Playful Pooch Dog Daycare & Boarding

We boarded our 2−½ year old dog at the Playful Pooch for a week over Thanksgiving. It was our first time boarding her, and we were a bit nervous. But alas, there was no need to worry! Brad and his team truly care about the pups, and completely exceeded my expectations. When our dog’s tummy was upset for a couple days, they even went to the trouble to make special rice meals for her — and communicated with me throughout. Best of all, she was happy and healthy (and totally worn out from playing) when I picked her up. I just made a reservation for her to stay for a full 10-​days over Christmas. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

We have been boarding our Lab-​Husky puppy once a week at Playful Pooch for the past couple of months. We are very happy with how our puppy is treated at Playful Pooch. The staff seem to genuinely care about him and they make it a positive experience.

The Playful Pooch is hands-​down the best place I have ever boarded my dog. I have a 14 year old shelty mix with diabetes and cataracts– not exactly a low-​maintenance ward. I boarded her for 2 weeks with the Playful Pooch and was extremely nervous, since it was the longest I had ever left her at a kennel. Everything turned out great and the staff took the most incredible care of her. They followed the instructions for her insulin shots to the letter and kept careful watch on her while she was in outdoor playgroup so she didn’t get too tired or overheated. When I called to check in they were able to immediately give me detailed updates on how she was doing, and they even sent me a long and unprompted email update. Most importantly, my dog clearly did really well there– she often won’t eat at kennels, but she ate all her meals just fine at Playful Pooch, and came back healthy and energetic. It was obvious that all the staff really cared about my dog and did their very best to make sure she was happy and healthy. I have never seen such consideration at a kennel before. This place is my one and only go-​to from now on!

We have tried a few dog daycare and boarding facilities in Denver, and Playful Pooch is the best. How do I know? When we drop off our two corgis, they are so excited to be there that they don’t even look back at mom and dad! We love the fact that they receive some down time in the middle of the day, have a comfortable turf that doesn’t hurt the girls’ paws, and the staff is friendly and loves our pups almost as much as we do.

We drop off our berner Ellie Mae here pretty frequently for both boarding and daycare and I have to say that I’m quite happy with the service. Ellie is never hurt or starving when we come get her (which is way better than the last place we tried) and she seems very very very very very very eager to go back everytime I drop her off.
I really can’t give a better endorsement than the fact that my dog nearly rips my arm off to get into the place even after I leave her there for 6 days.
If that’s not a glowing recommendation, I don’t know what is.

Bottom line: great place as long as everything goes smoothly and you don’t question anything of the owner, or need any customer service.
We had been loyal customers for about 6 – 7 years with our schnoodle, who passed in Dec 2013. Used them quite often and never had a problem.
We acquired a portuguese water dog/​poodle mix in February 2014. We took our new very busy, playful pup for doggy care a couple times a week to release some energy starting in early March. One day when we picked her up & brought her home, she started vomiting violently approx. 15 – 20 times. It was evening by that point, so we had to take her to Alameda East to the tune of $ 450. We were concerned and upset. I sent an email asking if other dogs were sick, could she have gotten something she shouldn’t have and asked what there policy was for emergency vet bill reimbursement. Very shortly after that, we received a refund for the remainder of $$ we paid in advance for her doggy day care.
After our pup healed, I called to see if she’d watch our pup while we went out of town in early April. The owner, Brenda, called me eventually to say that while they loved our pup, they would not accept us back in their kennel because of ME. That I had the nerve to question how our dog had gotten sick, and what their policy was for reimbursement, she felt was overreacting.
We’d been customers for 6 – 7 years, and a simple question of how our dog got so sick, and if there was policy for vet bill reimbursement (she could have just told me the policy), we were not welcome.
Yes we have a wonderful new doggy day care with Bogart, Inc.

