Coming back to say more wonderful things about Dogma! I adopted my own dog at the end of 2020 and started him there for daycare and boarding as needed. First of all...my dog LOVES it there. Whenever we get close he gets soooo excited and when I pick him up my dude is EXHAUSTED with a big goofy smile. Reasons for another set of 5 stars: - I love that the facility is outdoors so my high energy husky boxer mix gets some good outdoor time and can actually get some zoomies out. - they are always so flexible and accommodating with my schedule (I have a weird work schedule that changes frequently) and they are always so accommodating. - they offer really affordable bath services. I'm unable to give my pup a bath, but somehow they're able to get him nice and clean and smelling super fresh. - the people are truly amazing. Everyone there loves Dogs. They remember you and your pup, which always makes me feel special. Even with my super vocal pup (who I know can be annoying) Really awesome operation! read more

Today was my dog's first day and she loved it! They have a separate area for little dogs and have them take a nap mid day. I'm so happy I found this place! read more

My dog LOVES DogMa - we've been loyal customers since 2018. He's so excited to be dropped off in the morning and is completely tuckered out upon pickup. I especially appreciate that the main play areas are outside (though they'll go inside in bad weather.) No frills - no cameras / livestream etc - but the staff knows him by name and I know he's safe, secure, and happy! read more

We have been going to Dogma for the past 9 months, since we rescued our pup last summer. Taking our pup here has been a relief in knowing that while we are at work, he is being taken care of by the best staff and in a safe place with plenty of activities. He has been busy making best friends and he even has a girlfriend (or two!). We also appreciate how Dogma is adamant that all dogs are up to date with shots and vaccinations. We love the staff and love how they treat our pup like their own. Walking home from Dogma, ensures a peaceful evening together with our family! Thank you! read more

We've been taking our three pups to Dogma since we adopted them and we cannot recommend them enough. They all get so excited when they know we're close, and they come back tired (which is all a dog parent can ask for)! The staff is always so friendly, they're super responsive via email, and they take all the necessary precautions to ensure our dogs are safe and cared for, which is our #1 priority. The indoor/outdoor aspect is great too because they get to splash in the pool in the summer, but there's proper shelter when it rains or snows. We just can't say enough good things about Dogma and we've recommended several friends to them who all agree! read more

Worst experience ever after 4 days of boarding they give me back my dog with hotspot everywhere because they didn't dry him properly and with ear infection I called couple times they were just back and forth between the employees I have to take my dog to vet next day because he started bleeding from one of his hotspot on his head so a finished also with a big bill from the vet I called and sent an email and they only said that they are not responsable for it because I signed the liability when I register my dog. First and last time . I will never ever refer this place to anyone.Please be careful with this place. They don't even deserve a 1* read more

Friendly staff and my dog comes home from boarding happy and exhausted. Great place!

Our dog has gone here since she was 6 months old! She is now 4. She always has the best time, and the workers are so friendly. Every time we arrive they yell her name and are so happy to see her. We can always count on them to tucker her out with bubble machines or pool time. Such a gem in the city! read more

I've been taking my dog to Dogma for 9 years and it's great! He's always excited to get dropped off and see his friends and is always greeted by the staff by name. Would recommend Dogma to all my friends! read more

We looked at a few options in and around the city and are very happy we went with DogMa! Our pup's first visit was last minute and they took her in no problem and were very open and supportive to us needing flexibility. Since then, we've brought our dog multiple times and every time they greet us with a friendly welcome. I've also been impressed with pick as the employees always know who we're there for. Our pup loves DogMa and the friendly employees make it a great place to work with. read more

Did the online application and requested a date so My dog could come and do the first visit so she could be a regular there. No response. Called three days later and said I did the online form, the person that answered the phone said they received it and I should receive a call back to set everything up. No response. Called again and said I hadn't heard back and was assured someone would get back to me. Great that this place is in my neighborhood but terrible at responding back to potential new customers. read more

I cannot recommend dogma enough. We've been sending our pup there for 5 years for both daycare and occasional boarding. He absolutely loves being able to run outside all day and you can tell the entire team there takes incredible care of the dogs. They know every dog's names and preferences. Our dog is sooo exited every time we drop him off. Dogma has been a lifesaver for us. read more

