Mary Ellen Bradley · 1★ · 2025-09-07
Disappointed by this location’s care standards\n\nWe’ve been loyal Dogtopia customers for over a year at a different location and have had nothing but excellent experiences. So when we moved closer to another Dogtopia, we were genuinely excited to continue our dog’s daycare journey. Our initial meet-and-greet with Jessica was reassuring—she was professional, kind, and answered all our questions. We felt confident moving forward and appreciated the discounted trial days offered before committing to a regular schedule.\n\nUnfortunately, our experience quickly took a turn. On our dog’s first full day, we monitored the cameras closely to ensure he was adjusting well. What we saw was deeply concerning: our 1.5-year-old Labrador, who thrives in social environments, was crated multiple times throughout the day for extended periods. When we inquired, we were told it was due to staffing shortages. While we understood the explanation, it was disappointing—especially since he came home with boundless energy, which was unusual compared to his typical post-daycare exhaustion.\nStill, we gave the benefit of the doubt and returned for a second day, hoping for a better experience. That day, I had a medical procedure and needed the peace of mind that our dog was in good hands. He was dropped off at 7:15 AM, and we picked him up early at 11:45 AM (planned to pick him up at 7:00 PM) only to discover he had spent nearly three hours in his crate. We have timestamps and screenshots confirming this.\nWhat’s worse, he was crated after another dog mounted him twice and he barked in response. Instead of addressing the situation appropriately, staff placed him in a crate for over an hour. Meanwhile, other dogs were outside playing while he remained confined. This is not the standard of care we’ve come to expect from Dogtopia.\nWe’ve never had a single issue at our previous location—no excessive crate time, no behavioral misunderstandings, and certainly no neglect. Watching our dog be isolated and mishandled was heartbreaking. We ended up cutting the day short and picking him up early because we couldn’t bear to see him treated this way.\nWe’re grateful for the camera access, which allowed us to witness what was happening. But this experience was disheartening and unacceptable. We’ll be returning to our original Dogtopia location, where our dog is treated with the care and respect he deserves.\n\n9/7 Edit/Addition: I read your response, and frankly, it’s disappointing. It’s absurd to suggest that our dog’s behavior warranted extended crating when we’ve already spoken directly with our original Dogtopia location—who had zero concerns about his temperament or playstyle.\nLet’s be honest: you got caught. We watched the cameras, we documented the timestamps, and we saw our dog repeatedly crated while others played freely. Instead of taking accountability, you’ve chosen to deflect and offer vague justifications that don’t align with what actually happened.\nThis wasn’t a misunderstanding—it was a failure in care. And your response only reinforces the lack of transparency and responsibility that led us to leave in the first place.\n\n**For anyone considering this location**: Take a close look at the reviews. It’s interesting to see a sudden 5-star rating pop up immediately after my 1-star review—posted by someone with only a first name stated and no prior review history. The timing feels more than coincidental.\n\nDo better. Dogs deserve better.