We have been taking our yellow lab here since he was a four month old puppy, and Playful Pooch has been amazing. They really get to know your dogs and care about them — recently we were traveling and boarded our dog with them over the weekend. As soon as we checked him in, they noticed he had a loss of appetite and vomiting. They continued to monitor him, but were very worried by the next day. Even though it was a Saturday, they took him first to our regular vet (29^th Animal Hospital) and then, after she diagnosed him with a foreign body, they took him to the Alameda Animal Hospital, where he had to have emergency surgery. I 100% believe our beloved little boy would have died if Brenda and her husband had not paid attention, and gone above and beyond to personally take him to the vet. He has completely recovered and is back to his usual self, and we owe it to them. Plus, it’s a great facility — clean, friendly, they give good dog baths, and your dog will come home happy and tired. Could not recommend this place more.

This is the new doggie day care we send our Bernese Mountain Dog to and she absolutely adores it.
Some positives from Playful Pooch that we didn’t experience in other places:
+ She never comes back smelling dirty. At other day care places I think she spent a lot of time rolling around outside or they didn’t really clean the kennels that well. Not so here. Sure, she smells like other dogs and a little dirty, but the difference is drastic enough that even a human nose can pick it up.
+ She comes back happy, tired, but never hurt. We have had a few problems in other day cares because she’s big, but she’s a puppy and so when people let her play with older dogs her size they can get a little too aggressive because she’s romp-​y.
+ Her baths that we get here from time to time are awesome. Her fur is so white, her coat is so soft, and she smells super good.
+ The treats they give to dogs are usually veggie-​based which is awesome when your dog has a chicken allergy like mine.
+ The people working here are really, really nice.
We’ve boarded Ellie here for long weekends and take her to daycare about twice a week and I’m so happy that we made the switch as I think it’s a much better place for our pup.

While babysitting my parent’s dog, I came to realize that he (Miles) would need to go to daycare. My apartment, daily walks, and almost daily dog park visits were not enough to help tire out Miles. He is very high energy and also very anxious when alone. Due to Miles not being from Denver, I had issues with getting him into other dog daycare centers. However, Brenda totally understood and was willing to help the situation by allowing Miles to come for a limited time. I was beyond grateful. Miles loved it! I was nervous about what I felt was a long nap time in the middle of the day. I didn’t want Miles to come home with just as much energy as I dropped him off with; however, he always came home exhausted. Thank goodness!
I would usually give a business four stars, as I am a huge believer in that there is always improvements to be made. However, the last day I brought Miles (due to him heading back to my parent’s) Playful Pooch Dog Daycare and Boarding, something happened that made me realize this place had no way of improving, they were already the best. I usually picked up Miles at 5:30 or 6pm, but due to a doctor’s appointment running late, I was turning onto Holly right at 6:30pm. I was freaking out, worried that they were already closed and Miles would have to spend a night without any food (since I do not leave food at the place). They called, and I honestly thought that I would lectured on how to take care of a dog and keep time commitments (a lecture I would have totally taken), but instead they asked if I was okay and if anything happened that was causing a delay in my normal pick up time. I couldn’t believe it! So thoughtful! I walked int the door at 6:31pm (a minute after they closed) and two employees were playing with Miles in the lobby area. All the other dogs were already picked and/​or in their boarding cage. Most places would have just put Miles in a cage or crate and wait. Nope, Playful Pooch kept on playing with Miles and kept him very entertained. I am pretty sure at that point he didn’t want to come home with me, I mean to go from two people’s attention with delicious treats to just me probably was heartbreaking to him.

I wanted to totally love this place. I really did. It’s close to home, spacious, clean, and well-​organized. The staff is really friendly and obviously loves animals. And, most importantly, my 13-​month old Chocolate Lab loves coming here. After our first two visits, I really thought I had found the daycare for us. But, when I called to book him for a third daycare/​boarding session, the staff member chastised me for some of his behaviors and complained that he barked too much, even suggesting he needed a bark collar, which I am totally against. The conversation left me confused, as our dog never barks at home, and feeling bad about myself as a puppy parent. And I definitely don’t want to be one of those people who refuses to recognize they have an out-​of-​control dog.
Long story short, I ended up taking him to another boarding/​daycare facility this week, and they had nothing but good things to say about my puppy. They even offered me a reduced daycare rate to encourage me to bring him more often, as they had so much fun with him. They raved about how well he played with the other dogs!
I don’t doubt that Playful Pooch is a great doggy daycare facility, but I will not be bringing my puppy back. It just wasn’t the place for us.

