I've had 2 dogs in my lifetime and have used 5 walkers/sitters during that time and have to say that Kelsey and her team at Barkingham are by far the best of the bunch. Here's why: Convenience: Barkingham offers drop-off and pick-up service, opens at 7:30am and closes at 6:30pm, is open on Saturdays, and is also available for home "sleepovers". Kelsey also offers grooming service, which my short-haired dog has never had to use, but I imagine would be very useful for dogs in need of grooming. Knowledge & Experience: As a former vet tech, Kelsey is always keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary with my pup, like if he's been scratching excessively, the consistency of his poop is different than usual, or if he's just been acting "off". I trust her to administer medication and as an experienced groomer, she also offers to trim nails when needed -- free of charge! Her knowledge of dog behaviour and training techniques is astute as well. When she told me that my dog needed to be leashed at the park one day to curb some less-than-polite behaviour, I appreciated and valued her judgement on the situation. Value: Having shopped around, I know that Barkingham offers very competitive rates. Your dog can be with Kelsey and her capable, trustworthy, responsible crew for almost 12 hours, during which time they have access to a large indoor air-conditioned facility, fenced in yard, PLUS a daily run at the local off-leash dog park. Trust: I've observed various dogwalkers' behaviour at dog parks and recognize that the Barkingham team is a careful bunch. They never go beyond the 6-dog limit per walker, always pick up after their dogs, and pay attention to what they're doing, quickly stepping in when needed. I never worry that my dog is not well cared for when he's with Kelsey or anyone at Barkingham. New dogs are tested out with the pack to ensure proper fit. I very much appreciate how Kelsey prioritizes the well-being of the pack against signing up just any client, that might disrupt the balance in the rest of the bunch. Love: Yes - love! I left this point to the last, but it is certainly not the least. In fact, it is the most. I know for certain that my dog is completely loved by everyone at Barkingham from how excited he is to get there in the morning, how happily he is greeted by people and dogs alike, the pictures I see of him enjoying himself there, to the funny stories I hear at the end of the day. And when he is snoring away after a hard day at "work", I know that he is dreaming of all his friends there. I fully recommend Barkingham -- and have done so numerous times -- to anyone looking for loving, knowledgeable, and experienced care for their dog. This is value-added service and then some. read more

Kelsey, Jim, and the entire staff at Barkingham Palace literally saved our lives when it came to our pup Hank. He was a dominant, difficult boy (a loving goofball, but with a strong drive to be king of the castle!) who required non-stop exercise and stimulation, and quickly grew into 90 pounds of rough-and-tumble rowdiness! While we had done training programs with him, which helped, I work from home, and it was tough to dedicate the amount of time required to his well-being while also working a 50+ hour work week. When we started taking Hank to Barkingham Palace three years ago it was like the clouds parted and the angels sang! He not only came home thoroughly exhausted after spending the day playing and socializing with his "pack," Kelsey, with her years of experience handling dogs, worked with us to continue our training, providing valuable feedback and tips-and-tricks, and most importantly, reassurance that we weren't the world's worst dog-parent failures! :) Hank truly became one of her own babies, his "second mom" and when we recently moved out of province, it became painfully clear to us that Barkingham Palace's unique mix of personal attention, love, and care, as well as the kennel-free, all-day-play is rare indeed. Hank's no longer in daycare, because he cannot spend three hours a day in a kennel (which is *standard* daycare protocol here in Moncton). We're still trying to devise a plan to kidnap Kelsey and her team, and have them set up shop here in the Maritimes. Hank misses her terribly. And so do we. read more

This is my first Yelp review. I don't normally write reviews, but Barkingham Palace provides an exceptional service and as a longtime customer, this review is long overdue. We've been bringing our dog Drake to Barkingham Palace for play dates for nearly five years. My wife travels a lot and I drop him off in the morning on my way to work and pick him up on my way home (having him occasionally dropped off is also a big plus!). He plays all day with his other furry friends and we always look forward to watching the hilarious photos Kelsey (the owner) posts on their facebook page. There's always a shot of our little fur baby running around the dog park with his ears flapping in the wind. By the time he gets home, he's ready for bed! It feels so good to know that my dog is taken care of by people who care about our four-legged-family-member as much as we do. The entire team at Barkingham is fantastic... I don't know what I'd do without them. Thank you, Kelsey and team. read more

