Birmingham – Parkside Dog Daycare

Establishing a healthy lifestyle can play an important role in your dog’s longevity and overall well-being, but often our busy schedules, family commitments, and other responsibilities make this difficult. Keeping up with the level of exercise, socialization, and learning your pup requires is not always an easy feat, especially since dogs are highly social, active animals that thrive on regular stimulation and routine. At Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside, our expert team is here to transform your furry family member’s wellness by incorporating activities and exercises that target their physical and emotional health. During their time at daycare, they’ll form lasting bonds with BFFFs (Best Furry Friends Forever) in a structured, open-play environment and become even greater canine citizens in the care of our passionate, dog-loving team.

Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside offers the highest quality dog daycare in the Birmingham area; we are safe, clean,  convenient, and transparent to our pet parents, who trust their beloved pups to our team—something we don’t take lightly.

As a pet parent, you have the flexibility to choose between our wellness plans where your pup can establish a healthy routine. Several benefits come with offering a structured daycare routine for your furry friend, and by enrolling in one of our plans, you are committing to their overall health and wellness by ensuring they receive enough exercise, socialization, education, and fun in their week.

WHY SHOULD DOGS ATTEND DOG DAYCARE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA?

You may choose to bring your dog to daycare while you’re at work or at school, have an event to attend, or need a pet-free home for the day. However, daycare can also be a great fit simply to add more wellness to your pup’s lifestyle. Just like school for humans, our daycare can be a space that your furry family attends to catch up with their pals, learn valuable social skills, expend their energy, and more. At Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside daycare, we target:

• Exercise: Daycare dogs enjoy 8-10 hours of play and log between 30,000-60,000 steps at daycare, which is significantly higher than what pups can achieve at home, which is typically under 8,000 steps. Keeping pups moving with fun activities makes exercising enjoyable for our daycare dogs and helps reduce their risk of doggie health concerns. We achieve this through:
  • Agility-focused exercises: Our pups participate in exercises disguised as fun games that keep their energy levels high as they work on their cardio and strengthen their focus. We have secure play equipment throughout our playrooms that they can run and climb on, which hones their agility skills. Our team also organizes fun obstacle courses that can include tunnels, tire jumps, weave poles, and more.
  • Playroom bubble parties: We host periodic bubble parties in our playrooms with bacon- and peanut butter-flavored bubbles that float around the room (and into our dogs’ mouths). This is not only a fun, social element, but it also helps our pups expend their built-up energy chasing the bubbles around the room. This fun, tasty activity boosts their cardio and keeps them moving while learning to play nice with others.
• Education: Strengthening our daycare dogs’ minds is important to us, as we want all pups in our care to be their best doggie selves. We incorporate this through:
  • Brain games: Designed to boost problem-solving skills, improve behavior and manners, and keep dogs engaged, our brain games strengthen our pups’ minds as they learn new skills
  • Basic training: Our highly skilled team offers basic training, which can include simple commands, “follow the leader” exercises, door control, name recall, and more.
• Socialization and fun: When dogs are around their furry friend group, they can tap into their natural pack instinct, form long-lasting, beneficial bonds with each other, and boost their confidence around others. Boredom is never in the vocabulary at Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside because we love planning fun activities our pups can take part in with their furry friend group, which include:
  • Periodic photoshoots: Around holidays and other events, we set the scene with adorable props and backgrounds that make for the most share-worthy shots. We’ll be filling up our Instagram feed with these pictures, so be sure to check us out there to see what we mean!
  • Craft days: With the help of our Coaches, our daycare dogs channel their inner artist with paw-painted masterpieces that make for the perfect keepsake or seasonal craft to take home.
  • Treat and activity days: Our team is constantly offering new gourmet and seasonal treats, including peanut butter balls, peaches n’ cream, yogurt with apple slices, Meatball Mondays, frozen yogurt, candy apples, pumpkin smoothies, and puppucinos, just to name a few!

All our treat, crafts, and event days are announced in our store, through email, and on our app. These are so popular that we often have a waitlist for all crafts and event days!

DOG DAYCARE PLAYROOMS IN BIRMINGHAM’S PARKSIDE DISTRICT

Our 6,500 square-foot modern, state-of-the-art facility boasts three spacious playrooms as well as nearly 1,000 square feet of outdoor space for pups to enjoy. We separate our daycare dogs by size, temperament, and play style to ensure proper safety while encouraging socialization among like-minded furry friends.