I was nervous taking my (3month old) puppy to a doggie daycare, however Brenda was so kind and welcoming she walked us through everything from what shots he needed to where he would sleep during nap times. My dog now LOVES going there and we have taken him to a few other places just for convenience sake and will only ever go back to Playful Pooch.
It’s a little out of the way for us, but well worth the extra few minutes to have peace of mind all day while we leave him there, as well as the entire week we were on vacation and boarded him there.
Furthermore, we got the sweetest thank you card from them after we got back from vacation with a picture of him having a blast. They are extremely knowledgable, friendly and most importantly, LOVE dogs.
I would and do recommend Playful Pooch to anyone who has a dog and wants the dog to be happy!

Josie loves coming here. Probably more than she loves me. I like it because she’s exhausted, which limits how often she attacks and bites on me! All the staff is kind and very knowledgeable and the facility is always clean.

I was EXTREMELY happy with my dog’s recent stay at the Playful Pooch. I had to make the decision about where to kennel him very quickly, after living in Denver less than 3 weeks in order to go back to the East Coast for a funeral. Although I was referred to the Playful Pooch by another happy client, I was still a bit uncomfortable with the idea of boarding my 2 year old pup somewhere new because we have been living in transition for the last 3 months which has been very stressful for him. Here is what impressed me:
~ Brenda, one of the owners of the business, returned my initial phone call on a Friday afternoon and spent quite a bit of time explaining how your daycare/​boarding works.
~ Kelli, one of their staff, provided me with a thorough tour of the facility the next day which gave me peace of mind that my pup would be in a well run, clean facility for his 3 day stay.
~ When I dropped him off that Sunday, I was especially pleased to see that the information I gave to Kelli about my dog’s ‘sensitive’ right hind leg was accurately conveyed to the other staff.
~ Brenda and Will were there at drop off and their love of pups was evident.
~ The Webcams are great — with an iPhone App that lets you log in and select one of the many cameras available to get a good shot of your pup.
~ Lastly, Kelli, one of the staff members, was nice enough to wait an extra 15 minutes after closing for me to pick him up so I didn’t have to come back the next day. This was helpful because I am presently living about an hour from the facility.
~ When my pup got home, he seemed perfectly adjusted, and happy to be home without being stinky (a problem I had with previous daycares) or excessively exhausted. I think he had a ball.
~ Other reviewers mention their displeasure of the dogs going in their crates from 10 – 2 every day. I, too, wasn’t crazy about the idea initially. However, after watching on the webcams how much they play in their morning and afternoon sessions, I was glad to know he was getting a good break. He also seems more ‘appropriately tired’ today than he has after being in other daycares where he was absolutely exhausted.
~ I HIGHLY recommend them.

You can tell they really care about the animals. I always love seeing a small local business that puts care and love into what they do!

