When we first started at Doggone Fun Doggy Daycare, it seemed like an ideal environment for our dog…read moreto socialize and burn off energy. Our dog had been attending weekly--sometimes twice a week--for almost a year, 45 times in total. Each time we picked him up, we made it a point to ask, "How did he do today?" and every single time, we received positive feedback that "he did great." Based on these 45 visits, we thought everything was going well and that the daycare staff was happy with his behavior. We'd even invested in training sessions (both private and group) through them.
Then, a month ago, the owner (whom we hadn't met before) was the one to retrieve him. We saw through the window as she aggressively put on his collar and yanked him out. We were taken aback, but after learning that other former clients had left due to her and issues similar to this, we didn't bother to complain. We hoped it was a one-off incident.
Unfortunately, things got worse. Last week, we dropped him off for his usual visit and received a call just two hours later from--you guessed it--the owner, informing us that our dog was permanently banned for being "too hyper" and "endangering other dogs with his running." This was not only a shock but incredibly frustrating. He wasn't aggressive or harmful to any other dog; he was simply being a dog. For an establishment marketed as a daycare, you'd expect some understanding of typical canine energy. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body, as their own trainer has stated on more than one occasion.
When we pressed for details, we were told this was the "final strike" and that our dog "doesn't listen." This accusation was both unfair and absurd, especially since we were never informed, not even once, that his behavior was supposedly an issue. Let's not forget we invested heavily in training with their staff. If his behavior truly was a problem, then the training was a complete waste. On more than one occasion, we had watched through the window after dropping him off, and the daycare often looked chaotic, with dogs running all over and a single worker standing there, blowing a whistle and tossing treats without any structure. Looking back, it also explains why our dog would vomit almost every day after his visits, on top of the smell of urine and rubber that lingered on him after each stay. He even contracted Giardia twice, which should have been a red flag for us to stop going much sooner.
To add insult to injury, we still had one private training session left, but when we requested a refund for it, we were met with resistance and disbelief from the trainer, who claimed they "can't really refund one training lesson." The lack of professionalism, transparency, and basic respect for clients here is astounding. Save your time, money, and peace of mind, and steer clear of Doggone Fun Doggy Daycare.
