No, just no. After bringing our dog here for years I witnessed the owner use archaic and out right abuse of our dog right in front of me. Makes you wonder what goes on behind the scenes when one is NOT around! I grabbed the dog's leash from Dodie's hands, hightailed it out of there and never returned. FYI, I was the night manager at a dog spa/hotel for 4 years and I would have been fired if I had displayed the unprofessional and hurtful behavior shown by this owner. You've been warned. Oh, forgot to mention an earlier incident at this establishment . . . months prior to the above altercation, I picked up my pup to discover he had a bloody cut on his left leg. It was a pretty obvious wound. When I asked what happened you could hear a pin drop. They had no idea. Do they not inspect the dogs for injuries during the day or at least prior to handing them back to their owners? I should have known then that there was something going on behind the scenes right then and there. read more

Hi, I'm the "tiktoker" one of the reviews warned you about. I worked at DDH for a month and half. Was very excited because I would be working with dogs again (6 years experience as a professional dog walker and pet sitter) and I could bring my dog to work. I quickly realized the atmosphere of diamond doghouse was not one I wanted my dog to be in. Me and my coworker saw the most senior employees kicking small dogs. When my coworker went to dodie and told her what she saw, dodie didn't care and didn't do anything about it. There was no training for employees on how to handle misbehaving dogs or overly active dogs, we were just told to spray them with the water hose. They occasionally put e-collars on hyper dogs without the dogs owners consent, and shock them when they get rowdy. One time my coworker was bit by a dog and a dog fight was about to break out, the older guy who works in the dog yard (who is dodie's favorite employee), threw a big metal scooper across the yard that came an inch away from hitting my head and came dangerously close to hitting a dog. I recently told that story and someone that worked there 8 years ago, knew the name of the worker I was talking about because she saw him do that multiple times 8 years ago. Now let's get into how dodie treats the workers and the dogs. Dodie for 70% of the time stays inside but for the 30% of the time she was in the yard she was constantly YELLING at dogs and her workers. When I started, I was getting yelled at nearly every day for anything, my coworker told me "that's just the way she treats new workers". On my last day at diamond doghouse, I had a dog leaning up against my leg so I bent down to pet them. Dodie saw me petting the dog and ran over to me screaming. Saying I "didn't take the job seriously". After that day I left and never came back. I would never recommend anybody take their dog here. There are a couple of long term employees that have been with dodie for several years and they are very comfortable mistreating the dogs because they've been doing it for a long time and instead of facing repercussions, they are treated better than other employees by the owner. Me and 4 other coworkers all started around the same time and tried to do right by the dogs but we all ended up leaving after seeing how bad it was and how it wasn't going to change. I recently shared my experience working at DDH on TikTok. So many past employees reached out to me sharing their experience working there and they were all just as horrible as mine or even worse. Since I shared my story, the handful of customers that love dodie have been harassing me on TikTok and leaving positive reviews for the business. There was a review on here from someone that had a working interview at DDH, during their one day there they saw employees using sticks on dogs for behavior management. That review has since been removed. I'll be taking a screenshot of mine to see how long it's up. read more

Diamond Doghouse - Pet Sitting Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Dodie and her staff are really good with the dogs. Diamond Dog house was recommended by several neighbors and I'm so glad they did! My Tucker got very excited when we arrived in front of the building! read more

I've been taking my dogs here for 7 years and they absolutely LOVE it! We've done daycare, boarding and baths. They cannot wait to get out of the car and into the building when we pull up! read more

I have boarded my dog here several times with stays ranging from 1 night to 2 weeks. The staff here is great. Everyone I have interacted with is helpful and kind. They post photos of all the dogs daily on Facebook which is really nice when you're away to see little updates. It's also reassuring that when I drop my dog off she seems genuinely excited to be there. Overall, I recommend the diamond doghouse and I'm so happy that I have a place where I feel comfortable leaving my dog when I'm away. read more

