Victoria, Mallory, Bre and all the staff are simply amazing. They are so kind and genuinely love dogs. Our pup (who was a Velcro dog with me at first) loves going to daycare and has become a much happier, confident, and sociable dog since he's started. Even his nap habits improved! The drop off and pick up at the front are so convenient, the hours are great, and our pup is well taken care of. You can tell he gets lots of love there! I'm so grateful for A Joyful Dog. I don't think we could manage our pup without them. Thank you read more

We were so anxious to board our special needs dog who prior to us adopting her, was at the city of buffalo animal shelter for a month. We worried the situation would be too similar and make her panic, triggering her medical issues. The staff at Joyful Dog was patient, kind, and empathetic. It was clear from our thorough conversation before booking that our pup would be in great care. They were understanding of our anxiousness at drop off, and gave us so much info at pickup regarding how she did during her stay (including a very cute report card!) We were so happy with our test boarding at Joyful Dog and feel assured and far less stressed about her next boarding, which will be for a longer stay. They are clearly genuine dog lovers, and great at dealing with us anxious dog parents as well! read more

Eminem loves it, every time I pull up to joyful dogs he is trying to jump out the car. Thank you so much for taking good care of him.

I've been bringing my dog Ruby here since she was a few months old. She's been going to day care a few days a month. She is very excited to go there and they are happy to see her when I drop her off curbside. I love that you pull up and they come out to get your dog out of the car. I've watched her on the dog cam after dropping her off. I like that that is an option. It is nice to see her playing with other dogs, and even better that she is exhausted when I pick her up. I've never taken a dog to day care before, and I'm so happy that I found such a great place. Prices are very reasonable. I highly recommend! read more

A Joyful Dog (AJD) is amazing, and let me tell you how from OUR experience. We started 2021 with a new, 8-week old Havanese puppy. We found AJD and the wonderful staff are caring, kind, and responsive. They even emailed us a video clip of our little guy playing with other dogs. We really like that there's a web-feed so we can take a look during the day to see how he's doing. The people who work here make the difference, and I'm very glad we have A Joyful Dog nearby. read more

For those who have read my other reviews about doggy daycare, never fear! We still love them, but we've moved and wanted to find something a little closer. Victoria, who is one of the owners, has known Stout since he was a puppy, so when we found out that she had opened a doggy daycare not far from our new house, it was too perfect! Apart from all of the basics that you would expect (friendly and knowledgeable staff, clean facilities, spaces for big/little dogs, indoor/outdoor areas for varying weather, extreme attention to detail concerning your dog's needs, etc.) there are a couple of things that make A Joyful Dog stand out. First, the puppy cam. On. My. Cellphone. Once I get this set up, I will never be able to get work done again. Ever. Second, training. Victoria asked me what sort of training we are working on with Stout so that she could do some training time during the day. This is so helpful for us because while we're at work/school/etc. Stout doesn't always get all of the training time that he needs and he is a breed that definitely requires some practice time. Third, convenient hours and all night *supervised* sleepovers. A Joyful Dog is open early/late enough that getting to work on time (or hitting the road for Cleveland Monday morning) isn't a problem. And if we ever have to go away and can't find someone to watch Stout for us, a sleepover party at A Joyful Dog is just what the doctor ordered. I would not feel comfortable leaving Stout somewhere that kenneled him all night with no one to watch him. Having someplace like A Joyful Dog that will be there so that he's comfortable, makes me feel comfortable. I have to say the one thing I get jealous about is that mostly it's my other half who gets to bring Stout, but now that I have the puppy cam..... Definitely check out A Joyful Dog - and tell them that Stout sent you! read more

Absolutely LOVE A Joyful Dog! I've been bringing my pup here for 6+ years and they ALWAYS take great care of her. They answer any time you call and gladly give you an update on how your pet is doing, I have never felt nervous or anxious about leaving my dog in their care as I know she is in good hands. They follow your instructions and routine which allows your pet to feel as comfortable as possible. I highly recommend them to anyone who needs peace of mind when being away from their pet!! 10 out of 10 read more