DogMa is easily my pup's favorite place in the DMV. He loves the outdoor space, making new friends, the structures to climb on, and playing in the water in the summer. Without fail, Ollie arrives excited and leaves exhausted. Knowing he loves being there makes me feel good about sending him. I know he will be safe and cared for. And the DogMa staff is fantastic! They know him by name and they're responsive to my questions. I love checking Instagram to see what all the pups are up to each day! I could not recommend DogMa more. read more

I love dogma! But more importantly my baby loves Dogma. The staff is great and is always happy to see my pup and she is happy to see them. I have also Boarded my baby at Dogma a few times and it has been a great experience. read more

The folks at DogMa have treated our guy like another member of their family over the past 3-4 years. Their staff is always on-point, and their owners are quality instructors in their own right. As the only outdoor dog daycare facility in DC, we love that our guy gets as much quality outside time as his heart desires. read more

We have been taking our pup to DogMa for overnight boarding for 2.5 years and we literally could not be happier. The DogMa team is absolutely wonderful. They are the kindest, dog loving people you will ever meet. DogMa has several out dog doggie play yards and they supervise hours and hours of safe play time. They also watch if your pup is getting hot or tired and they bring them inside for a rest or play time in the AC. We have a boxer/bull dog and she can get overheated easily - the DogMa team totally gets it and her outside time is limited in the DC heat. Even with her heat intolerance, our girl is also a bundle of engery and the DogMa team still manages to completely tire her out after every visit. Our Izzy absolutely loves her time at DogMa and she gets so excited when she realizes we are going there. It is amazing the peace of mind we get knowing she is safe and happily playing and socializing while we are away. read more

I switched my French Bulldog over to Dog-ma for boarding after seeing the conditions at Wagtime Too and couldn't be happier. A friend who owns a daycare in Texas suggested I try them as I was reluctant because of the gravel. It's been a month now and Vincenzopuppeh is doing great there, he is learning how to swim with the girls on Saturday so we bought him a vest and already he has friends. We did one over night as well with zero issue. I'd also like to note they were understanding about his allergies and were fine with me leaving him treats so he wasn't left out during treat time. I appreciate the extra effort they make to call when they have a question or to let me know Vincenzo's had so much fun that he's a mud ball and offer to hose him off before I pick him up. He is daycare tired after each visit which is what you want to see, a happy tired pup! read more

DogMa - Vincenzo is ready to swim with his life vest now - Pet Sitting Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Our dachshund Koby stayed with the DogMa team for six days. We were nervous to enroll him because he can be aggressive toward larger dogs and full of energy. We received periodic reports of how well Koby was interacting with other dogs and how he was well-behaved. When he returned home, he was a completely different pup for the better - much friendlier to our neighborhood dogs. He will definitely return to DogMa soon, and we would recommend DogMa to anyone without hesitation. read more

Mac is a 2 year old Minnie Aussie Shepherd who is pretty much afraid of everyone and everything, and he LOVES Dog-Ma. We were taking him to WagTime's SE location during the winter because I was worried about the weather, but the difference between Mac after a day at Wag-Time and Mac after a day at Dog-Ma was stark. After Dog-Ma: happy, exhausted, ready to sleep it off and then play some more. After Wag-Time: agitated, nervous, clingy. When driving into the neighborhood, once we pass Wag-Time and Mac knows he's going to Dog-Ma instead, he's all smiles, itching to get out of the car and tugging the leash to get inside. Wag-Time? Not so much. He has to be coaxed out of the car. :( Yes, it's an outdoor lot, and yes, sometimes he comes home smelling like he spent the day inside of another dog's mouth. That being said, it's obvious that he loves it there, and I'll take a happy smelly dog over a clean--but miserable--dog any day of the week. read more

Best doggy daycare in the city! We have tried several other places and this place is by far the best. Our two little beagles Piper and Charlie love it here and love the staff! Outdoor play area is unique in dc and crucial to our pups health. We had bad experiences with some other daycares with only indoor spaces- we've seen a massive improvement in our dogs' demeanor since they've been going to dogma. Now, our dogs come home looking happy, healthy, and tired everyday! read more

Our doggo loves Dogma for both daycare and boarding. The staff all know him and really care about the dogs! read more

