Fort Fido has been an outstanding partner in the care and boarding of my PTSD Service Dog, Mia Bear. As a wounded veteran who depends on Mia Bear for daily medical stability, I cannot entrust her to just anyone. Fort Fido has earned my complete confidence through their professionalism, compassion, and exceptional understanding of what it means to care. read more

Fort Fido - Pet Sitting Near Me - University Place, Washington

Our dog Phoebe LOVES the Fort! She gets so excited on her daycare days. The staff are awesome and are really good with nail trims and baths, too. She comes home happy and tired. read more

Fort Fido - Phoebe, Happy Dog - Pet Sitting Near Me - University Place, Washington

My dog loves hanging out at Fort Fido. She started there as a puppy. I appreciate that they work with her on behavior. Everyone on staff is very friendly towards me and my dog. read more

Staff are very professional and caring. My puppy looks forward to her social time with her new friends, also the staff will work with your pet to instill basic obedience training with them. read more

My dog loves to go there....a nice break away from home for 1/2 day. The employees say the play and interact with the dogs.

I brought my deceased dog to Ft Fido for many years without a problem. My very smart Chocolate Lab puppy was "terminated" from Ft Fido for barking when their doorbell rings. Everyone who comes to pick up or drop off their dog uses a doorbell. The doorbell started during Covid. The termination of my dog was not handled properly and being hung up on was very unprofessional. They also sent home the WRONG dog with my friend who was picking up one day. Management did not follow up with me concerning that very serious mistake. Very disappointed with the protocol and the unprofessional phone call. read more

We take our one yr old Boston here at least once a week so she can socialize. It's been a God send! Molly comes home happy and exhausted. She gets so cviyed Everytime we get close to the building, she knows what's happening: the cost is worth the care and safety of our baby girl. It's clean, helpful and well rounded. Highly recommend This place to care for your Doggos if you can't! read more

Love Fort Fido! We have a senior black lab (Maverick) and a pup (Jester) who couldn't be more different. Fort Fido allows them each to do their own thing during the day, but also share the same space at night like they do at home. It's very comforting to know they're in such good hands. The owners and staff are also very understanding and accommodating. We love and trust that when we travel we know our fur babies are in a safe and happy place which makes our time away from them a little less difficult. read more

Great dog daycare in Tacoma / University Place / Fircrest. Really kind, dog-loving staff and very reasonable pricing. read more

Fort Fido - Front door of Fort Fido - Pet Sitting Near Me - University Place, Washington

When I dropped my dog off at Fort Fido last Friday, I inquired about a dog wash, careful to state "at the end of the day" to which I also added that I'd be back at 5pm. My stated motivation for having him washed at that time was to wash away the other dog slobber that he would be coming home with. The intake person said no problem and escorted my dog inside. I didn't give it another thought. Until my 4:50pm phone call with the young man on duty when I called about picking up my dog. I asked him, "Am I giving you enough time to wash my dog?" since I had indicated I'd be there at 5pm. He said yes, he had been washed. And then added at 1pm. To that I was puzzled. I had specifically requested he be washed AFTER the play day. He explained that the other person only worked until 1pm. He then stated that he wouldn't charge me, something of which I did not request. I think he saw it as a chance to mitigate a customer's potential complaint. I arrived and retrieved my dog, paid the $35 daily fee, had a few friendly words with the young woman who brought him out, and departed, giving it no additional thought. Then, as I pushed a cart through the grocery store, at about 6:45 pm, I was called by the owner David Baker. He was hostile and not in the least bit interested in learning what led to a trivial misunderstanding. I'm unsure if he felt I was rude or unkind to the employee or confused me with someone else as this isn't my reputation. My position was that I was trying to 1) resolve any misunderstanding of that day's event, and 2) resolve any future expectations as we fully intended to remain customers. It was most certainly not to argue about a dog washing fee. I perceived his tone by phone to be defensive and without discussion, he had already arrived at a conclusion that he didn't want my business because of this situation. He literally said, "I don't want your kind of customer." On a practical note, I don't know who Fort Fido's groomers are and the times that they conduct their business. The only way I could have that knowledge is if it is shared at the time a service is requested. I don't recall it being posted anywhere so my assumption is that the available services are the hours of operation. Under any circumstances, after speaking with the manager a following morning, he cleared up the understanding about the grooming times being until 2pm. Further, this manager affirmed to me that there had NEVER been any type of negative exchange between myself and Fort Fido. Again, with that understanding about grooming hours, my expectations were brought in line with the routine. But the bothersome part of this public complaint is not the misunderstanding but instead the demeanor of the owner. Yes, any business has the right to refuse business (well, that's questionable today). However, placing a hostile phone call to a paying customer and not even asking for an explanation described above, deserves to be called out publicly. I did reach out to the owner by email with a variation of the words of this post. I also followed up with a phone call in attempt to remain on good terms. I have given the owner nearly an entire week to return my phone call or email, to which he has done neither. That does not speak to me of someone in the least interested in customers or community. He has completely ignored my attempts to be good neighbors. I will forever speak of this to anyone who will listen. And then gladly take my dog to one of the many choices, two of which completely understood his malignant behavior when I described it. You could not pay me to return to Fort Fido. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. My dog has been - choked -bitten (with no phone call or notice) - and called aggressive when I know he isn't This place was nice for a while and they always told me how much they loved my dog. I enjoyed taking him because I thought he was being taken care of. However I'm not okay with my dog being abused and choked out by workers and dogs and then made out to be the aggressor. Bottom line is they do not care about your dog and you will regret ever taking your dog here like I do. On top of this an ex employee has said that they deprive the dogs of water in the summer and they do not use air conditioning. If all of these aren't red flags, I don't know what is. If your gonna run a day care at least care about the animals and at the bare minimum educate your workers who take joy out of choking and abusing dogs. read more

