Our dog absolutely loves it here. Whenever he hears "doggie daycare" he starts to go nuts. We have to spell it out as "DD" to discuss it anywhere near him. The staff is caring, video access is excellent and the price is completely worth it. We also love the job they do grooming him. If your dog acclimates well to socialization, she/he will be incredibly happy here and well-cared for. read more

Still keeping my original stance that this is a terrible establishment and my dog got sick every time she went there but it is good to know that the owner of the business sends their pet(s) there and never get sick. Take that comment for what its worth... read more

Owner contacted me and made no sense. Do not bring your dogs here. I fear for their lives. My dog was sick after staying here and this is how she "made things better".... by blaming me and threatening me with an attorney?!?! read more

Canine Kindergarten - DO NOT TRUST THIS PLACE!!! - Pet Sitting Near Me - Verplanck, New York

Lisa Smith and her staff are the best!!! Truly a dogs paradise. Lisa truly loves all of the dogs in her care and her clients. We rescued our dog almost 4 years ago and she has been there for us with every question and concern and problem we've encountered. Highly recommend!!! read more

Just posting a review as we are approaching 6 years of sending our two dogs to Canine Kindergarten Verplanck. My dogs go at least once a week and love it. All of the staff when they find out who my dogs are tell me how much they love the twins and how sweet they are. My dogs have grown up there, it is like their second home and family. I absolutely love that someone sleeps over when the dogs are staying overnight. If anything happens whole playing at daycare the staff is quick to call or email. And the groomer, is wonderful. When we use her, my dogs come home looking amazing. She clips the hair on their paws so nicely. I am confused about some negative reviews, because we have never seen any of those issues. We have been clients since 2015. read more

Do not bring your dogs here if you love them. I had my dogs boarded with them for two days and also had them groomed. They were returned to us smelling absolutely horrid and covered in urine, as if they had been laying down in a puddle of urine. Both dogs needed a vet appointment and to be medicated after their stay, one with a cold and the other with conjunctivitis. They were both clearly dehydrated. I called and they did not return my call to speak about the matter. Bring your dogs literally anywhere else. read more

My mistake they have not been bought by Dogtopia however this did happen and is the right location.

The owner is a brilliant dog trainer! She knows her stuff and trains your dog beyond the basic sit command. She is also very flexible and will stay late or on another day to do a makeup session. Price is reasonable and the same for other trainings. They have a great doggy day care program. You can watch your pup while you're away which Puts a lot Of dog owners at ease! read more

I've seen staff hit dogs to break up minor fights, I've also seen them pick dogs completely up by the collar and toss them out of the outside play pens aggressively, all while using degrading uneccesary language. I would not bring my dogs to this place. Staff sits outside smoking weed all day. I've heard they have cages inside just stacked on top of one another. read more

Did my neighbor a favor yesterday and picked up his dog. Despite my sincere warnings about trying this place, he tried. Well, it seems as though they figured out a way to mask the horrible urine odor I was so accustomed to when you first walk in. Good thing for that! At the reception desk I hear incessant barking and a male voice SCREAMING at the HUGE pack of dogs I see on the video screen which by the way, there were way more dogs than should have been "packed" together (see 3/27/2016). I walked out a few minutes later listening to these poor dogs STILL being BERATED... for barking! SAD. The dog in my car smelled so putrid I can't even put words to it, though the fresh poop on his ear didn't help! Thanks for cleaning that off before sending him home! read more

Canine kindergarten is great! We use them for daycare and boarding. I feel comfortable leaving my dog there knowing he will be taken care of and treated well. The staff there genuinely seem to enjoy him and the feeling is mutual! They have cameras so you can watch your pet while they are there which is a big bonus for us since we're helicopter dog parents. My first time boarding him I was very nervous and the owner sent me pics of him and communicated with me anytime I reached out. The facility is bare bones so if a boutique hotel like feel with private rooms and stuff is something you're going for this is not the place for you. For us, we don't need anything fancy as long as our pup is happy and cared for. read more

