Small Dog Daycare - Bark to Basics

Why Choose Us?

We’re really serious about taking care of small dogs and their people

You’ve got enough to worry about. Whether your small dog is happy while you’re working shouldn’t be on your worry list. And it doesn’t have to be, because we’ll take it off yours and put it at the top of ours.

Stress-Free Days

No dog wants to spend all day in a big, loud warehouse, little dogs least of all. Our daily guests enjoy the physical and mental comfort of hanging out in a real home.

Comfy beds for all

Between couches and doggie beds from soft to firm, every little can choose the perfect snooze spot to take a break from the action.

Backyard tailored for small dogs

We landscaped our back yard for comfort, fun, and safety with secure fencing, double gates, artificial turf for all seasons, and a patio for relaxation and sun bathing.

Rooms for every need

We offer a dedicated play and hangout room, a sleeping room for nap and downtime, and a grooming room to keep your pup sweet and clean

Our People

A dedicated, qualified staff

Loving little dogs is a central job requirement at Bark to Basics, but it’s not enough. Too many daycares are staffed with well-meaning but under-qualified dog lovers. At B2B we require our staff to be dog professionals, too.

Run by a professional dog trainer

Owner Shura Kelly was an early graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and has specialized in working with small dogs since 2001.

Commitment to ongoing education

Being the best at what we do requires ongoing professional development. Shura attends high level seminars and conferences each year, bringing new insights back to our staff.

Highly trained staff

All Bark to Basics staff are required to be Academy for Dog Trainers grads or dog*tec certified, studying body language, basic training, group safety and management, aggression, canine first aid, and more.

High staff-to-small-dog ratio

We work as a team to see that every small dog is carefully supervised—and has a lap available whenever needed.

A structured day of fun and care

Too often daycare is a free-for-all, resulting in dogs who are over-tired and eventually become cranky with their buddies. That’s no fun. We believe in sending your dog home happily tired. That means a balance of activities and rest:

Supervised play time

Our staff oversees all play sessions, assuring everyone is having a fun and safe time. Whenever weather permits we take our games outside to our large, secured backyard. Rainy days mean romping in our hangout room.

Training time

Not so much a specific time of day, just an all-day positive reinforcement of good small dog manners like polite sits and coming when called.

Nap time

Many veterinarians have expressed concern about all-day play, and we agree. So we build in quiet time in our sleeping room. Your dog can choose between a couch spot or a private crate if she’d like to enjoy a naptime chew.

Pee time

We know how hard you worked to potty-train your small dog. That’s why we provide all-day access to the yard and actively reinforce good toilet manners.

Lap time

If your small dog is a cuddler, she’ll be in good hands. Our staff loves to pamper and no dog at Bark-to-Basics is ever turned down for a cuddle session.

Small Dog Daycare Rates & Details

Pick Up & Drop Off

Add morning pick up and evening drop off if you require it, at no extra charge. Morning pick up starts at 9am and runs until 10:30am, but you can drop your little off as early as 7am. Drop off starts between 3:30 and 4pm so your best friend can be waiting for you when you get home, but you can pick your little up as late as 7pm.

Important Policies

All dogs must be up-to-date on vaccinations and in good overall health to play. For the safety and comfort of all dogs, we are not able to accept intact males.

Let’s Get Started with a Meet & Greet Interview

If you think we might be the right match for you and your small dog, let’s start by getting to know each other. We invite you to set an appointment to bring your best friend in to check us out and make sure he or she will be truly comfortable with us. Send us an email or give us a call at (415) 265-0684.

“As I hope you can see from the way we do things at Bark-to-Basics, my motto is: It HAS to be about the dog. Daycare isn’t for every dog and it’s my job to make sure every little who comes to play with us is happy and comfortable. If your dog isn’t happy with us I’ll let you know and help you find another solution.” —Shura Kelly