This is the only facility that I trust to take care of my dogs. Why? Because the family that owns this place are some of the most diligent, hard working people I've met, they absolutely love dogs (dog welfare is priority number one, period), and they clean that facility clean enough to eat off of the floor. If that weren't enough, the owners unique understanding of healthy dog behavior really adds huge value to the daily/nightly ticket price there. They don't have just any minimum wage worker babysitting the dogs... They actually monitor behavior continuously, so that everyone has a good time. How do I know this? Well, full disclosure: I am a former employee that is neither tied to this business in any way, nor disgruntled. I am a former insider that really learned first hand how to truly care for dogs. It turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for me, but more Importantly I got to experience first hand the unbelievable level of cleaning that goes on there behind the scenes at night. When it comes to clean, these guys are NOT playing around. My experience at Fort Fido has inspired me to get a dog of my own, despite the allergies. Fort Fido and clan are the only people I will ever trust with my dog, other than my own family. read more

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The staff are so lovely and they care so much about the animals here, the facility is very clean and the hours are very flexible. I've taken my pet here mostly on the weekends where no other place is open as early or late to accommodate ppl who work all sorts of hours and that is the biggest plus for a daycare. I only wish they wouldn't charge extra an extra fee to feed dogs during the day. With that being said this place is one of the best in the area! read more

Very obscure "membership" requirements. Go to Wet Noses Dry Paws, they're amazing and they don't DISCRIMINATE against the breeds that Fort Fido does read more

Our two year old Australian Shepherd, Bailey, has been going to Fort Fido all his life. Although shy with new people around our home, he loves the staff at the Fort and gets so excited whenever we pull up to the building. They give him love and attention, and have taken wonderful care of him when we have needed to board him. I love that they are discriminating of new dogs to ensure that all the animals have a positive experience. I also feel that should a problem ever arise with our pet that they would work with us to resolve the issue. Past reviewers who have complained of staff have obviously not been there in quite some time. I highly recommend for daycare and boarding. read more

Fort Fido - A picture posted of our pet while we were away and he was boarding at Fort Fido. - Pet Sitting Near Me - University Place, Washington

I took my three year old mellow boxer there for a meet and greet to get a call two hours later to come get my dog she is not welcome here! She was in a quarrel with two regular dogs there I had told. Obviously she got the worse of it with three claw marks down her side and a big one on her head. Then I was charged for a half day to put her through that nightmare. WOW! They should be paying me. I would definitely think twice before I'd leave my love one there for sure !!!! read more