The staff at Canine Kindergarten r amazing Lisa the owner is amazing her love for all her dogs shows everytime I see her with her rescues at Pet Smart and the place where they live we should all be so luxky cage free boatding and staff plus volunteers that go and walk the dogs they get excellent care and thats why I gave 5 stars read more

Only use this place as a last resort for dog boarding/daycare. Not only is the place very dirty and our pup comes home very stinky they often lock their outside door and leave the waiting area unattended making it impossible to pick up your dog. Also kennel cough is a problem here. read more

I've taken both my dogs hair for their grooming and have never been disappointed. I want to try out their dog daycare (because my pup has lots of energy and loves other dogs) and eventually I will. But for grooming, I love it here. They have convenient times and my dog comes out cute as a button. read more

Our dog Jack loves Canine kindergarten! The staff loves animals and takes great care of him. Cage free boarding when I'm on vacation, means Jack also gets his own vacation. There is no way I could never let my dog stay anywhere else! They have cameras you can view your dog, fire sprinkler system and staff that loves the dogs. read more

Left our husky pup (8 months) with them for 2 weeks and included some training. She returned to us with a huge permanent gash in her snout and weight down about 10 pounds. (They said they called and left nessages). Now she's just skin and bones and our kids are afraid to pet her because they are worried they might hurt her. Also her personality has changed. She used to be happy go lucky and now she seems timid. Oh and we are trying to wash and wash the urine smell out of her fur. It is the same smell you notice when you go in that place. Here's her snout https://photos.app.goo.gl/yg1pJ6G1XaWV9aBB8 I really regret letting our sweet pup stay at this place and if I can save one other person from making the same mistake, I will be happy. Now it is off to the vet to see if we can reverse some of this damage read more

BEWARE and BECAREFUL This facility houses a rescue called A Good Dog Rescue ran by one of the board of Directors for Canine Kindergarten, Lisa Smith. Last Friday November 13, 2020 Lisa played on my vulnerability and pushed me towards buying a puppy that she said just came off the truck from Alabama. She knew the poor puppy had been exposed to Parvo but still allowed us to adopt it The dog became gravely ill only two days after we had her. While rushing to get the dog help I called her to ask what could be wrong with the dog because the puppy was , not eating , diarrhea, having spasms, could not stand and finally went lethargic in the car while rushing it to the vet. During that call she told me that one of the sibling was Parvo positive and in ICU. She told me while I was rushing dog around to find care as it was dying before my eyes that it would cost me up to 10000 to treat it. I knew nothing about Parvo. It became clear there was no way I could handle that type of cost and knowing the puppy might die before my eyes it became emotionally upsetting and stressful for me. My family and I became attached to the puppy. My son has some special needs and I have a husband who suffered 3 strokes in a two-week span who I have to care for. My family fell in love with the puppy quickly. In a drastic move I was left with no other choice but to give the puppy back so it could get the proper care. Where was I going to get 10000 from. We thought we could possibly get the puppy back but was told it would be a continuous high cost and Parvo is not only a deadly but tricky to treat. She told me to get the puppy back we will have to discuss the bill for the hospital. My family and I had to quickly disinfect our home, cars, rip up rugs and carpet, cancel plans and clean our grounds where the dog went to try to rid of the virus. We were told we may not get another puppy or dog for 6 months and that the virus live in the soil for 1 year. After speaking to other veterinarians and other in the industry we were told to protect the public she should have had a practice of housing dogs from the south for 14 days before putting them up for adoption. When I asked her why she wasn't doing that she told me it was none of my business and it was irrelevant. We asked her to care for the puppy until it gets better and we would love to take it back, but she said she cannot accommodate a dog with Parvo, and she will be putting it up for adoption again She said she will fundraise and get the money back for the medical fees. Two broken hearts. Don't let this happen to you. read more

