’ve taken advantage of their Friday baths which is a great service — always nice to come home to a fresh smelling dog after a long week. Also, getting regular cute photo updates while I’m at work is the best. She always looks super happy and plays with other dogs.
I would recommend this service to anyone with a dog best friend who has to leave during the day for work. Especially not owning a car to be able to take her to daycare myself, Bark & Play has been wonderful!

We love Bark and Play! Fernando and his team are the best. My dog goes to daycare and we are out of town a lot so she also does boarding. She loves Fernando so much, it’s really cute to see her get excited when he comes to pick her up. Bark and Play is her second family.
My husband and I have only had our dog for a little over 8 months, and so we’ve had a lot of questions, and Fernando has been incredibly helpful in answering all of the questions we’ve had. I would recommend Bark and Play to anyone (and I do). They are truly awesome.

May of 2015 is when I adopted my pup Sophie and she has grown up in the expert care of Bark n’ Play since. The pick up and drop off service is a great perk. Fernando (owner) and the gang take such pride in knowing your pup and making sure the pack is happy as can be. The icing on the cake is the Friday $ 10.00 showers for a squeaky clean fur baby to come home too!

I was referred to Bark and Play by a fellow new rescue dog owner and I have to say, it was the most natural fit ever! The owner, Fernando, is very considerate; he takes time to answer any sort of questions a neurotic first time dog mommy may have :) and even posts pictures to Instagram multiple times a day of all of the dogs having the time of their lives in their indoor/​outdoor space!
BEST PERK EVER: complimentary pick-​up and drop-​off service. It’s amazing. The dogs have non-​stop play from 10−3PM, so by the time I leave work, absolutely exhausted, I come home to find my dog feeling the same way.
Fernando and his staff are truly passionate and connected with dogs, and Fernando is very tuned in to the personalities of each of his furry clients. I fully trust him with my dog’s well-​being, and that’s coming from a pretty discerning dog mom!

I have nothing but amazing things to say about Fernando and the Bark and Play team. Our puppy Franklin has been going to daycare with Bark and Play since he was 5 months old and it’s so clear that he loves it. He gets so excited when he sees the van! The pick up and drop off is extremely convenient and we love stalking their Instagram account to see pics of all the dogs including Franklin, daily. Fernando is extremely easy to reach and great to work with, he really cares about all of the dogs, as if they were his own. We’d trust no one else to take care of care of our spunky, high energy, little guy. Their boarding services are wonderful was well! Thanks Bark and Play!

Fernando and the Bark and Play Chicago staff are simply great. You can tell right from the start that Fernando loves what he does and is very, very good at it. Great price, excellent care and communication. Our dog is picked up and dropped off on days she goes to daycare and comes home happy and well-​exercised. Couldn’t ask for better service. Check our their Instagram for a lot of pictures of happy pooches.

I can’t say enough good things about Bark & Play! We have tried other daycare and boarding places, and this is the first one that we feel confident knowing she is in good hands. We use them for daycare/​boarding, and they are always accommodating and ready to help. Fernando and his team are wonderful to work with, and are always very responsive whenever I reach out.
Our German Shepherd tends to be anxious in a lot of new settings, but I feel at ease when she’s at B&P. When she’s boarded, I’ll get text messages from Fernando showing her playing with other dogs, and it makes me feel good knowing they’ve worked their doggy magic on her, and have provided her with a comfortable environment. Most importantly, it shows how much they care about the dogs, and how they want you to know they are in good hands!
We are so lucky to have found Bark & Play, and can’t imagine our pup with anyone else!

The staff at Bark and Play are amazing!!! They watch my dog 5 days a week and take such good care of her. They understand that she is a part of my family and treat her very well!!! She loves going and is always exhausted afterwards. I wouldn’t trust her with anyone else! They are amazing!

If you are looking for an excellent dog care provider, look no further. Bark and play is the best.
Hugo the Great Dane loves Bark and Play! He comes home happy and tired after his time there.
Fernando and the team are amazing and treat Hugo as a part of the family. All of the services they provide, and we’ve tried them all, are excellent. I know I can depend on the team to watch over Hugo while he plays with his pals.