My dog LOVES going to this daycare. She always gets excited way before we even get there. When I pick her up, she's tired and ready to sleep which is a lot to say considering I have the most hyper husky I've ever encountered. A lot of her friends from the dog park attend this daycare too. I love the approach fort fido takes in making sure they take in only dogs with current vaccination records, as well as making sure they are not aggressive. My pup has been attacked quite a few times at the park and I'm glad I can leave her at daycare not having to worry about whether an aggressive dog will show up. Staff is also great and the owners are amazing people with such great tips on dog training. read more

Best. Doggie. Daycare. My senior fur baby loves Ft. Fido. I've been taking him there for several years now. He can't wait to get out the car and join the others inside. So happy to have a place he loves to go and play. read more

I just love this place! When our pug passed away last July our little Boston was so lost. We couldn't leave him alone anymore and so we looked for a place for him while we were gone and could not be happier with Ft. Fido. The staff is so caring and really care about the dogs they watch. I appreciate that I can drop off Floyd and know he is in in good hands. read more

For the past 4+ years Barkley has loved Fort Fido. From the daycare to boarding, he always has a great time. The interaction with the staff has always been great. I'm very happy to have a place for him to go where I know he loves to be and loves to have him. Definitely a great choice if you are looking for a place for your dog to go read more

Odd Atmosphere. All Indoors. Denied my gentle 6 yo rescue dog because she "couldn't adjust" and apparently snapped at a puppy. This place is the cleanest dog daycare/ boarding facility I've seen, though it's likely required since the entire facility is indoors with garage doors and fans to circulate the air. The dogs walk on rubber floors all day and are segregated based on their size (small, medium, large). We needed to board our dog for the holidays and wanted to try this spot. She is the sweetest 50-lbs black-lab mix that we rescued last year. She is gentle, shares her food and water with the house cat, and has yet to show any sign of aggression. She goes to daycare at least twice a week at a different place, goes to the Ft Steilacoom dog park regularly, has been boarded twice at her daycare, and has been very well socialized over the last year. She is timid and shy, but has never translated those emotions into aggression. Our dog failed her 4-hour assessment (a $30 fee with no guarantees or refunds) because she couldn't settle and allegedly snapped at a puppy. I'm not sure why she was in the same room as a puppy since all the dogs are separated by size. After talking with some dog trainers at a different business, we learned it is natural behavior for a large dog to remind energetic puppies to settle down. This place is nice and clean and convenient in University Place. But, if you want to be talked to like a human, get a staff that are clearly dog trainers, and need a place that isn't very picky, then look somewhere else. We now have our dog at Good CitiZen in the Stadium High School district and couldn't be happier. They took the time to welcome her and make her feel comfortable, and assured us she would be absolutely fine and well taken care of. read more

My dog had been going g to Fort Fido since he was a puppy. He is now 4 years old. He enjoys it so much that he gets excited when we pull into the parking lot. I feel comfortable because I know he's well taken care of there. All the dogs are evaluated to make sure it's a good fit. Also, there are some employees who have been there since the beginning. That's comforting. read more

Start to finish, there is not a more perfect place for a dog to have his day and to enjoy her/his time running & playing with "the pack". Our Cairn Terrier has been a loyal and loved client at the Fort since the day they opened, and even though we have moved to Gig Harbor, where there are probably more convenient places we could take him, it isn't something we'd ever consider. The staff is consistent, caring, conscientious and sincerely enthusiastic, and the facilities have been modeled as if they were the imaginings of a clever canine. You will never fret about cleanliness or safety here. The fact that they have added overnight care has been the answer to our dreams, since it is the only place we have EVER been able to leave our dog overnight without him becoming quite literally sick and despondent. LOVE THIS PLACE. read more

My dog is shy and anxious and generally afraid of people but loves to go to Fort Fido daycare. The staff has done an excellent job of building his confidence. The owners have given him the special attention he needed to become a more social dog. Thanks Fort Fido for all you do. read more

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=199815304163484&substory_index=0&id=100024050473128 Please see my review on the above link. Fort Fido is a very good doggie daycare! The staff are all wonderful!!!!!!! When Koda is there I know he is being well cared for, and I don't have To worry about him. read more