My dog adores it here. The communication is great..and he is a high energy and sometimes anxious hound.. they are siooo patient and positive. Simply the BEST! read more

My 9 month old Labradoodle's daycare, Kindermutt, is closing, so I'm in the business for a new daycare. A Joyful Dog was recommended by our current daycare, so I visited their website and felt like this daycare could work. I called to schedule an evaluation and was told evaluations are only done during certain days of the week during a limited window. I made my appointment for a Monday at 9:30 am, knowing I would have to take a day off work. On the day of the evaluation, I brought my puppy to the daycare. Upon entering, I noticed how tiny, unkempt, and seemingly dirty the front end of the daycare appeared to be. There were two dogs in a small pen with a few beds right next to the front door. The front end looked a bit run down, had a strong odor compared to other day cares I've visited, and overall, had seen better days. The day care attendant (who may have been the owner) noticed my dog was a bit nervous coming in, but gave her some treats. She asked if my dog came from Kindermutt, and when I said yes, she said they've had a few dogs from Kindermutt come in for evaluations and "things didn't work out." I thought this comment was a bit odd and off-putting--it certainly didn't make me feel welcomed or like my dog was wanted here. Nothing else was asked about my dog's socialization or play style. The attendant briefly explained the evaluation process, and I allowed my pup to be taken back for the evaluation. Another attendant offered me to move closer to watch the camera. By moving closer to the tv screen, I saw more of what I believed was the office end of the facility, where another dog was laying down, and again was somewhat put off by the messiness of the back office. I watched on camera as my dog was taken back, and introduced to one or two dogs in a small pen. After a few short moments, she was taken to the larger pen with maybe 8-10 dogs. On the camera, it was difficult for me to tell what was going on, but my pup's tail was wagging, as were others, and I did notice her start to try to play with others. I noticed one or two attendants in the frame, and they would occasionally spray dogs with a spray bottle if they were "out of line." I believe this was supposed to be a 15-20 minute evaluation, but my pup was brought back to me within less than 10 minutes of being taken back. The attendant told me that my dog was very "overwhelmed" by the other dogs, and had an "inappropriate and rude" play style with the other dogs. She said my pup also "bared her teeth" and therefore, "this was not a good match." I found this analysis interesting due to the fact that the attendant herself realized my pup was a bit nervous. Clearly, my dog needed a bit more TLC being introduced to the other dogs but wasn't given that at A Joyful Dog. I want a daycare that is willing to go the extra mile and provide my dog with the individualized care she needs. If a doggie daycare/boarding business can't provide that care in daycare, I surely won't trust their ability to provide that care in a boarding situation. If you have a puppy or a young dog, I wouldn't recommend A Joyful Dog, as it seems that they don't want to provide that care and/or directly supervise the play of young pups who are learning. Perhaps they don't have the staffing or they just allow a larger number of dogs in their daycare and don't have the manpower to manage. In any event, it seemed like the attendant already had her mind made up prior to the evaluation starting; for whatever reason, my pup was denied and I'm glad it didn't work out because I would not have felt comfortable leaving her there. That same day, my pup was accepted at Dog Days of Buffalo (which is much cleaner) and was told she did not exhibit any rude or inappropriate play behaviors. read more

I love this place! Most important things first: I trust the staff here with my dogs! Everyone I've met is so knowledgeable about dogs, and you can tell they really love working there. Whenever I walk in the staff automatically greets my dogs and knows them by name, it's so heart warming. My dogs are also in love with this place. They cannot wait to get out of the car and into daycare! On the other hand when I come to pick them up I'm convinced they don't want to leave yet. It really takes a load off your shoulders knowing your dogs are truly happy somewhere and they too love the staff! Some other pros of this place: Excellent hours Great rates You can make reservations online All around very professional. I highly recommend bringing your dogs here! read more