The Diamond Doghouse is the best place for dogs. My pup Winston runs in and doesn't even have time to say goodbye to me. I am happy and can relax because he is happy there playing with all of his friends and getting good care from the staff. The staff are very nice , friendly, and organized. I always get what I send with Winston back and in the same condition..... clean. I give them five stars because they deserve it ! They are the best! read more

My dog literally drags me in here. She is so happy to come for daycare or to be boarded. I know they take good care of all the dogs and they are affordable for the area! read more

Charlie has been coming here for 6 years. We LOVE it! The outdoor huge yard is surrounded by a see through chain link fence so owners have unfettered access to their dog's well being. After I drop Charlie off, I pull over and watch him enter the yard. JOY! The owner Dodi, Sarah and the rest of the team are Marvelous. IGNORE the tik toker. She worked there for 2 weeks over a year ago in Mar 2023 and is disgruntled for being fired. read more

Diamond doghouse has breed restrictions and are not willing to even consider your dog if they are even mixed with a "bad breed." We adopted a 10 month old pup and was told he was a lab mix. He has some anxiety issues from his past life but is making SO much progress. Loves other dogs. Adores people. Lives with dogs and cats with no issues. About six month into having him, I called Diamond Doghouse and told them all about my pup's temperament, any behavioral issues we've ever dealt with, the training he had had, etc. I was super honest. I was told that he would not be a problem, sounded like a sweet boy, go ahead and bring him in for a trial and they were excited to see him! I was getting some initial information together and was asked his breed. I told them, honestly, that we thought he was a pit-mix and did a DNA test to confirm. Immediately the conversation changed and we were told that we needed to hire a private trainer to work on his behavioral issues because it sounds like it's a breed issue... Excuse me? When I told you his personality, you said he was fine and sounded like a great dog. When I tell you he's pit mix suddenly that means he has behavioral issues? This is why people lie about their dogs. I have so many friends with mixed breeds who purposefully lie about their dog's breed because they want access to certain places. Meanwhile, I am totally upfront, although I could have just given our adoption papers that said "lab" and gotten in. I have met sweet pits and mean labs. You can not assess a dog purely on it's breed. You need to look at its training, socialization and temperament. At least meet him and assess him!I'm concerned that a professional working with dogs would not think that way. No thanks. Never taking my "good" breed dogs there, either. read more

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Abuse, bad treatment of people's dogs, lack of care, lack of respect for new employee. Bad place do not take your pet here. When I go to the wawa behind the building or any area near the building there are always loud screeching coming from the dogs. They sound as if they are in agony, afraid and beating beat. read more

We have been going to Diamond Doghouse for a year now. We have a 1 year old chocolate lab who we adore and we were nervous at first about bringing her to a daycare. The staff at diamond doghouse are always so welcoming and friendly. Most importantly, they care very deeply for everyone's dogs. I would 100% recommend them to anyone. and trust them more than anything with our dog. read more

Archie our border terrier loves it here. He goes for daycare once a week to tire him out a bit. We also board him here when we go on vacations. Dodie and the staff genuinely seems to love and care for dogs! read more

My dog would always come home tired but the last few visits was always still super hyper and excited. And every time I would drop him off he would get called aggressive. Today I get a phone call that I have to pick him up because he "jumped on another dog" and that he couldn't come back anymore. I have a husky, almost 3 years old and the sweetest boy ever. He plays with my other dog, beagle, so sweetly. When picked up today my fiancé was told he jumped on another dog and pulled him down and it got all the dogs wild and excited. We explained that is how dogs play and the owner then said "well we can't have that here." Have what there? Dogs playing? At a dog daycare? Will no longer recommend this place to anyone read more

