Structured Play Groups
Playgroups are the foundation of a safe, successful daycare experience-but only when they're done with intention. Without structure, dogs become overstimulated, communication breaks down, and risk increases. Properly managed playgroups support healthy social skills, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. At Bark House, every group is built with purpose to ensure dogs aren't just playing, they're benefiting.
How it Works
We maintain a 1:15 staff-to-dog ratio with active supervision and management of group dynamics.
Dogs are placed into groups developed through behavior evaluations using our green, yellow, and red system to ensure safe and compatible play.
Each day follows a balanced rotation: 3 hours of free roam, 3 hours of rest, and 3 hours of free roam again. This prevents overstimulation, provides consistency, and supports healthy social behavior.
We group by play style and personality, not by size, because how a dog plays and how it interacts matters more than how big it is.
Only 100% rubber dog-safe toys are provided during certain periods of the day and only in groups with dogs that have passed behavior evaluations regarding toys. All toys are accounted for and sanitized daily and are never left in the kennels overnight or left with dogs unsupervised.
Every part of the day is designed with enrichment in mind, meeting dogs' physical, social, cognitive, sensory, and emotional needs.