A Joyful Dog - Some photos taken of my babies while boarding, how funny! I love it! - Pet Sitting Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Staff is so kind and caring. I feel very comfortable having them watch my Lucy. She loves to go and I feel better knowing that she is in excellent hands. I would highly recommend Joyful Dog. read more

This has become our go-to spot for boarding our dog. She is not good with other dogs and needs to be kept alone, and the staff accommodates her needs without any issue. Every staff member we have talked to has been nothing but friendly and helpful! At the end of every stay, the dog gets a report card with their picture on it which is such a cute touch. We will continue to use A Joyful Dog any time we need to board our dog! read more

Used this place over the holiday while our family went on a mini get away that didn't allow pets, after lots of research I picked a joyful dog , I was very happy wit the process every thing was done on line , the price was very reasonable, staff was friendly. I can't speak upon the inside as only staff can go in, I'd definitely use there facilities again read more

I just started taking my puppy to A Joyful Dog recently, but he has been having so much fun and I can tell he is in great hands when I am gone! The application process was very quick and easy, just fill out your info and get them your vaccination record before the first day (I actually emailed mine about an hour before taking him). I get to check on him all day with the live web cameras which is so great. I was nervous to take him anywhere as he is only 4.5 months old and had not been in large groups of dogs yet, but the workers do a great job of controlling the environment and grouping the dogs together where they should be. They feed him for me if I drop off food with him too and let him outside frequently. I also love how the hours are a bit more extended than many other nearby daycares. I attached a photo I love of one of the attendants giving my puppy some love on his first day! read more

A Joyful Dog - Pet Sitting Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I am updating this review because good customer service is so important nowadays. I would definitely give them another try after hearing of their many updates and improvements. I thank them for responding to me read more

A Joyful Dog - Q-Bert is the tiny spotted one! He was so little! This was the cam they used so you could see the pups. - Pet Sitting Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Simply put, I love this place. We have been bringing my dogs here since we first moved to Buffalo a year ago and it's the only place I can see myself coming. The staff here is super friendly, welcoming, and most importantly love the dogs. My pugs spent the weekend here while we were in Toronto and thanks to the cameras we were even able to check in and see what they were up too. I highly recommend this place to anyone in need of doggy daycare or even if you just want to drop the dogs off for a day of play fun. read more

I'm thrilled with the experience our little puppy, Cashew has had at A Joyful Dog! Being a new puppy mom I was really nervous about leaving him. The puppy cam relieved my fears and the constant attention the staff gives to all the dogs was reassuring that I made the right decision. The staff typically responds to questions via email quickly. Cashew met a lot of friends, little, like him and big dogs as well. It was great to see him interact with all the dogs in a safe and controlled environment. I give all the staff a Big Thank You for taking such good care of our lil guy read more

I find nothing joyful about this place, took my dog here for a meet and greet and never went back, I had the same experience as one other customer , place smelled horrible and if it smelled that bad to me, imagine what the dogs smell as their sense of smell is so much stronger then ours, can't see how anyone feels comfortable leaving their pet here. Found many other day cares that are so much better that do not smell. read more

We have been boarding our German Shepherd with A Joyful Dog for years and have never had a bad experience. In fact, several of the staff members were involved with her training as a puppy. Absolutely love these gals and the place, which is safe, comfortable and welcoming. Recently we had a flood in our home that damaged 2 entire floors. I needed to board my dog for 2 days but AJD was completely booked. Still they took pity on us and found room. Now that's above and beyond service. read more

Good business. Good model that is run well. Small independent biz is nearly impossible. They found niche and are good at providing top product at competitive rates. read more

Our dog Elke gives A Joyful Dog five stars! She plays with her friends here three times a week, and when we drive up she can't wait to see her buddies. Victoria, Mallory, and Karen keep in intentionally small so every dog gets individual care and attention. They match up the dogs with compatible buddies each day, so the more boisterous dogs and the more laid-back ones are all taken care of. They even include training as part of the day's care--just tell them what your pup needs work on and they'll concentrate on that. read more

