So you have been working from home for about the last 2 years (ahem..pandemic…ahem) and you got a puppy at the beginning of all the fun.

Now you are heading back to the office for actual in-person human interaction.

Meanwhile, your pooch has had the luxury of having you around 24/7 going for walks, playing, and having fun. Now, they’re expected to stay home and entertain themselves without you???

For some dogs, that may be OK, but for a lot of dogs (mine included) separation anxiety rears its ugly head and your pooch cries and whines the whole time you’re at work.

Not an ideal situation.

Luckily, there are these great facilities called doggy daycares, where, just like daycare for kids, you drop your pooch off before work and pick them up after.

In fact, some doggy daycares even offer a shuttle service so your pooch gets picked up and dropped off, similar to a school bus!

Doggy daycare is great for socializing your pooch, exercising, and basically getting spoiled all day while you are taking care of business at work.

Here in Northumberland County, we are lucky and have plenty of doggy daycares to choose from.

But how do we choose the right one?

I have to be honest and say that I have not used the doggy daycares in this article personally as I am fortunate (or maybe unfortunate?) enough to be home most of the time.

However, I do trust the almighty Google and Facebook reviews for guiding my choices for this article. These are real reviews by actual clients, so if the overall comments are very positive, they got a place in this article, if not, BYE-BYE.

This article is intended to help narrow down your search for doggy daycare. You will still need to do your due diligence and check out the centres for yourself to see if they are the right fit for you and your pooch.

Doggy Daycare Centres in Northumberland County

In no particular order, here are the best doggy daycares in Northumberland County according to Google and Facebook.

Walnut Grove Kennel and Spaw

Walnut Grove is located in Castleton.

Featuring

• 50+ acres
• Fenced and secured yards
• Walking trails through the forest and creek to take in all of nature
• Climate controlled building
• Extra-large luxurious sleeping areas that feel like home
• 24-hour on-site care and security
• Pick up and Delivery service from Trenton to Clarington
• No added fees for medication administration or special needs care
• Real time text or email photo updates whenever you are missing your pooch
• ALL BREEDS and personalities welcome!
• Will customize your dogs stay and playtime based on his/her social level
• Raw diet friendly (fridge and freezer on site)
• Spaw Services

With twenty-four 5-star reviews, Walnut Grove is a great choice of doggy daycare for your pooch.

Reviews

Here’s what satisfied customers are saying on Google:

“Walnut Grove has helped us socialize our rescue dog. She has come such a long way since starting daycare! When we had a family emergency, we didn’t have to worry about our dog, they picked her up and kept her overnight which was a huge relief. Excellent, professional services!”

“Anna treats your dog like they are her own! She clearly has a passion for her work and makes you feel confident and comfortable that you are leaving your pup in great hands. My small dog has issues with large dogs and she is always very accommodating with making arrangements to keep him separate from the bigger dogs and making sure he has lots of playtime with the other smaller visitors. Highly recommend Walnut Grove for the next time you need a warm, safe, and fun place for your dog’s vacation!”

“Anna is such an amazing person and loves these animals like her own. It was our first time leaving our dog and I felt great leaving her in such great hands. Highly suggest to others”

“Anna has such a love for animals. We get to leave our girls there and never worry about them. She treats all of her guests as if they’re her own”

It is obvious from these comments that the owner, Anna, is amazing with dogs and loves them like her own. Almost every single comment raves about how good Anna is with their pooches. 

Location: 693 Pinewood School Rd, Castleton, ON K0K 1M0

Rates: $20+tax for 1 dog

$10 per additional dog

Hours: 8 am to 6 pm

CJ’s Dog Resort and Spa

CJ’s Dog Resort and Spa is located just east of Cobourg. 

Featuring

• Large fenced and shaded play areas
• Lounge room
• Groomed walking trails
• Socializing and making new friends
• Supervision at all times

Reviews

With twenty-one reviews and 4.8 stars, CJ’s is another great doggy daycare option for your pooch.

Here’s what clients on Facebook have to say:

“Great place. Dog loves it”

“I can not say enough great things about CJ’S!!!”

“My girl just started Daycare here and she loves it! She came home happy and well-exercised and I love seeing all the photos of her with her new friends!

“They have also been super accommodating with my hectic work schedule. Great place, Highly Recommend!!!”

“These folks are fantastic and their facilities are second to none!  My girls always come home from there happy and exhausted!  Large yards to run and play and even a real pool for my Nelly to swim in!  Very accommodating and accepting even at the last minute sometimes, thanks to Cathy and Malcolm for caring for Bailee and Nelly like they are your own!”

“I have been taking my Frenchie Winston to CJ’S for a couple of months now. I can’t say enough about them. They are the most friendly, loving, caring people. I feel very comfortable leaving my boy there. Winston attends daycare twice a week. He has separation anxiety, and since he has been going we have noticed a huge difference in him. I love looking at the pictures they post daily. When Winston comes home he is pooped right out. We LOVE CJ’S”

From these great reviews, it is clear to see that the owners of CJ’s, Cathy and Malcolm, are very good with dogs and the pooches love going there as well. Who could ask for more?