Update: The owner called me and apologized. I believe her apology was heartfelt and genuine. But I think it's still one those situations that you can't put the cork back in. It sounded like she has reevaluated discussing politics or sensitive topics with customers, but I also hope she reevaluates what caused her to feel that way in the first place, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with giving her my business knowing what I know. If you're cool with those views, then this is a great place to take your dog. I've upgraded to 3 stars in light of this. --------------------------- Generally speaking, Diamond takes extra great care of my dog. Even when the wife and I moved to Baltimore, we still board her when we head down to Virginia Beach making sure we stop here on the way. But that is now in question because of incredibly inappropriate and unprofessional comments by the owner. The last time we dropped her off, the exchange went like this... Me: Here she is. She's missed this place! Owner: Yes, she has! How do guys like Baltimore? Wife: It's... eh. Good and bad. Owner: I know what you mean! Those [Confederate] monuments! Such a shame they were removed! And done in the middle of the night! Such cowards! At this point, I nearly yanked my dog back and stormed out but it would have ruined a planned weekend with my family at the beach. So we boarded her as planned. (They even took a really amazing photo of our girl and posted it on their Facebook page! She never sits still for photos!) I guess it bears mentioning in this context that I'm a giant liberal and I think Confederate statues are an abomination and when cities that remove them without notice in the middle of the night, it's a very smart and safe way to ensure that no one else gets killed by Nazis or their allies. But it shouldn't really matter what my personal politics are. What she said was inappropriate. Period. Full stop. She brought it up out of nowhere and made a huge assumption that she was speaking in front of people who held her similar values. If you're okay with the owner's ideals, I'm sure she'd love your business. But I don't want to support someone who believes that and talk trash about my current city. If she had just not said anything, I would have never had known and been perfectly happy to keep boarding my dog there. I'm giving 2 stars because they have still a great staff there and they really do take care of my girl very well. It's a shame about the owner and her views. read more

I cannot say enough about how lucky we are to have Dodie and her team at DDH! My dog absolutely goes wild when I ask if he wants to go there. He behaves like an excited kid as soon as we arrive and cannot wait to go back and be with his friends. I was at VMFA one Sunday and from 50 yards away, I noticed him staring and wagging his tail at another dog. The owner approached and we figured out they were both DDH regulars! DDH has been there for us many times in a pinch and he loves going for overnights as well. I realize a lot of folks seem to take issue with breed restrictions, but many of us appreciate the rigor that goes into making sure our pets are in a safe environment and not exposed to dogs with unknown temperaments. I want to believe all dogs are good dogs, but my personal experience with pitts has not been good on three occasions and one resulting in the death of my neighbor's dog that was simply playing as usual when the other (very familiar) dog decided to attack. I specifically chose my breeder and breed based on temperament and a breeder that matched dogs for breeding to reduce aggression. I've owned an aggressive dog who was sweet as pie around everyone, but certain dogs, he simply did not like. There was no rhyme or reason to how/when he decided to react inappropriately so I am glad they take the time to test and exclude dogs that could be unpredictable in a free-range situation. I am grateful for the entire DDH team and all that they do to keep our boy happy and busy while we work and travel. His excitement to be there shows and I could not ask for a better environment for him. I personally would not take my dog to a facility that did not take such precautions and it's the owner's prerogative to make whatever rules she wishes. With a waitlist if folks trying to get in, that speaks volumes. read more

Used to drop off the dog here once a week with hopes to burn off extra energy. She would keep coming home super excited though, as if she hadn't done much throughout the day. Changed up daycares and it is completely night and day; the dog is happy and tired when she comes back. I've heard from others that they had a similar experience of their energetic dogs being caged instead of being able to play, which has impacted them behaviorally. If you look at the pictures on their Facebook you can tell there are just too many dogs to responsibly deliver the love and care that the dogs need. They are convenient though and never said no to last minute daycare appointments, which is probably why they are so crowded. read more

Customer service is a dying art, so when one encounters exceptional customer service, it's hard to forget and you definitely go back. I have had the best customer service I've had just about anywhere at Diamond Doghouse. About 6 months ago, I called up Diamond Doghouse and spoke to the owner, Dodie. I explained that I was about to have spinal fusion surgery on my neck and needed to board my dog for a few weeks. I told her my dog's name and we chatted for about 10 minutes. I felt really good about leaving my dog with them so she stayed for about 2 weeks. When I dropped Maddie off, I didn't see or talk to Dodie again for five months when I called up to make an appointment to have Maddie stay for 5 days while I was traveling for work. When I told her my name, she says, "Oh yes, hi Mr. Lewis. How's Maddie? And how's your neck?". AMAZING! She remembered me, my dog, and that I had surgery all from one conversation 5 months ago. I was, needless to say, blown away. Well, about 3 days ago, I'm walking down the street in the Fan, and hear someone yell, "HI MADDIE!". I look up to see Dodie leaning out of her car window smiling. It always makes you feel good to know someone has actually listened to you. It makes you feel valued. It makes you feel like your business is valued. And most importantly, it makes me feel like my dog is being valued and taken care of while I'm away. read more