We started taking our dog here at least six years ago when our trainer recommended an occasional day away for our dog, who has separation-anxiety. On the first day we dropped him off, he dug in his heels and barked madly. By the third or fourth day, he was dragging us in with him. Over time, Barkingham has become our dog's home away from home. We have complete trust in faith in Kelsey and know that he is not only safe, but pretty darn happy while he is there. We also have him groomed by Kelsey and are always happy with the cut he gets. Eventually we also began using Kelsey to board our dog on those rare occasions when we needed to, and she has always opened her home to him when she could. Recently, when she could not accommodate our last-minute request to board him, she went out of her way to recommend another dog walker. Who does that? Kelsey clearly cares for the dogs she takes in, and our dog is madly nuts for her. We couldn't be happier. read more

I have known Kelsey all my life, and she has always had some sort of animal. Kelsey has always been drawn to lets say the unusual and the forlorn, so need I say more about her pets!!!! But all joking aside Kelsey is the only person outside of my immediate family that I would leave my dog with. She always took care of our old dog who was a great big newfie and treated her with kindness and patience. Now she is just as kind and patient with our new puppy Lucie. Lucie was only with the daycare for a little while due to the fact that we moved out of the area but we still go back for grooming and loves. Kelsey, Matt and the rest of the crew there always have a smile on their faces and as Kelsey says it is because she gets to do what she loves everyday. I wish more people could be as positive as she is, it shows in her work and the way the dogs are so happy to be there. In my opinion there is no other place in Toronto that you should take your dog. read more

I have two dogs and both have been going to Barkingham Palace, since 2011 and 2012. Kelsey and her team take excellent care of our girls - two high-spirited, playful, and enthusiastic Siberian Huskies. The staff at BP has always shown the utmost care for our dogs, especially their health and safety - it's not uncommon for us to hear from them about any signs of a potential health issue in advance, or behavioural change, as well as keeping close watch on one of the dogs that has jumped the park fence. The girls get groomed very well, get lots of cuddles and love during day care, have become very well socialized, and are always wiped out at the end of the day. Barkingham Palace is THE best day care and grooming in the city, hands down. read more

We've been going to Barkingham Palace for 3+ years now and used all services (daycare, grooming, boarding). Kelsey and the rest of the team are EXCELLENT!!! Ronin is always excited to be taken to daycare and is treated very well. It is an open concept/play environment (dogs aren't in kennels) so might not be the best spot if your dog has sharing or severe socialization issues although the staff will help your dog acclimate if needed. Prices are reasonable. Kelsey and the team are also very dedicated to supporting dog rescue and fostering programs. They foster a lot of dogs personally, provide free grooming and host an annual fundraiser. They love dogs and provide very high quality services. We highly recommend!!! read more

My dog Hobbes and I love this place! I have been bringing him here for six years. He went frequently when he was a puppy and it was a wonderful way to socialize him with other dogs. Kelsey clearly LOVES dogs and it shows. Barkingham is usually very busy, laid back, friendly, and often pretty noisy with a cacophony of barks whenever anyone new comes in. It is a great place for dogs that can socialize well with dogs, but is probably not the best place if your pooch isn't relaxed around other dogs. Hobbes is always super excited and eager to get into the mix when he arrives in the morning and is tired and happy after a full day. The grooming is excellent too and comes with a day of daycare included in the price. read more