Location: 9883 Danforth Rd E, Cobourg, ON

Rates: One dog: $25 + HST per day

Two dogs: $40 + HST per day

Three dogs $60 +HST per day

Hours: Monday to Saturday 7:30 am – 6 pm

K9 Fit

K9 Fit is located in Castleton and is a great option for your high-energy pooch!

Featuring

Both half and full-day packages.

Half-day package includes:

• a one-hour gym session packed with fun
• stimulating exercises to tire your pup(s) out

Full-day package includes:

• TWO one-hour gym sessions packed with fun
• stimulating exercises to tire your pup(s) out
• FREE marrow bone during rest time (your choice of beef or bison marrow or neck bones from Healthy Paws).

Reviews

With forty-one reviews on Facebook, and all 5-star, K9 Fit may be the perfect ‘fit’ for your gym-loving pooch!

This is what clients on Facebook had to say:

“Ashley at K9 fit is such an amazing woman!! my dog just loves spending the whole day there and getting exercise with her friends, always comes home pooped!!!”​

“Ashley is the best! Our pup knows when we turn right at the bottom of the street, exactly where she’s going, and she comes home absolutely pooped from her playdates. She just loves it”

“My Girl Charlie just had her first visit, and she had a blast! The staff took the time to build trust with her, and make sure to keep me up to date with so many videos and pictures. After I saw the first picture and I saw her huge happy face, I knew she was very happy and comfortable being there!”

“Wonderful place to physically exercise your dog and mentally stimulate him/her. Anything from agility, to lure course and mental games  Ashley is an amazing, kind person understanding not only the benefits of proper exercise but nutrition as well. Truly inspiring l bring our dog there.”

“My dog was at K9 Fit for the first time today. I was a nervous mama dropping him off, but Ashley sent me pictures and videos showing me how well he was doing. He seemed to have so much fun. I can hardly wait to bring him back to make more friends!”

Ashley sounds like an amazing person who truly loves what she does. Most of the comments are about how good she is with the dogs.

K9 Fit would be great for those overactive pooches that need both mental stimulation and physical exercise to be truly worn out.

Location: 14352 County Rd 2, Castleton

Rates: Half day: $35

Full day: $55

Hours: 9 am to 5 pm

All Pawz Inn

All Pawz Inn in Colborne may be a good fit for you and your pooch if your work schedule is wonky. They offer extended hours for daycare clients to pick up and drop off their pooch.

Featuring

• Full-day or half-day
• Extended special times for drop off and pick up
• Group play or individual attention
• Lots of exercise
• Feed and administer daily needed medication
• Lots of individual attention

Reviews

With thirty-three Google reviews and an average of 4.9 stars, All Pawz Inn may be a good choice for doggy daycare, especially if you work odd hours.

Let’s see what clients from Google had to say:

“Our normal kennels had closed due to lack of business during covid lockdowns. So we recently tried All Pawz Inn. I was very impressed with the questions asked upon booking such as feeding times your dogs are used to, qty of food, as you have two dogs do they need to be separated during feeding, any habits they have, etc. It’s the little things like that which makes you relaxed knowing your furry friends will be in good hands.”

“After moving to a new town and area and needing a new kennel for my lab, I found this one. Google maps were great for directions from Trenton right to the driveway.  After looking at a few other kennels before this one I was getting disappointed as I couldn’t find one I liked. Michelle is wonderful and the girls she has working for her are great! Always happy and helpful. My Lab loves it there! He is always bouncing when he gets out of the car and never wants to leave to come home. He has made lots of human and dog friends. All Paws Inn is one thing I do not have to worry about if my Lab is looked after.”

“What wonderful staff! They were accommodating and flexible with my last-minute needs. The facilities are clean and the rate is very competitive. My pups came home healthy and tired and that’s all you can ever ask for.”

“I would recommend All Pawz Inn to anyone who really loves their pets. Michelle and her staff are truly great with our dog. He is a rescue and is shy and nervous, but he loves to go there.  They take good care of our boy!!!”

Note: The staff at All Pawz Inn responded to each and every comment on Google. This shows just how dedicated they are to customer service and ensuring they provide a great experience for you and your pooch.

Location: 426 Crandall Rd, Colborne

Rates: Contact for rates

Hours: 8 am to 8 pm

Next Steps

Google and Facebook comments and reviews are great. They are very helpful in guiding a decision in one way or another. And really, what dog lover is going to leave an untrue review. Seriously, we all want what is best for our pooches and others, right?!

However, nothing beats a referral from a trusted family member or friend. So, if you are considering putting your pooch in doggy daycare, and if you have made it this far through this article you probably are, ask around and investigate further.

Another great resource is local Facebook groups. You can post the question and see if members of your community recommend a place or two. 

The next step is to check out the facilities for yourself. Set up a meet and greet with the owners so you can see how your pooch interacts with them and the facility.

You will get a gut instinct as to which doggy daycare is right for you. Trust that instinct and go with it. 

There is nothing better than ending your busy day at work with a tired and happy pooch by your side!

If you have a doggy daycare recommendation or experience with any of the daycares listed, please comment below and tell us about it. Thanks!