We applied for our dog to go to this daycare based on the reviews. First of all, during the temperament test/introduction we told this business our dog is anxious and has door/window aggression. We were very honest from the start. They said our dog did good and can return . After the first stay , I went to go pick up my dog and the worker had no control over my dog. I heard her very weakly attempt to get my dog to sit , then she opens the door to let him out. He is excited as ever, hands him back to us,and basically snaps/jumps at someone entering the business. This is my dogs fault but it would be helpful if the employees had control over the dogs. Dogs need calm and assertive and cannot do anything until they are calm , such as exit doors. And you cannot let a dog enter/exit before the human .. This is common sense to me. When we asked her for feedback on how he played, she stated " I just got here, I guess he was whiny" that isn't too much feedback .. My dog cannot return to this business. I understand, they need to prevent liability but it would be helpful to have employees that were assertive and knew how to let dogs enter/exit door. Especially if they knew from the start the dog has door/window issues. I said something to the worker but she looked pretty clueless and insecure. But the facility is super clean. My dog came back smelling better than usual . But two stars for the competency of the worker and communication on the dog's background. Unfortunately all dogs are not the same . Adding to this review - the person that " expelled " my dog actually said expelled and then did not even see the issue . Don't go to this place , the employees there are minions . read more

Very helpful and friendly staff and owners.Facility is large and well maintained. Our dogs seem to enjoy the experience.

These people are fantastic! They take are Molly overnight at the last minute and take such good care of her!! Love you guys!!!

This is hands down the best dog daycare in the Tacoma area. I've tried out a few and did extensive research on the rest, and Fort Fido is the only one I feel totally comfortable leaving my dogs at. I use it weekly for a daycare while I'm out of the house and have boarded the dogs twice now. The owners are always around and they have a great staff on top of that. The facility is large and clean. My dogs are always exhausted when they get home. Please don't pay attention to that "sad daycare" comment. They take care of the dogs very well and keep them SAFE. I'd rather my dogs be in a safe and playful environment than be let loose into a pack of aggressive, barking dogs. I love it, my dogs love it and I couldn't ask for a better dog daycare! Thanks, Fort Fido! read more

Extremely clean, beautiful dog daycare facility with a small amount of retail space. I was very impressed by the owners- they seemed to know a lot about dogs, and even recommended some trainers in the area. Their application process is very detailed- they pre-screen the dogs to ensure that everyone gets along and is safe. They also require proof of vaccinations to limit the spread of contagions. Very professional, knowledgeable service but not super expensive. My dog loves it, and doesn't come home smelling terrible (which has happened at other daycares). read more

Fort Fido--We appreciate you!! "By continuing to provide exercise, discipline, and affection, you can be the Pack Leader your dog needs to achieve a long and balanced life" (Cesar Milan). As his Pack Leader, I provide my new puppy Max, an enthusiastic and energetic German Shorthair Pointer, with exercise, discipline, and affection every day, and as a result, he is developing into a wonderful dog, best friend, and true companion. To complement my efforts, I brought Max to Fort Fido already at about 10 weeks of age; he is now a little over 6 months old. From the assessment his first day to all of his subsequent visits to the Fort, Max has been met consistently with calm and assertive leadership from the top down. Owner Dave modeled for me, from day one, the effectiveness of being calm and assertive, from the most seemingly simple yet crucial task of dropping off and picking up Max. The Fido Crew models calm and assertive leadership daily with Max and all the dogs at the Fort; their human efforts (discipline and affection), along with dog interactions in the medium roll (exercise), all complement what I do at home and contribute to Max's continued development into a happy and confident puppy and dog, and overall well-being as a part of my pack so that he can achieve a long and balanced life, something I seek to achieve for myself as well! Although I am impressed with and thankful for ALL of the Fort Fido Crew, I am giving a special shout-out to both Danielle and Christy for seeming to take a special interest in my sweet boy Max; thank you both so very much for the special interest and kind affection you have shown Max, and thank you also for all that you have shared with me as well, whether tips, stories, updates, even videos, so that I can share in Max's adventures when we are apart and also so I can continue to grow as Max's Pack Leader. Thank you to Fort Fido Crew for so purposely and passionately providing exercise, discipline and affection for my Max and all the other lucky dogs who attend The Fort! Love, Susi with Max in UP read more

My 2 year old large dog always loves going to Fort Fido and can hardly wait to go inside. The staff seems well trained in their ability to calm and control my active dog and I love how clean they keep it. The only reason I didn't give it 4 stars is because there isn't an outside play area. read more

My Great Dane loved going to Fort Fido! The owner worked with my scheduling of work and pick up times too! Absolutely recommend this place!