A Joyful Dog - Elke gives A Joyful Dog 5 stars! - Pet Sitting Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We did an in-home training session with our four month old pup. We worked with Karen and were very happy with our experience! She was open to answering all of our questions and was very knowledgeable. read more

The AJD ladies are AMAZING! You will not find another group of people that care for your dog (or cat) like them. Merle has been with these ladies for 3.5 years. There is plenty of stimulation and nap time for the dogs, as well as individual care. Your pup will not be left in a cramped room alone all day w/ no soft bed to lie on. Your pup will come home exhausted from playing all day The facility is clean and spacious. They will only accept a limited number of guests as to not over-crowd the facility. They offer doggie-cams to help with YOUR separation anxiety while you're away. The pups are outside with supervision/interaction weather permitting. Very fair fees for the level of care given. This place is their passion, not just a paycheck. You will not be disappointed with this place. read more

Our pup Gozer loves A Joyful Dog! He usually goes three times a week, and comes home a tired and happy puppy. When we first got him as a rescue, he was fairly shy around other dogs and people, but time at doggie daycare has really boosted his confidence. The webcam is fantastic, the facility is very nice, and it's nice knowing there is a vet right across the street. Most of all though, we just trust the wonderful women at A Joyful Dog to keep our pup safe and happy while we're away. They take such special care to make us and the pup feel welcome; like the webcam, the holiday dress-up pics, the Facebook page, photos of our pup while he was boarding with them, and even a Valentine's Day card from Gozer. He even comes home having learned new tricks! I only wish they had bring-your-parent-to-school-days so I could ditch grad school and hang out with puppies all day! read more

Our dog absolutely loves going to daycare here. It is nice that they have late/early drop off options for people who don't work the typical 9-5 work day. read more

Great, caring people and great care for our dogs, who love it there, both for daycare and for overnights. We know our pups are in good hands when we take them to A Joyful Dog. read more

The crew at A Joyful Dog is incredible. They're great with our crazy Bella, and they are so friendly and flexible with their customers. Our dog is so excited to go to daycare and so exhausted when she leaves...which is perfect. We've been taking our dog here for years, and we don't want to take her anywhere else! read more

My pup attends daycare at A Joyful Dog and she loves it here! The ladies that run this place do a great job of keeping my highly energetic puppy socialized so that she doesn't become a destructive monster at home. Above the flexible hours and competitive rates, they are knowledgeable and they show a deep love for animals. There are no other people I trust more to take good care of my little one other than the wonderful folks at A Joyful Dog. read more

I've been meaning to try this place out for a new groomer since it's literally on my block, and finally I have! The have a really neat website database where you can plan appointments and upload all of the information for your pets on it as well. My dog is special needs since she was abused before I rescued her and they were perfectly accommodating for all of her issues. A few weeks later and she's still soft and fluffy. I will definitely be brining her back here, I can definitely trust them with her life. They run a very clean, professional, well organized business and it seems like they're all very knowledgeable about animals and not just random people trying to make money. read more

We were adopted by Boxer, an almost 14-year-old, one-eyed golden lab. Before him adopting us, we had made plans for a getaway, and were scrambling for a place to board him. I am grateful to have found A Joyful Dog. While very good with people, Boxer has no clue when it comes to doggie etiquitte. They were able to not only accommodate him, but got to know his special needs before he arrived. The were able to provide him with a safe, nurturing environment. If we ever need to board him again, we will definitely come back! read more

The girls here are awesome! I have been taking my boxer here for close to a year and she loves it. I travel a lot for work and they are always flexible with my schedule and the place is clean and can tell they are true animal lovers. Highly recommend!! read more