DogMa - Pet Sitting Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Would love to be able to recommend Dogma, since they are right in our neighborhood, but honestly cannot. We dropped our dog off there for his trial session recently, and had a bad experience. Apparently they keep the dogs in a gravel covered area, which we were unaware of (or at least I was unaware of). In picking up the dog, we noticed he was limping and not doing well. It appears the pads on his feet were rubbed raw, and many days later the dog is having a hard time walking (you ever see a dog walking around on its tip toes, not pretty). Had previously housed him at City Dogs in Adams Morgan, where they were amazing and the dog consistently came home energized and in a good mood. Even though we don't live anywhere near there anymore, we'll be taking him back there moving forward. Its one thing if he got beat up a little from rough housing with the other dogs, but I feel like there was a big of neglect here, as no one addressed the dog's condition at the end of the day with us until we asked them why he might be limping. read more

The good: my dog invariably comes back totally worn out, and the staff knows and likes him (and vice versa). It's also very handy when going out of town, and they are understanding when stuff like traffic delays results in you picking up your pet after the appointed time. The bad: minimum night stay charges on holidays (like getting whacked for 7 nights at Xmas regardless of how long your dog is there), which is no way to treat longtime customers, and having to pay in cash or check only (which frequently aren't cashed for weeks after you write them). Overall, I'm very happy - however, I'd prefer that they have a holiday upcharge for overnight stays rather than just jack you for a minimum of $350 per dog when you go to visit your family. I've forked over a couple of grand in the last few years for my pup and would prefer not to get bent over during the season of giving. read more

I agree with another review posted here, which said Dog-Ma has some financial issues to work through. They often don't cash your check for weeks -- and even months! -- and seem to have difficulties keeping up with their paperwork. That said, they do tucker out your dog during the day, if that's what you're looking for. I'm wary about the overnight kennel, though, because they leave the dogs in the early evening, return once to take them on a potty break, then don't return until the morning. Now if I wanted my dog to stay alone for six hours at a stretch, I'd just leave him at home and have my dog walker visit...for much cheaper! Also, we picked up our dog after a stay of several days once and they gave us back a majority of the pet food we left for our big lug. Um, why the heck did I take the time to pack my dog's own food if they were going to feed him some cheap stuff instead? Annoying. (And changing a dog's food like that could lead to some unpleasant gastroinstenstinal issues, if you know what I mean.) For the price, you can do much better. They need more personalized and professional service. read more

The staff at Dog-ma are awesome and my dog comes home all tuckered out from playing with other dogs outside all day! I am completely amazed by the fact that they can remember all the dogs' names and remember which dog goes with which owner, even if you don't bring your dog in every day. read more

Me and my pup love this place! I have a big sheepdog so I needed a place with lots of space that will let him run around no matter the weather. He loves being outside on cold days and swimming in the pools on warm days. I've gone to a few indoor daycares, but my dog will NOT pee inside no matter what, so having an outdoor daycare is very important for me. Everyone knows his name as soon as we walk up and the staff are very friendly and accommodating. It's also nice that it's open til 8 PM. My pup is pooped after a day at Dogma :) read more

I approached Dog-Ma with great trepidation -- I might be a little protective of my dog, and I was ridiculously emotional when I took him to board for the first time. Beth, in the front, instantly put me at ease. She patiently answered my every question, showed me every inch of the facility, and casually displayed her keen knowledge of dog behavior and interaction as she reassured me that my pup was mixing well. She tactfully pretended she didn't see my tears as I said goodbye to him, and happily responded with a detailed report each time I called to check on him... We had a great experience with Dog-Ma and will continue to board there in the future. Also a great option for doggie daycare. The staff was highly attentive to the dogs and, impressively, know the names of all of the dogs and their people, even us new folks. read more

We took our dog to Dog-Ma twice a week for about a year. He loved it. He was always excited about going, he made lots of dog-friends there, and he loved the staff. And they loved him back -- they were very attentive, would give us little progress reports (who he played with, how he did in certain situations), and were always attentive to any issues that came up (e.g. did he get into a little fight, and why). Our dog came home just completely wiped out tired, which was exactly the point of sending him there. Two or three days later he'd be ready to go back. And he loved the pool in the summer. He also boarded there several times, always without incident. To address one thing another reviewer posted: the ground is gravel and the first week or so is indeed somewhat hard on their feet. Our dog's feet got very sore at first because he wasn't used to running around on gravel all day long. The staff were attentive to this and told us it was possible it could happen, and for the days when his feet were bothering him they kept him in a quieter environment (hanging out with other dogs in the office). His feet healed and must have calloused up because after that week or so he never had problems with his feet again. read more

Our pup loves DogMa! She's been to a lot of the inside DC dog daycares and we often got the report that she was anxious and fearful. Here, we get the report that she has a great time and makes lots of friends-of the human and canine variety. They are responsive and friendly. Whoof! read more