Since rescuing our Chocolate Lab mix 2 years ago, we were looking for a local business to support and socialize our dog. After trying a few other places that did not feel right we started using Fort Fido. Initially we really enjoyed this facility. They understood that our dog was a work in progress with a lot of energy. The staff was helpful and the owners were able to recommend a great chew toy that has lasted more than 1 day. Due to not being from WA, we travel 13 hours back home a few times a year and did not want to put that stress on our dog so we turned to our "friends" at Fort Fido for boarding, 4-6 days at a time. They encouraged breaks mid day and at night to ensure rest. The first time we brought our dog home, he had a cough that lasted about 5 days. After a trip to the vet it was deemed strain from labored breathing during his play during his stay. We checked with the folks at Fort Fido who assured us that he was not barking or whining uncontrollably and that he is a rather quiet dog, even when playing. After every boarding experience, we would have this same issue with our dog. Not much could be done is what the vet told us. Today we picked our dog up from Fort Fido for the last time today after a 6 day stay. I received a call from the owner today stating that following a check in call from me asking during our trip about the coughing and over excitement we have experienced every time after our dog, who showed no issues days prior, suddenly started demonstrating some coughing issues last night, the final night of his stay. The purpose of the call was not to inform me of this concern but to let me know that "due to our concern for your dogs health, he is no longer able to come to Fort Fido". I made an appointment at my vet for a check up same day as pick up. The vet checked out my dog and assured me that his coughing (which was not present when we were at the vet, nor since having brought him home) was not a virus, contagious, or anything to be worried about relating to stress or anxiety as suggested by the owner of Fort Fido. Our vet stated that he simply played hard. Thank you, Fort Fido, for turning away my 2 year business with multiple day visits during the month and boardings within the year. I am sure another local business owner will be more than happy to hear my concerns regarding my dog playing continually and over exhausting himself and look for a way to work with me rather than turning it into what seems like an attempt to avoid future issues for lack of care to my dog. Good luck with your business and I hope you stop grooming your clientele to be simply the cream of the crop rather than welcoming all types of well behaved, and friendly playful dogs. read more

The hell with Fido's Palace. I have been trying to coordinate boarding my dog at Fort Fido for a week after hearing that a colleague used to board her dog there. I found out today (after 3 days of back and forth) that the owner will not allow unfixed dogs, even though I was told that there are exceptions allowed. I am the proud owner of a mild-mannered, sweet 22 pound show quality dog. She has been boarded numerous times. As a responsible dog owner, I would never allow my dog to be boarded if she were about to go into a heat cycle. However, Fort Fido has been incredibly inconsistent in their communication, citing that "exceptions are made with the permission of the owner". I have called three times, each time I have received an inconsistent response, each time I ask to speak to the someone and for some reason no one is available to give me a consistent response or make a decision. It is now the eve of the departure for my trip and I have spoken to two of the front desk girls, finally to be told "we have a policy" by the same person who told me to schedule an assessment for my dog yesterday. They were incredibly rude, I was basically hung up on while asking for help. I don't expect an exception, and I don't need special treatment, but what I do need is consistency and professionalism along with common courtesy and customer service and I received neither here, just a headache. read more

My dog went to be assessed for boarding at FF. He was a rescue 1 year ago and gets really nervous and hyper in new situations. However, he is able to calm down when he gets familiar with a place. He goes to part time doggie daycare at another facility and he does fine there, but FF refused to board him. Apparently he didn't calm down during his 4 hour assessment so for me that's a major red flag and the dog is telling me he's not OK there. So he'll be going to Pet Paradise Lodge (PPL) in Woodinville and they will board him, no problem. PPL offers more individualized care and it's less expensive than FF. Your dog will get fresh air at PPL, but I didn't see any windows at FF where the dogs are & I don't know if they even get the dogs outside. PPL is staffed to offer services such as outdoor walks & brushing your pet (additional cost but still reasonable). Plus PPL is in the country on a beautiful piece of land. The owners live on site and the staff is plentiful. I'm actually glad FF refused my dog because I just didn't feel good when I was in their facility & wasn't particularly impressed with the staff. Like most pet owners I really love my dog so FF did me a favor in refusing to board him. He can stay at PPL and get the patience & loving care he so deserves. I should have checked Yelp before wasting my time & money at FF. read more