I cannot believe my luck to have found this place. I live in Connecticut but travel to the buffalo area often so when I heard about a good place to board my dogs I decided to drive them to buffalo to board. I had signed my dogs up on line then called to ask some questions, I was amazed that when I called they knew my dogs already and had so much knowledge about each of thier personalities. I have 2 dogs both in need of'extra' care... First off neither are used to being boarded as I previously had a dog sitter. 1 is a 10 year old lab mix with seizures and the other a 6 year old hound mix with severe anxiety. It is unbelievable how well my dogs did at A Joyful Dog! I am still amazed that both were happy and relaxed and both were so excited to see the girls on thier second visit. In addition the girls at A Joyful Dog were so wonderful with me, admittedly I had some anxiety leaving my dogs at a boarding facility. They were so sweet to give me updates on my pups settling in. My only regret is that A Joyful Dog isn't close to my home so that I could use them every time I travel. Rest assured my pups will visit and stay again next time I need to be in the buffalo area. Thank you everyone at A Joyful Dog!!!!! read more

This is seriously the best place in the Buffalo area to bring your dogs for socialization and day care. The workers here are the nicest, most caring people in the world and they know what is best for your animal. They even train your dogs while they puppy sit (they taught my puppy how to roll over, and practiced sit and stay with him). I was a little nervous at other places leaving my puppy for day care but not at A Joyful Dog. Their hourly day care is so convenient if I need to run out to do some errands for an hour or two and don't want to leave the pooch at home. read more

Such kind and professional people, I felt like I was leaving my dog with family. I boarded my dog (Gatsby, a high-energy border collie) for a week while traveling over the holidays and they took great care of him. They even taught him a new command, "Quiet Please" when he gets barky, which has improved my life ever since! I loved the streaming webcam because I could check in any time and see what my guy was up to. And they keep the dogs BUSY with lots of socializing with people and other dogs. (I gather they also have quiet rooms and human interaction time for dogs that don't get along with other dogs.) He was clearly bonded with the workers there because of all their love and attention, then he got in the car and happily passed out. Much better than leaving him in a kennel for a week. I will definitely bring Gatsby back to play with his human and dog friends next time I travel! read more

My girls Ebby and Lucy LOVE it here they come home too tired to do anything but sleep. I used to leave them here with the previous owner who loved animals when she closed I just stopped taking them to daycare I wanted them to be loved not just kept for a day. The staff here is wonderful they appreciate my girls unique personalities. I wish they could go everyday I watch them on the puppy cam and they are never alone and always romping having a jolly time. Be careful though the puppy cam is addictive. read more

Kane started with the some of the staff from another day care and when they got their place we moved right with them. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. He has been going since he was a puppy and he will be 8yrs old in December. I wouldn't trust my dog to anyone else. If you need daycare or overnight stays this is the place to go!! read more

After five days away I came home to my typically shy and nervous yellow lab that was happy, healthy, and TIRED. The three women that run the business are fantastic. I'm grateful to have a place that I can trust to take great care of my dog when I'm away. Great for daycare and boarding. read more

Amazing!!! Everyone here is so helpful and wonderful! I can't stand leaving my pup but I always know Albus is in great hands here!!!

The ladies at Joyful Dog are the best; friendly, knowledgeable, and my dogs love them. I like how they provide doggy report cards after the dogs stay for overnighters :) And my dog doesn't even flinch when they clip her nails...usually she freaks out. Prices are incredibly reasonable, and their location is very convenient. All in all, the best doggy care I (and my dogs) have ever experienced. read more

I cannot speak highly enough of this kennel. From our first interaction with the staff we knew it'd be great, just very genuine individuals. We were visiting on vacation and had to change drop off/pick up times a lot from changes in our schedule. I was high maintenance in that respect to say the least (sorry!) But each call I made they were sweet and so accomodating! Having someone there 24/7 is great and a comfort, the facility also has cameras you can view online! I love the little report card we got letting us know how the dogs handled the time and let me say they were spot on with both dogs very different personalities-you can tell they spend time with the dogs. Ladies you've found your calling! Wish you were local to us! read more