The Playful Pooch is an absolute 5 star doggie daycare, boarding facility, and overall business. I have only been passionate enough to write a review for two places: The Playful Pooch and Sushi Tora in boulder. I delayed writing this because I hope the place never changes.
I no longer live near the Playful Pooch, but when I am near there or in town, I try to bring my dog (a nearly 2yr old crazy funny shepherd/​boxer mutt that LOVES to play) there as often as possible. Every place I have gone to since the Playful Pooch makes me realize how spoiled my dog was to have gone there. There are 3 main reasons this is an absolute 5 star business (sorry this is long, but I just wish other places could be run like the pooch):
1.) The PEOPLE. Unlike most daycare/​boarding facilities where the people look disgruntled and annoyed with their jobs/​lives, the people at the pooch are absolute dog lovers. Personally, I don’t want some annoyed person to handle my dog or take out anger on anyone’s pets, which I get nervous about at pretty much every place I’ve been to. Will and Brenda some how have some how stuck to their guns and only hired people with a LOT of experience with not only interacting with dogs, but TRAINING dogs. I currently have to take my dog to one of the [not to be named] top ranked places in the city and I am completely fed up with these other places. The people at other places are always disgruntled, and when they try and hide it, they can’t hide the fact that X number of dogs are barking nervously sounding agitated. Sorry i forget their names, but Brenda, Will, Brittany, and the others are the absolute best. My dog never came home with bad habits after playing at the pooch. Now, after these other places, she has accrued some habits that we are not fond of at all. Habits that the PEOPLE at the playful pooch would not have allowed to happen. They set standards for how the dogs are to act and play, and their experience shows.
2.) The FACILITY. While trendy down town places renovate the front shop to look nice for the human pet owners to enjoy (rather than the actual pet facilities), the playful pooch renovates the back. They have play structures, fresh turf, and covered areas for the dogs that are continually CLEANED. Moreover, they purposefully have segmented areas. This is a major plus because like people, all dogs don’t get along or play the same way. The staff here purposefully places the dogs in groups. You might say why cant my dog play with every dog? But i’m sure your dog is much happier this way. Dog fights are prevented, timid dogs (aka my friend’s shy dog) are more willing to play and socialize, and gosh I miss the pooch!
3.) TRANSPARENCY. The pooch has a online camera for users to access, except from 10am-​2pm daily. I realize one user complained that this is a long time for the camera to be off, but how many places have cameras??? Yes it’s off from 10−2pm, and im ok with this because sometimes when you’re at work, you don’t want someone/​people watching your every move all day. Sometimes, you just need to pick you nose or a wedgy. Sometimes they need to do maintenance type things to maintain the facility. With the amount of transparency they offer, I am fully confident in whatever activities they need to do during that time. My dog came home tired, never had infections, and ALWAYS dragged me in to the pooch like no other place, things I have yet to find elsewhere.
Long story… long, if you’re looking for a place and you’re hesitant because «my dog is a little different/​has different needs» or you aren’t sure because there are only 8 reviews, I suggest you go and see the place yourself, try it, and then you’ll realize why there are so few reviews: no one wants to reveal this gem. I wish i still lived by the pooch so i wouldn’t be so disappointed with the 4 other places in denver i’ve tried or the absolutely garbage places in california. Try the pooch. you won’t regret it.

Will and Brenda run a wonderfully clean, organized, and fun daycare and boarding center. My fiancé and I travel quite frequently and have had to leave our two dogs at Playful Pooch twice in the last two months. Before boarding the pups went in for a day of daycare to try out the place and we got a small tour. Everything is very clean, you honestly wouldn’t know they host dozens of dogs a day because the place doesn’t small anything but clean!
I was nervous at first when I learned that they shut down from 10 – 2 and especially that there is no staff present from 7pm onward when boarding your dog overnight. But there must be a reason for this and it certainly doesn’t seem like the dogs mind because they are always tired yet happy when we pick them up. My only hope would be that should there be an emergency where we needed to pick up the dogs, that they would be responsive even during closed hours, but I am confident they would be.
Lastly I have to say i impressed with how personal they are with all the dogs. I don’t know how they do it given I know they usually have at least 40 – 50 dogs every day, and my two have only stayed their twice, but somehow they not only know the names but also the personalities of their dogs and they take adorable pictures of them while they are there!
We are happy and relieved to have found a great facility in Denver that we can count on when we have to travel out of town. Thanks Brenda & Will!