Fernando is a magician, dog whisperer, incredibly nice/​friendly/​professional guy. And the list goes on.
Our Shiba Inu is almost always aggressive when he’s on the leash with us. I’m certain it’s a combination of him protecting us as well as the leash — esp. because we (at this point) instinctively expect it. He’s also picky about which humans he’ll approach and befriend.
That said, he gets SO excited when Fernando shows up. He waits by the front window and pretty much loses his mind when Fernando pulls up in the Bark & Play bus. And though we’ve asked time and again, Fernando reports no aggressive behavior with other dogs. He even sends us pics/​video from time to time to reassure us that our little guy is not only having fun, but is in good/​great/​safe hands.
They’re easy to communicate with, fast to respond, and their service is like clockwork.
If I could give Bark & Play 10 stars I would.

Bark & Play and Fernando are beyond what I ever could have expected out of a dog daycare service. They are the absolute best and are SO loving to each and every dog that comes through their doors. I was referred to Bark & Play by a co-​worker after discussing my long work hours and my super hyper 1 ½ yr old pup sitting at home by himself. I contacted Fernando and he came by and met my pup, Swayze. Fernando instantly «clicked» with Swayze and I felt very comfortable setting up his daycare routine.
The pick-​up and drop-​off service is awesome. You always know what to expect — the same driver (JD — she’s great, too!), and the same time of day. My dog is pretty anxious in the car but he has calmed down a lot recently and I think it is because of his trips to daycare.
A few weeks ago, I asked to see Bark & Play and get a little tour of the facility. Fernando met me at a time that was convenient with my schedule which I appreciated. The daycare is organized, spotless, and has indoor and outdoor areas. There are a few different sections and dogs are placed based on their size/​temperament. It was also great to see Fernando interact with the dogs. He has definitely taught my pup a few things.
I could not ask for a better dog daycare. They go above and beyond to make sure my dog is happy and healthy & each day I come home to an exhausted pooch which makes me happy, too. They also are active on Facebook and Instagram which is fun for me to see throughout my day.
They have other services like dog baths, walks, etc. that I haven’t used yet but I’m sure I will soon!

Absolutely love this place! My boyfriend originally found Bark & Play when our daycare at the time shut down for a few days because of the dog flu. We haven’t looked back since! Unlike some of the bigger places, Fernando and his team treat our dog Ace like their own and play with him instead of just watch over him. Whenever we drop Ace off, he’s so excited and completely forgets we even exist. I also like the fact that they give the dogs enough time to be both inside and outside and don’t segment the dogs based on their size. You know this is the perfect daycare because our Ace has so much energy so whenever he gets home, he’s completely exhausted. I would hands down recommend this daycare for your pup if you want a more hands on and loving experience!!!

If you are looking for a dog day care or boarding contact Bark and Play! Milo and I met Fernando in July 2013. I could tell from the beginning that Fernando genuinely cared about Milo and his well being. Fernando is the best! If I am having a bad day and I know Milo is at Bark and Play I’ll ask for a picture update and seeing my boy so happy puts me in a better mood. A while back Milo wasn’t eating his food regularly and Fernando noticed and asked me if he was doing okay because he noticed he wasn’t eating. They also let me know when he’s shaking his head, with his hound ears he gets a lot of ear infections, the genuine care they have for Milo is beyond what I would have ever expected.
I couldn’t ask for a better place to watch him. They pick him up from my apartment and drop him off. He is always so excited to go to day care, I think he knows which days are daycare days too. He is always jumping at the door ready to go! I know while he is there he is well taken care of. Unlike many other doggy day cares Milo spends the entire day running around, not in a crate! In the summer the doggy pools and hoses come out to keep the dogs cool. Knowing I will have a sleepy tired dog dropped off makes me happy.
Fernando is always accommodating to us. With my crazy schedule with enough notice I’m able to make sure Milo is at Bark and Play on a day where I’m gone longer than usual. There is a chance Milo loves the Bark and Play team more than me, but I refuse to believe it. :)
I am more than grateful for Fernando and his family. I cannot say enough good things about them and I would recommend Fernando and Bark and Play to anyone looking for a safe, clean and fun place for their dog!