CK is the only place I bring my fur baby Francine to. the staff is caring and my dog Francine loves going there! We been bringing her there since she was adopted over 8 years ago!. The owner Lisa is a true angel . She rescues dogs from high kill shelters and never turns down a dog in danger of getting put down! All of the staff at CK are put through a strict vetting process and they all treat my dog like it's their own. CK you guys rock! read more

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At this point in time it does not matter. C.K. wiil be closing soon and maybe I'll get lucky and get some pet sitting jobs and dogwalking jobs. One thing I've noticed is that C.K. and another dog day care business I worked for recently was not too interested in giving the clients dogs a good walk during the business hours. I'am now employed with a dog rescue outfit and these folks are light years ahead of C.K., A.G.D.R.(A Good Dog Rescue) and the other facility. Too me, personally, it becomes apparent a lot of dog day care/dog rescue businesses employees/management/ownership etc., folks tend to be lazy. They want to play with the dogs but when it comes to cleaning seems like a lot of folks don't want to. Can't have one without the other. Another problem I saw at C.K. and the other place, excessive barking. Nothing gets dogs more riled up than excessive barking. Not good for the dogs or anyone else. That's one of the reasons C.K./A.G.D.R. are shutting down. Seems like a perfect time for someone honest/caring/not cheap to open a a new dog day care facility. read more

Today I was going through papers and I found this letter I had written to the Teachers at Canine Kindergarten on January 31, 2020: Thank you very much for the wonderful experience you gave to McGuire. He loved coming there: The Wednesday before he passed away...the day was gorgeous and sunny. He hadn't been feeling well the week before but he seemed good that day. We quickly got our act together and off to Verplank we went. I didn't want him to miss that gorgeous day with his "Doggies" as we called them. He was so happy .. he was so excited...the last few minutes of the drive ... He knew where he was going. He spent that day with you folks...and he just loved it there. When I picked him up he did his usual. He climbed into the back seat and stuck his head up under my arm and snuggled. I knew he was saying his usual "Thank you mom I had a great day" I was so happy for him. Saturday morning was as normal as it ever is. I went out mid-day for a couple of hours and when I came home he was resting and didn't want to get up. I didn't think much of it. Then he didn't want to eat. That wasn't terribly unusual but I spent the night downstairs with him. During the night he would get up and he seemed to be struggling. Sunday thru Wednesday it was really rough. He seemed to rally but he didn't. He was so sick. He was so weak and he passed away on Wednesday night a week after his last day at Canine Kindergarten. I am sooo sooo thankful that he got to spend that day with his "friends" and his "doggies". That will be my consolation that he got to have a sunny happy day. read more

We love Canine Kindergarten in Verplanck! I've been bringing my dog, Eli, there for several years. Even though he doesn't go on a regular basis, everyone knows him there and welcomes him! When we drive down the street, he practically tries to jump out of the car! I now have a very active puppy as well who is crazy about CK! I love the fact that the dogs always come back pooped and always very happy! read more

We've been using canine kindergarten for the last 4 years. Our bulldog, Mickey, began to behave aggressively towards dogs when our second child was born. We started him in daycare once a week. He loves going there and we are so pleased to have such a wonderful place to leave our beloved furry guy. read more

Lisa and the staff at Canine Kindergarten are wonderfully caring, compassionate and on top of every aspect of their business and every dog that walks through those doors. I wouldn't trust anyone else with my dog but them. read more

We love this place. We've been taking our dog Roxcee here for almost 3 years. They take good care of her! We watch on the camera during the day and she's just as happy as can be. When she stays overnight she loves the setup. She can sleep on a bed just like she does at home! They have a good size staff and plenty of space and it looks very clean. On the camera if a dog goes potty I witness it being mopped up within seconds. They have multiple areas so if your dog is having a timid day they can separate from the pack and have time alone or with a select few. They really do care for the wellbeing of my pup! We have also fostered a few dogs thru CK, they do a great job at helping out the community shelters and most recently took in a bunch of dogs from Hurricane Harvey! What a great place! read more