Sebastian loves DogMa! We send him in nice weather and he comes home happy and worn out. There are pools and lots of different dogs to play with - and the free trial day/interview is great to learn how your dog will do in this environment. We love it there! read more

My dog goes to day care here two times a week and LOVES it! The staff is so friendly and my dog gets so excited to see them every time I drop her off. I started taking her to day care at Dog Ma when she was 4 months, and she's been going since. It was a great way to socialize her and get some of that puppy energy out while I was at work. read more

DogMa is the best! The staff are all amazing and wonderful people, and I can't recommend them enough. My dog Juniper, who is normally a little scared and timid around people, absolutely loves coming here. She gets so excited when we pull up and the staff are always so happy, friendly and fun. I've tried other boarding/day care places and this place is WAY BEYOND the others. read more

Dog-Ma is perfect for our dog, Yoshi. It's the only dog daycare in DC with outdoor play space. We take him twice a week and he's completely tuckered out on his off days, allowing us to avoid the hassle of walkers (and giving Yoshi two full days of playing with other dogs). The staff is responsive, caring and friendly--Yoshi loves them and vice versa. If your dog is social, this is the best place for day care or boarding. And if your dog is active, this is the most cost effective way to keep him or her happy, safe and well-exercised. read more

The staff at Dog-ma was really nice, and I have no complaints about them, but I don't think this place is right for every dog. I took my dog in for a trial day, thinking that I might use Dog-ma for boarding in the future since it's in my neighborhood. When I picked him up he seemed very overwhelmed and in a daze. He was so exhausted that it took us an hour to walk one mile back to my house. Also, his paws seemed sore from playing on gravel all day, and he smelled horrible. If I needed daycare on a regular basis maybe I would give it another try and see if my dog could adjust, but for boarding I'm going to stick with my regular kennel. read more

Dogma is overcrowded, dirty, unprofessional, and not worth the money. The staff is questionable. There is greater potential for your dog to get injured without the staff knowing. I think you should look else where. read more

I liked this location because the staff are very friendly, but I hate that it's mostly an outdoor hard surface location. My dog had a limp once he got home, but it wasn't an issue because they gave me a heads up that this might happen. The price was fair for the DC area. read more

I am regularly overcome with gratitude for Dog-Ma, which is essentially a supervised dog park (complete with play structures and a little pool) where dogs play outside all day except during their 2.5-hour naptime. The staff is unbelievably attentive and caring, greeting her (and me) by name every day. They always step in promptly to stop humping or aggro behavior. Sharad in the front office has a sweet hippie-ish demeanor that really conveys his profound love for dogs. I can schedule dates over e-mail, which is a huge plus for me, and they're pretty accommodating about last-minute changes. I have to budget carefully to be able to afford it, but it's absolutely worth it. They even rinse Nori off for me if she's grimy from playing so hard. The ease of pulling up to drop her off and its convenient location to the Hill - I can drop her off and be seated at my desk in Longworth HOB 10 minutes later - is gravy. The Dog Whisperer would give this place a gold star for enforcing the proper exercise-discipline-affection trifecta. Nori has become incredibly well-socialized and relaxed as a result of her time at Dog-Ma, and my guilt at having such an intense work schedule is gone. Since I'm in Boston with her a lot, I've looked in vain for a business up there that comes close to offering what Dog-Ma provides, but the quality of the space, attentiveness of the staff and amount of outdoor playtime is unmatched by any of the many places I've researched. Best place ever. read more

I've never seen my dog more tired than when she comes back from Dog-ma. She's been great after both day-long stays and weekends. Dog-ma is now my default option for my dog, and I recommend anyone with an easy-going dog to use Dog-ma. read more

love this place. my dog, who has super sensitive feet, didn't have a problem with the outdoor play area. the staff were great and seemed to really enjoy what they do. plus, my dog, who normally sulks when i leave him for travel, was elated to see me after a 4 night stay here. his daily activity on his whistle was through the roof and he really seemed happy. if your dog doesn't have feet made out of porcelain and just wants to be a dog - this is he place for you! read more

This is a wonderful place. I put my recently adopted dog there for the day because was howling all day long and disturbing our neighbors. They treated the dogs so well and knew them all by name. When I came to pick him up the employees told me that he sat on the couch all day and that they weren't sure if this was the best fit for him. Really he's just a very anxious dog but I so appreciated their honesty that it makes me want to go back. read more