About Us
We understand that you wouldn’t trust your pups with just “anyone” (we wouldn’t either). So learn a little more about our philosophy, our facilities, and our staff. And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Daycare
Your dog will love socializing, exercising, and playing all day with like-minded furry friends in our safe, supervised playrooms with open access to the outdoors.
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Boarding
We’re the perfect home away from home when your pup needs a sleepover stay. Your dog will enjoy running and playing with his pooch pals — not just sit in a kennel.
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Grooming
Get your pup squeaky clean and feeling like a million bones with our expert grooming services. Save on grooming services when your pup stays with us for Daycare or Boarding.
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New Customers
To ensure that your pups will enjoy our daycare and boarding environment and be safe and fit in with the rest of their furry friends, all of our pups must complete a New Pup Assessment.
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About Barks & Recreation
Barks & Recreation is the premier daycare and boarding facility serving all of Northeast Ohio. Our mission is to always provide a safe, fun and beneficial experience for your pups — and an easy, relaxed experience for you. We know you wouldn’t trust your pup with just “anyone” when you can’t be with them. We truly believe that we’re the perfect place for your furry kids — but we also believe in earning your business. Please click the links for Our Philosophy, Our Flexibility, and Our Facility to see what separates Barks & Recreation from the rest and what makes us the perfect place for your furry kids (and for you).
"I wouldn't trust my dog with anyone else."
The staff at Barks & Recreation is phenomenal! I wouldn’t trust my dog with anyone else. Ziggy is so well cared for and loves being here!
— Jill Allard
Our Philosopy
We all know that dogs love their humans. But we sometimes forget that dogs are pack animals and wanting/needing to be part of a pack is a deeply instinctual for your pup. When socialized properly, dogs enjoy having time with “their own”. Studies show that dogs that are allowed to participate in their natural pack environment become more social around dogs and people, stay more physically fit, and learn positive behavior – which leads to less doggie “mischief” at home. Beyond these important outcomes, there are things that dogs simply learn better from each other – things humans simply cannot duplicate or teach no matter the training!
Our philosophy is to not only encourage the physical stimulation that your dog craves, but also the mental stimulation that can only be achieved by observing and interacting with other dogs and their behaviors. This unique combination not only keeps your dog active and helps to maintain a healthy weight, but also keeps their brain active and busy – which can calm destructive tendencies, relieves boredom and anxiety, and can make for a more confident, calmer dog for you to enjoy!
"It is important to me as a dog owner to socialize my dog & my dog loves playing with other dogs – at Barks & Recreation my dog gets both!"
It is important to me as a dog owner to socialize my dog & my dog loves playing with other dogs – at Barks & Recreation my dog gets both! My husband & I are both full-time workers with crazy schedules. The hours of operation are great with our schedules and we don’t have to feel guilty that our pup is stuck at home anymore. The bonus is our little guy is so tired from playing at Barks & Rec! I could not imagine my life as a dog owner without this place!
— Desiree Meister
Our Flexibility
We understand that if you can’t be with your pup, it’s usually because you can’t take them wherever you’re going. And whether it’s work, running errands, vacations, or anything else life throws at you, the last thing you need is another hassle. That’s why we make every effort to be flexible and accommodating — to be there when you need us and we are ALWAYS ready to play.
Our Facility
Our location in Macedonia has easy access from major highways making Barks & Recreation uniquely positioned to serve all of Northeast Ohio. Our one-of-a-kind facility is set up to maximize safety, flexibility, and fun for your pups. Our facility features two different areas for your pups to play with friends their own size — the Little League room is for pups 12 lbs. or smaller and the Big League area is for all pups 20 lbs. or larger. Dogs between 12-20 lbs are welcome to play in either area (we leave that choice up to the parents). We also know some of your smaller pups want to run with the big dogs – so as long as mom or dad say it’s okay, we’ll let the Little Leaguers play with the Big Leaguers too! Your pups also have free and open access to our 4,000 sq. ft. outdoor space during the day so they can run in and out as much as they please.
Our facility is also equipped with various jungle gyms and other climbing toys to encourage exercise and play. Our Coaches have even been known to pull out the swimming pools on hot summer days for
the pups to splash around. Of course, eventually even the most active pups will need a break. So we’ve also got plenty of beds and cots throughout each facility for the pups to chill out and recharge the batteries while still getting to be out with the pack.
While boarding at Barks & Recreation, your pup will not sit in a kennel. Since daycare is included as part of our boarding services, your pup will enjoy running and playing with his pooch pals while being monitored by the staff. And at meal times and bed time your pup has their own 6′ room to eat and relax in. That room is just for them and you are more than welcome to bring your pup’s bed, blanket, and favorite toys to make the space feel more like home.
We always want you to be able to see your pup while they are at Barks & Recreation, so please feel free to check in by using our live webcams on your computer or smartphone!