Our Gym playroom is ideal for older, calmer dogs who still have that playtime spark but also enjoy resting with their pals. Our larger breeds, who are younger and have higher play energy, thrive in our Romper Room with friends that match their vibe. As for our smaller breeds, our Toy Box playroom offers space to run freely with others at their eye level and not in the shadows of larger dogs. Plus, our Toy Box playroom has direct access to our outdoor area! All our playrooms include large windows that allow plenty of natural light in.

Pups will enjoy our indoor playrooms for most of their time at daycare, but on those sunny and clear Birmingham days, we’ll rotate each playroom into our outside playroom in the morning and afternoon for around 45 minutes. Pet parents can rest assured their furry family member is among like-minded pals at all times, as we never mix play groups together due to safety reasons, even during outdoor play.

Safety and security are at the top of our list of priorities at Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside. When we designed each playroom, we paid close attention to the needs of each pup so they could play in a safe space that supports their well-being. We installed compressed rubber flooring, which is easy on joints, hips, and paw pads; soundproof walls that limit distractions from neighboring dogs; double-barrier doors between the playrooms and main hallway to ensure all entries and exits are known and secure; and advanced dedicated outdoor air HVAC systems (DOAS) with outdoor-only air intake to reduce the risk of airborne illnesses, so all playrooms have fresh, clean air circulating throughout. Our playrooms are also climate-controlled, which means we set an ideal temperature for playing—a major plus when the weather outside isn’t favorable for playtime.

At Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside, we ensure each playroom is clean and sparkling. Our team performs a deep clean in each playroom and sanitizes all playroom surfaces twice daily using chemical-free cleaning products that are safe to use around dogs. We follow strict protocols developed by Dogtopia’s Environmental Biologist and Veterinary Scientist to maintain the high quality of our playrooms, with cleanliness being paramount, no matter how many playing pups we have in attendance.

EXPERT DOGTOPIA CANINE COACHES IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Our Canine Coaches actively ensure each pup at our facility is safe, benefiting from the activities we offer, and, of course, having a tail-wagging good time. We have an extensive training program for our Coaches that is certified by two of the largest dog training schools in America. Our Coaches can manage large groups of dogs, no matter their size or breed, and can detect small shifts in body language, which ensures they can make swift, thoughtful decisions to prevent any unwanted behavior before it arises. They can also determine the pups who may need some assistance in meeting new pals and know when to administer breaks to any dogs that need them.

This curriculum has been approved for continuing education credits by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, so pet parents can rest assured that our team has received the latest and greatest material pertaining to dog wellness and behavior.

Our team will provide pet parents with periodic report cards to provide insight into your pup’s day. The more your dog attends daycare, the more our team will get to know them, which allows us to include even greater insight into your pup’s behavior at daycare, in addition to some tips that can help you replicate the training taught at daycare at home.

WHAT’S ON THE DAYCARE ITINERARY AT Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside

We offer all-day open-play, which means no infrequent “play sessions” where your dog actually spends most of the day in a crate. Our off-leash environment allows pups total freedom to explore their playroom and interact with other dogs, all while in a safe, supervised, and secure space.

We begin the day by welcoming in our morning crowd who’s pumped to play with a group of friendly pups and ready to expend their built-up energy from their restful sleep. Until noon, our daycare dogs will enjoy all the activities we have planned until it’s time to break for lunch and naptime. From 12-2:00 p.m., pups remain in their same playrooms but lounge in our home-style crates to ensure they receive some well-deserved “me” time as they chow down on their food and catch some z’s until it’s playtime again. Our team will perform our deep cleaning of the playroom and surfaces during this time as well.

After two hours of charging their batteries, our daycare dogs are back at it, playing, exercising, learning, and enjoying all that daycare has to offer. When it is time for pick-up, they’ll be happily played out and ready to drift off to dreamland, likely on the car ride home. We call this drowsy, delightful stage the “Dogtopia Daze,” and it’s a wonderful sign that your pup had the Most Exciting Day Ever!

A trip to our dog spa is always a cherry on top of an exciting day of daycare. Many of our pet parents choose to add some treatments to their pup’s day so they can look, feel, and smell their best by the time they are picked up. We provide various treatment options to help maintain your dog’s hygiene and wellness while offering the luxury and pampering they deserve. Our team of spa experts is skilled in providing care to all breeds, sizes, and comfort levels.

