“Playground Pups, has rapidly become the top choice of daycare facilities for many of the Upper West Side’s dogs. The staff are experts in treating our furry friends with the love and affection that they deserve. The facility is now offering a free introductory half-day to all dogs who are at least 4 months old. Read below to find out what makes Playground Pups such a treat to dogs and dog lovers alike. Paws up!
Playground Pups opened its doors in 2009 and has since established itself as the premiere dog daycare facility on the Upper West Side. They’re one of the few facilities to offer crate-free boarding as well as grooming, training, and FREE weekly puppy playgroups. They also offer a small boutique section that offers a great selection of clothing items, the latest accessories for your furry friend, and even some-locally made treats! All treats, clothing and dog gear and sourced and made in the USA.
The owner of Playground Pups, Gail, operates the facility and is a passionate dog lover as well as a long time Upper West Side mom. She ensures the rooms are always clean and that staff provides a personal service to customers. Gail and the staff treat each and every dog as if they were their own and it shows. All the dogs are known well by the entire staff as there is minimal turnover in staff, which is a rarity in this industry. If you check them out on Yelp, Google, or their Facebook page, you’ll see their clear dedication to quality and service.
Playground Pups offers four playrooms that are divided according to size, age, temperament, and play style. Many facilities split dogs only according to their size. Such is not the case at Playground Pups. The staff here recognizes that mixing pets of different sizes and ages improves their socialization skills. This is specifically important for city dogs whose lives are full of interactions with other dogs and people. Besides, dogs of larger sizes often love to play and snuggle with their smaller buddies and little ones are often fascinated by the bigger dogs. They do however offer a room for the smallest dogs for owners who prefer it.
If you’re boarding your dog for the weekend or longer, Playground Pups can send you photos of their staycation when an owner emails the request. This way you can see how much fun your best friend is having while you’re away!
Playground Pups is now offering an introductory half-day (5 hours) of daycare at no charge. The regular price of a half-day is $40 but from now until the end of October the introductory program will be free to all of those dog owners who are interested. Half-day assessments are performed from Monday through Sunday and one must schedule an appointment in advance. Any puppies who are at least 4 months old can participate as long as they bring their proof of vaccinations with them. Puppies who are 8 months or older must be spayed or neutered in order to be admitted.
Weekly free puppy playgroup sessions take place every Saturday morning from 9am to 10am. These sessions are offered on a first come, first served basis and all puppies are welcome as long as they have age appropriate vaccines until they are 8 months old. The playgroup is run by one of our certified trainers as well as at least two handlers in the room at all times for supervision. Socialization skills are the most important thing your new puppy can learn in their first year.
Gail and the staff at Playground Pups work closely with several local rescue groups. They collect donations that are distributed towards getting the clothing, foods, toys, and crates necessary for dogs that are in local shelters. They also work with several local rescue organizations to foster dogs and bathe and groom them for adoptions events. Playground Pups sponsors with The New York Humane Society, bestfriends.org, New York City Food Bank, and other charitable organizations established in the New York City area. They’re an integral part of the dog rescue community and believe in the responsibility small businesses have when it comes to giving back.
You can contact the staff at Playground Pups by phone, 212.362.5221, or email at info@playgroundpups.com, to set up your appointment today. They’re located at 664 Amsterdam Avenue between 92nd and 93rd street in the heart of the Upper West Side.
For more information on Playground Pups, please visit their official website or just stop by to see the beautiful photos of our pups covering the walls.