My dogs & I have had nothing but wonderful experiences at Canine Kindergarten! They truly care about your pets & treat them accordingly-I have no hesitation recommending them! read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! My girl Daisy is a super social pit mix and she always has a great time here. The webcam is a great feature that allows me to watch her play with her friends. The entire staff are super sweet and its apparent that they are animal lovers. I never have to worry about my girl when I drop her off because I know that she is in great hands. If you have a social happy go lucky dog who is full of energy this is a great place for your pooch! Daisy comes home tuckered each and every time! read more

I don't know what I would do without Canine Kindergarten! After I adopted a high energy terrier-mix, it soon became apparent that I was in over my head. What a relief it was when I found this place. Ever since attending, he has become more calm and focused at home. He plays ALL DAY LONG when he's at kindergarten, so he isn't deprived of the extra exercise and stimulation he requires. He comes home tired and ready for bed. They have certified trainers and all of the staff seem to love what they do. One trainer, Holly, has helped me a lot with handling my feisty little dog. He gets so excited to see his friends there (of human and canine varieties.) that he literally claws at the doors. If I go away, I know he is in really good hands. I can watch him on the live webcams from my phone or computer! That is quite a service to provide! read more

We've been sending our basenji-terrier mix here every week for 6 years, and we have been incredibly happy. The staff is caring, knowledgeable about dogs, and playful while still being gentle with the pups. Every time we drive into the CK parking lot, our girl starts running back and forth on the seat and squeaking with excitement! She is always happy to see the staff, and runs right to them with a bounce in her step - a clear indication that she loves spending time with them. She comes home exhausted and cheerful after each visit - which is exactly what we want. CK has large indoor and outdoor spaces for the pups. They often separate the dogs by temperament, not size, which makes a lot of sense. Our girl is a small pup, but she would rather play with a gentle, large dog than a super-excited dog her size any day of the week. (And I'm sure the super-peppy dogs are happy to have similarly excited playmates, regardless of size.) I love that they have a sizeable outside space for the dogs - complete with playhouses and a pool for hot days! Our dog loves getting some sunshine during her visits. We've also boarded our dog here many times. Sleeping arrangements are cage free, with all the pups sleeping on beds and cushions in a big room. I feel secure knowing that a staff member stays overnight in the same room with the dogs, so if my girl needs anything - even just a cuddle because she misses her family - she will get it. Highly, highly recommend this special place. read more

Canine Kindergarten has been the best thing for my furry monster and me! She stays socialized and has something to do other than stare at me all day while I work! She LOVES the staff and also gets her beauty treatments with the groomer on premises! The staff are all professional but most important, they love these animals and treat them well. I love being able to watch my girl while she is at play and see how she interacts with the other dogs and the staff. They also offer cage free boarding which is great. I highly recommend Canine Kindergarten to anyone looking for a safe, reliable and fun place for their dogs to play and stay! read more

Loved this place. The only reason we don't use it is they opened a closer location to where we live. The staff is great. My dog pulls me so hard to get inside, that is the only review you need. I find the cage free boarding terrific and makes me feel less guilty when we had to keep him there overnight. The place has no downside and a great place to have your dog socialize with other dogs. He comes home so tired he sleeps immediately and most of the next day too. read more

I'm really happy with the service I get at Canine Kindergarten. More importantly, my incredibly sweet and incredibly high-energy pit bull, Luna, is too! She comes here for dog interaction and that's what she gets. I check her out on the webcam and see her playing leap frog with some similar minded dogs, while other pups are lounging on the car bed or rolling around with friends. Ive been thinking about trying their training options soon, too. Maybe that'll help with all the pulling she does when CK comes into view. read more

Their policies are the absolute worst. Pick up and drop off times are arranged to make it extremely difficult on you and are set up for them to make the most money from you. For example, you can only pick up your dog no later than 10 am. No one coming back from a trip will be in the area that early, so you will have to pay for another day. They fish for money and try to find ways to hit you with fees read more

Our beagle Marnie loves coming to Canine Kindergarten! She always has a great time and comes home content and ready for a nap!