I really wanted to try this place out for a Monday — Friday daycare. It’s clean, nice looking, etc. I even paid extra to get the canine flu shot they require and the booster (ends up being about $ 50 from Vetco) shot. I was THAT ready to start taking her there.
But, when I heard that they totally close down the place from 10am — 2pm daily, I just felt like that is a LONG time for dogs to be in a kennel, not socializing or playing with other dogs! You can drop off as early as 6am, but I would typically be there around 8. So my pet would play for 2 hrs, put away in her own kennel for 4 straight hours, and then come out and play again. That’s different.
I mean, if you drop your dog off while you work an 8 hour day, half of that they are sitting alone in a kennel (large, so they will potty in there, too) just barking to one another. So, Monday — Friday dog parents are supposed to pay $ 400 a month for doggie daycare and half the time they are there, they are not playing, interacting and socializing? And you have no pools, either? The back yard is very plain looking. Just a chain link area.
It also concerned me if there was an emergency and I needed to get my pet or go home early from work, I am out of luck from 10 — 2 pm. I am sure 4 hrs of napping throughout the day is fine, but a 4 hour chunk is ALOT at one time and comes across like they have better things to do than watch our dogs, for what they charge. The most concerning point is: No one is there to let me pick up my pet, if I needed to. I am not comfortable with that and think they should stay open throughout the day, like every other pet daycare I’ve researched. I saw that they were «closed» from 10 — 2 pm but assumed that meant no drop offs /​pick ups preferred during that time, closed to the public — but not completely void of humans who work there. But, after inquiring further, I was finally told that no one is even there and that the dogs are stuck in kennels for 4 hours. It would be one thing if they still had employees there and playing with the dogs and they’d rather not unlock the door so they can focus on the animals — but in an extreme emergency, it would be nice to know I could get my pet.
The place looks fine, but for what they are charging to keep the dogs in kennels half the day just seems ridiculous. Can anyone explain why they must shut down like that? All the other places I’ve looked into are either ²⁴⁄₇ or there’s always someone there if I need to drop off late or pick up early. I am just glad I didn’t spend my money here.

In June, 2008 I was at a loss when my doggie day care closed. I looked and looked and then I found Playful Pooch… better than I ever thought possible. I have some «tricky» dogs and Brenda and Will didn’t judge. Instead, Roger, my shy guy, LOVES his time at Playful Pooch. He is so crazy that I can hardly contain him in the car when we arrive. He runs to the door and wants to knock it down so he can have his fun time! (Now I call 5 minutes before I arrive so someone can open the door and greet Roger… pretty cute.) Annie has health issues and I always get a report card of how she did.
I have had to go out-​of-​town more than several times and I know that Playful Pooch is like sending the dogs to the grandparents for my time away. I love my dogs very, very much and I am so glad I have found a place that gives as much love as I think they deserve… a lot!

I am a dog trainer and because dog socializing is so very important for a balanced mind — our dogs, and a sanity — us, I suggest doggie day care to most of my clients. Doggie daycares are truley hit and miss so I went on a search to find the best one in Denver.
When I found the Pooch, I was immediately satisfied. It is truely one of the cleanest daycares I have ever come across. All the employees are certified in dog care, the person to dog ratio promotes saftey, you can check in on your dog during the day by loggin in to their site, and they sell high quality food & treats. The owners, Brenda & Will, are not only great dog people, but they also run a solid business. They go out of their way to make sure that everydog is happy & healthy — oh and did I mention they will wash your dog too???

I’m so thankful that I found the Playful Pooch! Will and Brenda are true animal lovers, and they follow instructions to a «T». They truly understand how important it is to provide clean, safe, loving surroundings for dogs.
I have extremely high standards when it comes to day care and boarding for my two Min Pins, as they’re older, more delicate dogs. I’ve had several lackluster experiences in Denver with boarding, some facilities so disgusting that I was appalled people leave their dogs there!
The routine at the Pooch is perfect for them, as they get to have a «nap» during the day. The facility is ample in size, and spotlessly clean. It even smells nice in the kennels, which was definitely a surprise. They’ve never batted an eye at any of my special requests, and are so accommodating!
When I check out, I get several stories on the fly about how my girls did — no one has to consult notes, or check in the computer — you just get personalized stories about your dogs!
For me, though, the proof is in the pudding — my dogs have never been happier or more «normal» coming home from boarding than they do from Playful Pooch. They’re tired, sure, but not shell-​shocked and shaking — and that speaks volumes to me.