Best place for your pups, hands down! We were lucky enough to find Barkingham at a time when we needed a place for our old man (a 13 yr old husky cross) to romp and play. We searched every daycare in city and chose Barkingham Palace. Thanks to the wonderful environment and amazing staff, not only did he enjoy himself, but he had the best year of his life ! Now that we have a new little set of paws in our pack, we are so happy to see her joyfully rush into the daycare. She's a puppymill survivor and very fearful. She is flourishing under the stellar leadership of Kelsey, Jim and Matt (hope i'm not forgetting someone). Bottom line...if u love ur pups...take 'em here, they'll thank u for it! read more

Our dog Drake has been going to Barkingham for more than a year now. Kelsey took in our goofy, sometimes overly excited rescue and helped him learn to be a good member of the Palace pack. Our dog has enjoyed every day there, usually going a few times a week. The entire staff is wonderful and they are great with all the dogs. We enjoy seeing photos of our pup that are taken during the day - something Kelsey doesn't have to do, but does because she knows we love to see them. Highly recommend Barkingham Palace if you want a great place for your pup to be well cared for, socialized and totally tired at the end of the day due to all the fun! read more

We love our dogs Ace & Barney - they have changed our life. Kelsey was the angel who connected these 2 needy dogs with a loving family and helped us to learn how to be smart dog owners. She has been patient with us every step of the way with all of our dumb questions. :) We take Ace and Barney back for grooming and for boarding - it is like coming home for them. They are so excited when we head to the car for the trip! Barkingham Palace is the best place to board / groom your dog because they always treat the dogs with LOVE. read more

We have been bringing our lab to Barkingham for over a year now and we can't say enough good things about Kelsey and her team. They don't just watch the dogs, they engage, play and care about each and every one. The space is clean and organized with places for dogs who have had too much fun to go and relax. The daily photos of the dogs in action make it that much better seeing how much fun they are having. Not to mention the multiple trips to the local park! Our dog comes home happy and content from a day full of play. read more

Best daycare that my dog Zoe has ever been to and she has been to many as a pet. She is now 9 yrs old and has been going to Barkingham palace since she was a yr old. What a great daycare, where do you take your dogs that they get pampered and taken to the park for a run every afternoon.It's heaven for dogs! Now I have 2 dogs going, Zoe and her new sister Jessie who is a rescue who had come such a long way thanks to the staff there. Do I recommend it? 100%!! Michele read more

I first took my dog Bilbo to Barkingham Palace when he was 4 months old. He spent a couple of days a week for about a year there. He loved every minute of it and they took great care of him. I was even late a couple of times to pick him up because of subway issues and they were very accommodating when I called to let them know. I moved to another area of town and they refunded the unused portions of his 10-day package for me. All in all a great experience. read more

My dog has been going since she was a pup and it's now been 5 years. She will be going for the rest of her life. Kelsey and Matt are more than just dog sitters - they are part of my dog's family. Kelsey has such an incredible understanding of dog behaviour, health and all the little things in between. These are people that truly love dogs and are not in it to make a living. Why would you send your dog anywhere else? read more

Barkingham Palace is a first class groomer. Besides having the cutest salon name ever, and a very down to earth facade, they do really good quality styles, with great kindness and care and for a decent cost. I cannot recommend them enough. As a long term dog owner, I have used a number of groomers. Kelsey and her staff are as good as the best. I highly recommend. read more

I love Barkingham and have been a loyal client for seven years now. There is no one I trust more with my two dogs. In addition to being unerringly reliable and trustworthy, they treat my dogs with affection and love, and they are a pleasure withthe people clients too :) I would recommend Kelsey and the gang without hesitation!! read more

Since he was a puppy, we've been taking Tucker to (as we call it) the Palace. Since that first day, Kelsey, Matt and the rest of the crew have loved our dog as much as we do. Every time we drop Tucker off he is so excited to be there. It's so reassuring to know that he is good hands. It's a place where dogs can be dogs! read more

You can tell that Barkingham Palace is a very special place!! My pomeranian Henry never wnats to come home after his groom/play day with all his doggie friends! Kelsey does a great job of grooming with reasonable prices. Thanks Kelsey, I would recommend Barkingham Palace for all dogs, grooming and daycare! read more