Yes, they have rigid rules regarding drop offs, timing, stays etc. however, that same structure translates into their care of the dogs. This is important for my very neurotic rescue terrier Piper, who has been going there for years and respects authority and routine. Piper loves going there; I drop her off at school on the days that I work. If I leave for work without taking her to "school" she sulks at home. They have been very good about giving Piper her medications on longer stays, and I like the idea that the dogs sleep in a pack instead of being isolated; sometimes Piper will share the bed with whomever is on night duty! read more

We boarded our dog over Thanksgiving due to a last minute change in carer availability for our beloved pooch and chose this location based on the great reviews, the cage-free boarding and personal attention we hoped our dog would receive, though it was one of the more expensive options. His welfare was taken care of well enough though the webcam did show an unengaged boy lying in the middle of the floor moping about quite a bit. What ultimately caused the poor rating here, and our reason for never again using this facility was actually the front of house customer service. I appreciate that they are busy but neither my husband nor I appreciated the way we were "handled" by the front of the house staff. Prior to boarding it was required that the dog spend an additional day of (paid) day care . We got lost in the area, which is quite far from our home. 10 minutes past drop off time- as we were pulling into their facility, we received a very snarky call about our punctuality- not a great intro. The icing on the cake occurred the day of boarding drop-off. We planned to take our boy to the dog park for one last romp before having to board him for a week. My phone rang at 10 a.m- It was the daycare facility. They told us that if we were not there in the next 10 minutes, they were were canceling our week-long reservation, as 10 a.m. was the absolute latest they would take him. My husband misunderstood the "rules" when they were conveyed to him and I was berated by the woman who works there for his inability to comprehend the totality of the daycare's schedule. We don't have family in the area who could have stepped in to take the dog and I literally had to beg for time to allow us to get there, and since we due due to leave the country to see my family in a matter of hours, had no choice but to board him there. It was a scramble to say the least, and very upsetting hours before a flight to be threatened in this way- if they canceled, our trip would have to have been canceled and I would have missed the birth of my niece. Traveling and having to board a furry family member is bad enough. We will not use them again, nor can we recommend. read more

Not for me. I was Initially impressed by the reviews and their website, but when I went for my interview at the Verplank location, I was very dismayed at the large amount of dogs at the facility and the few amount of people supervising them. There were about 30 dogs (maybe more? It was hard to tell) and 2 or 3 people who looked miserable, standing around while the dogs ran around on an indoor concrete floor. There were outdoor facilities, but they were small. Granted, I may be a bit overprotective about my dog, he is a 10 month old puppy who is bred to be a companion dog, so he needs and likes interaction with people as well as other dogs. I just did not see attention and care being paid to the dogs, and that is what I want out of dog daycare, not just a room to run in. I just got a bad feeling about it, so after about half an hour into his interview I took him home. I'll stick with my sitter and try to get into a facility that only has about 10 dogs at a time. The dogs are always supervised, and there is a yard to run in. More money, hard to get into, but worth it. If you and your dog are fine with the environment of Canine Kindergarten, then this will be a great resource for you. read more

canine kindergarten is the best. our dog is high-energy but timid with strangers, an odd mix to be sure. she LOVES canine kindergarten. she leaps with excitement as soon as we get there. there are NO CRATES so she gets to run and play all day while she socializes with the other dogs and the staff. everyone on the staff is super -- they really pay attention to the dogs and know their personalities. we feel great about bringing our dog here -- she gets activity & attention and she just loves it! read more