Great doggy daycare and fairly priced. I bring my dog here every weekday mainly because she can not be trusted in the house on her own all day and it is obviously not appropriate to leave her in the crate for that amount of time. She loves going there. The staff are friendly and take good care of her. It also allows her to socialize with other dogs and burn off all of that energy. They have a Facebook page where they post pics each day of the dogs. They do offer VCU discount. read more

My dog loves coming here! Friendly staff and affordable pricing. They post pictures of the dogs each day. I love that the dogs have a large open outdoor space to romp and play in, as well as an area with air conditioning for hot days. I always feel that my dog is in good hands when I drop her off here. read more

I have an 18 month-old Rottweiler puppy. She loves Diamond Doghouse and gets so excited when we turn down the street to go. She comes home exhausted and happy. She gets to play all day. The owners and staff are so kind and patient with the dogs. They work with the dogs, reinforcing basic commands. They love animals, and you can tell by the way they interact with them. I love Diamond Doghouse as much as my dog does. It makes her a happy, healthy, calm dog at home. Before I found Diamond Doghouse, I spent hours a day trying to entertain the puppy and to keep her from getting into mischief because she was bored. Now, she comes home and lays down and rests. Half the time, she sleeps in the car on the way home. They are definitely doing their job. I am so glad I found them. I tried out another dog day care service, and they crated my dog for 4 hours out of the day. That was the one and only time I used that daycare. I told them if I wanted her in a crate 4 hours a day I would leave her at home since I work part time and I'm usually only gone from the house 4 or 5 hours at a time. I highly recommend Diamond Doghouse. read more

We love this place and these folks. They took great care of Sunny for years and now look after our Woody when he needs to run and play. From boarding to daycare, they are our trusted source. read more

I find the lower star reviews very strange. I have two dogs that go to Diamond Doghouse for both daycare and overnight stays. The owner, Doddie, clearly loves what she does. She is incredibly warm and welcoming. Most of the staff are as well and staff turnover is very low. They are sticklers for dogs being up-to-date on all vaccinations (which I appreciate) and have policies in place to ensure that aggressive dogs will not be permitted in the space, which is an open-cage format. My dogs love going and come home tired after a full day of play and socializing. Prices are reasonable and Facebook photos are always enjoyed. Diamond Doghouse consistently rates in "Best of Richmond" lists and I certainly know why. read more

Dodie and her staff are excellent. I have been taking my dogs for about 6 years for day care. She treats every dog like a personal pet. Very structured approach to getting dogs in and out to keep them all safe. They are always friendly and willing to do whatever it takes to keep the dogs happy and tired. read more

Shame on Diamond Dog House. The pit bull breed restriction in place is an excuse for the owner to keep a less-than-watchful eye on the dogs in her care. The woman I spoke to said that they've had "incidents" with pit bulls in the past (funny, because there's no such thing as a pit bull "breed" - it's a catch-all term for block-headed dogs). It sounds like attacks have happened at her facility in the past, meaning someone was not minding the store. I hope she'll consider that the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a study in 2013 looking at the factors at play in fatal dog attacks. Studying 256 dog bite fatalities from 2000-2009, the contributing factors were found to include the **failure of an able-bodied person to intervene in the attack** and the **dog being abused by its owner.** Breed is NOT a determining factor. My dog is a AKA Canine Good Citizen certified and boards regularly at open-kennel environments with no issue. My Chihuahua, on the other hand, cannot board because he's aggressive. Given this woman's shaky grasp on the basics of dog behavior, I'm happy to have learned the hard way that DDH is not an acceptable day care facility. Boarder beware. read more