It has been 3 months since I have been able to put into words what exactly happened at this establishment. My dog Maggie May had been going to Fort Fido since she was 4 months old (she is almost 3 years old). She has always LOVED going to daycare and playing with her friends. Every time I would pick her up, she would get praised for how great she was doing and how much fun she had. In April of this year, that all changed. My husband and I were expecting and I was 9 months pregnant. We decided that we were going to let Maggie play at daycare for the weekend so she could be with her friends. When I went to pick her up, the young lady behind the counter said my dog had a terrible time...she wouldn't eat, she wouldn't play, and was having large signs of anxiety. My husband and I were shocked because our dog is like our baby and we were so saddened and confused to hear this. I get home with Maggie, and she has two bite marks in her nose, a large scab on her hip, and some hair missing on her behind. I WAS FURIOUS! I went back to the establishment to show the owners pictures I had taken of my baby, to let them know she was attacked at their establishment and that this is why she had a rough time. They SEEMED to be sincere and said that they would look into it immediately. About 35 minutes later I receive a phone call stating that they couldn't prove my dog was attacked, that my dog has always suffered anxiety at their place of business, and that we weren't welcome back. When I asked/questioned why we weren't told for the last 3 years that she wasn't having fun, he responded that my husband was abusive towards my dog and accused him of punching our dog in the face in their lobby. When I threatened slander, the owner quickly backed up stating "let's pretend I didn't say that". ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?! The owner wrote me a check for the weekend...which is honestly the least of my concern. I didn't need their hush money, but at that point, I was so distraught with what I was hearing. I have spread the word about Fort Fido to my friends and family, and other establishments. I do not want to see what happened to my baby, happen to yours. I have included some pictures below of my dog at Fort Fido a year ago today with her "large anxiety". I find it ironic that even an employee stated that the picture of my dog smiling, said that her personality really shows in this picture. Use Fort Fido with caution. If this happens to get deleted, don't worry...it's on Yelp too. Sincerely, Megan Peterson. read more

When we started bringing our dogs here we were complimented on their behavior and how well they played with the other animals. After several months we were told that one of our dogs exhibited water aggression towards another dog when they were finally putting water down for the dogs. This was completely out of character and had never been observed before. It also struck me as odd that water would not be constantly down for the dogs all day long. We would always check after that to see if our dog was behaving correctly. They always said she was. One day after a daycare session they told us she was no longer welcome. They said our dog had been in a fight with another dog. I asked who had started the dog fight and they said it was my dog. When I asked what the circumstances were that caused the fight they said that they were not sure since the person had their back to the dogs at the time it started. I asked if the other dog was also being kicked out, they said no since they did not start it. How can they determine who started the fight if the person was not watching? If my dog had been in a fight and even more so if my dog had started the fight why was I not called IMMEDIATELY instead of only being told when it was time for pickup? The facility constantly smells like incense and with the exception of the owners it seems like there are only teenagers who are running the daily operations. read more

Very very very bad experience and I warn you not to send your dog there. Bad service, bad attitude and insects. We have a 4 month German shepherd. We sent our dog there for two weeks, the first week they said that he was doing great...very smart dog. The second week, they started providing mixed feedbacks everyday. Some said that he was having great time, some said he may have separation anxiety issues, and some directly told us that daycare may not be good for him??? When I asked one girl over there whether I need to get a trainer for him, she said no, your dog is very smart and if you need help you can ask us. And today when we went to pick him up, some old lady told us that our dog is not welcomed to go back any more, saying he was barking at other dogs??? And my dog didn't like them? I was told this morning when I dropped him off that he listened very well. She was not even willing to provide suggestions or details as why he changed from enjoyinging daycare to barking at other dogs? I feel like we were basically kicked out of the place. This is the kind of service you are proud of? You apologize for mixed reviews from your own employees? What the heck is going on? We were not sending him there anyway as I started have lots of bug bites the second week we sent him there. read more

Our pups love coming to Fort Fido. Great, caring staff!