DOGTOPIA’S COMMITMENTS TO SAFETY

Dogtopia has several commitments to safety that we at Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside follow, including:

• A universal vow to treat your dogs like a member of the family
• A passion for providing both pet parents and pups the best possible service
• 8-10 hours of off-leash, open play to encourage socialization and exercise
• Certified Canine Coaches trained to manage and educate all breeds of dogs
• Supporting a charitable cause through the Dogtopia Foundation that enables dogs to give back to humanity
• Effective in-store cleaning products created specifically with your dog’s safety in mind

To ensure a safe and healthy environment for all pups, Dogtopia has established some mandatory guidelines that apply to all locations, including ours. While all breeds are welcome, we ask your dog be:

• At least 12 weeks old
• Spayed/neutered if seven months and older
• Up to date on their vaccination record, which includes vaccines like:
  • Rabies: administered at or before 16 weeks with a booster shot one year later and future vaccinations every three years.
  • Bordetella: recommended every six months.
  • DHLPP/DHPP (also known as “distemper/parvo”): administered at six to eight weeks old, boosted twice at three-week intervals, and then again one year later.
  • Canine influenza: our team will inform you upon booking if this is required, but it remains highly recommended.
• Free of any communicable illness for the past 30 days and any conditions that could spread to others (i.e., fleas, ticks, etc.).
• Non-aggressive or food- and toy-protective, with pet parents certifying that their dog has not harmed or shown aggressive/threatening behavior toward another person or dog.

LIVE HD WEBCAMS FOR PET PARENTS

Even if it’s just for the day, we know how difficult it can be to be away from your furry family member. That’s why we’ve equipped HD webcams in each playroom to livestream all the fun that you can join in on virtually no matter where you are. During open play, which excludes 12-2:00 p.m. when our pups are napping and eating, you can check in on your dog via Dogtopia’s  free mobile app or website. At Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside, you are never left wondering what your dog is doing all day.

OUR INITIAL MEET & GREET ASSESSMENT

One of the first ways we begin implementing safety protocols at Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside is through our Meet & Greet. This is a 20-30-minute assessment performed by our team of evaluators who ensure that our off-leash, open-play space is the right fit for your dog.

We will review your dog’s health history and perform a nose-to-tail wellness check to determine if your pup has any touch sensitivities; assess their comfort level in our home-style crate, which is where they’ll nap during the day; and create a mini play space that simulates the daycare environment by introducing a few dogs from the playroom where your dog would be placed and observing their responses. During this time, we’ll also give you a tour of our entire facility and answer questions you may have about our services. We have a monitor in our lobby that plays the livestreams of our indoor/outdoor playrooms, so you’ll get to see a broader picture of what daycare can look like for your furry friend.

Want to schedule your dog’s Meet & Greet now? Use our quick and convenient online form.

LOCATED AT 1200 2ND AVE S, BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Ready to start your dog’s daycare journey with Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside? Our team is ready for you! We proudly welcome pet parents from downtown Birmingham, including Parkside, Southside, Five Points South, and Central Business District, as well as Birmingham neighborhoods, including Avondale, Lakeview, Highland Park, Forest Park, and Crestwood. We also serve commuters from all nearby communities in the greater Birmingham area, such as Trussville, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia, and Hoover.

You can find us in downtown Birmingham in the Parkside district at the corner of 2^nd Ave S and 12^th St S. From our lobby you can see Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons baseball team, and we are near two local breweries: Good People Brewing Company and Monday Night Brewing Social Club. We also have a bunch of coffee shops nearby, such as East Pole Coffee Co. and The Red Cat, restaurants such as Tortuga’s Pizza, Ted’s, Michael’s Restaurant, and Hero Doughnuts, and office neighbors such as Airship, Knight Eady, and Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

We are surrounded by many new apartment and condominium buildings, including Denham Lofts, Lumen, Macaroni Lofts, The Marshall on 3^rd, 20 Midtown, and others. We are a very short drive from Birmingham’s Medical District, including the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) campus, UAB Hospital, and Children’s of Alabama. We are a quick and convenient stop for commuters, with very easy access to and from Interstate 65 just one block away from our store.

REACH OUT TO OUR TEAM TODAY

If you have questions about daycare or any of the other services that we offer at Dogtopia of Birmingham - Parkside, please don’t hesitate to reach out by phone at 205-607-8989 or our convenient online inquiry form.