I took my dog here a few times about a year ago and my dog was always alive when I picked him up. That's about the best I can say. I found a new place that actually cared for the dogs, but I was forced to use diamond dog house when my boarder was full over the weekend. I picked my dog up and he was running a fever, excessively panting, lethargic, and had thick salvia. Wouldn't even eat the treat offered to him as we were leaving. I knew right away he had been outside in the 95 degree heat for far too long playing. I was terrified. He's doing better, thankfully, but how can you not pay attention that that kind of thing? Needless to say I will never bring my dog here again. And you shouldn't either. read more

This place is fantastic. My 9 month old puppy has been going here every week since he was old enough. The customer service is fantastic and they care about doing things the right way. They clearly care a lot about the dogs there and all the staff knows Jackson and greet him by name. My boy had a great time every time he is there and he always comes home tired and happy. I can't say enough good things about Diamond Doghouse read more

We've taken our dog here for years. Dodie is so friendly and helpful. When I have my (human) baby with me, she offers to bring our dog outside so I don't have to lug the carseat in. She remembers both your name and your dog's name, and obviously cares about the dogs. Pick-up and drop off are easy, especially because we buy the punch card. read more

My dog was attacked. No one called to tell me my dog was attacked, I found the open gash on her ear & blood on her neck when I got home. I had to call them. After multiple conversations w the owner it was still unclear what happened. The company offered me free days after, no reimbursement for $100 vet bill. I'm not immune to the fact dogs fight it was the lack of transparency, lack of clarity to the facts of the incident & lack of communication to me. Not impressed. read more

I have been going to DD for two years. I like how they leave the dogs in the yard all day unlike other browsers crate them for several hours while they could be playing. My dogs are always happy when I pick them up and the handlers always seem to be in control of the dogs in the yard. The dogs are always with at least one person in the yard where some other places turn them out without supervision. read more

I have taken my dog to DDH for well over a year. He visits Dodie and her team weekly for daycare while I work and anytime I go out of town they are my go to place for boarding! My dog is always super excited when we pull up and stops to say goodbye to staff members when I pick him up. There are always multiple staff members watching the dogs. I couldn't be happier with the crew at DDH! read more

It's time to change the overall 3-star rating to a 5, for so many reasons! I am a crazy dog mom (okay, I'll admit it) and harp on the little things. I brought my dog for a trial run, as they require, which by the way is fantastic and shows they truly. care. Soph seemed a bit dehydrated--could've been for a multitude of reasons including that she was overexcited. I called Diamond Doghouse and explained, as I was dropping Soph off for a week of boarding just a couple days later and wanted her to be as comfortable as possible, and that's just what she was! Dottie and her staff made it a point to give Sophie water breaks throughout the day, just in case, and even went a step above and placed a bone in the water to encourage Soph to drink. They post pics daily of all the doggies, which comforts dog-crazy parents when they are far, far away (or even close by and want to check on their fur babes). To just add to the greatness of this place-- Sophie had an exit bath and was soft, fluffy, and clean coming home. For MCV students, they give discounts so ask away! All in all, 5 stars and great work. Will definitely be going back! Thanks Diamond Doghouse! read more

Poor communication, customer service is horrible. Leadership fails to provide appropriate guidance to staff. Do not recommend this place for your family pets. read more

My labrador has been spending an average of 4 days a week at Diamond Dog House for the past 3.5 months. She has an absolute blast everyday and is excited to go back for more. Most importantly I know she is in very caring hands, and I don't have to worry about her one bit throughout the day. She has been there for 11-12 hour days on most days throughout the 90+ summer temps, has never acted ill or overheated. I know Dodie and her staff are very conscious about the weather conditions for the dogs, and balance outdoor playtime, and the AC indoors very well. They are so attentive to my dog & her needs. I love that they have an early drop-off option so I can get to work on time. I can't say more positive things about Diamond Dog House. I am very fortunate to find such a great place to take my dog! read more