Playground Pups

You know, Gail is great. She cares about dogs and really loves them.
We’ve bought their play packages several times in the last couple of years and it’s been fine in general. But over time, something has changed. Maybe it’s the new hires, i can’t say for sure…
First, they lose our vaccination record 3 times (each time, I bring it in and they make a copy but it’s lost somehow in 3 different occasions) well, I understand that it can happen in a busy business like theirs. I let that one go. I want to know how my dog did at daycare (I’m NOT expecting a detailed report, except we used to get it but that’s another story) especially if my dog comes home with scratches/​cuts/​scabs… Not a serious injury, sure, but I would like to know what happened. You know, dogs are family, your baby. The problem is that the desk person in the morning during dropoff isn’t there at pickup so they have no clue what took place during the day.
So I just went back to hiring a dog walker at the end.

Playground Pups has been fantastic for our six year old dog. We appreciate PP so much for boarding (ranging from weekend trips to one-​week) and occasional daycare.
We adopted our dog last year, and as first time dog owners, were very nervous about boarding him the first time. Gail and the staff were reassuring and supportive, and patient when we did the anxious parent thing and called for an update (not proud of it). Since then, he gets a little jumpy and barky when he knows we are about to leave him at PP, but I think it’s getting better over time, and he seems to really enjoy the staff. I appreciate that they recognize him. The photos from daycare are also so adorable.

This is Alfie’s favorite place in the world (well, daycare and dog parks). What’s not to love when the handlers are so nice, remember your name and you spend a whole day playing with all kinds of dogs!
As soon as we get to the block, Alfie immediately starts speedwalking/​running towards Playground Pups, a good indication he really likes it there. He pretty much ignores me as soon as we walk into the front of the store because he’s so determined to get to the back space. The owners and staff are always so sweet and seem to enjoy him as much as we do. Alfie comes home exhausted after spending the day there, making it clear he played the entire time.
We especially love the crateless boarding option for if we ever need to travel, how clean they are (we always see them cleaning when we pick Alfie up at the end of the day) and how well they stay on top of vaccination records to make sure all dogs are in a healthy environment. They also have really cute accessories at reasonable prices.
Thank you, Playground Pups!

Called and made an appointment a week in advance. Came and they didn’t have her appointment in the system. Will never return.

I just moved to the area and needed a place to watch my pup when I have to work all day, or head out of town for the weekend for work.
Playground pups is AMAZING! My dog loves this place. She happily greets everyone when she comes in and you can just tell that everyone there cares about the dogs. She gets to play all day. When I pick her up she is exhausted and happy. This place is incredible! Really as good as it gets!

We started going here for the free puppy playgroup on Saturday mornings and I’m so glad we did! Our German Shepherd-​Labrador mix Lucy loved going here. She is naturally a social dog, but the playgroup really helped her socialize with both dogs and people and learn to play with all different types of dogs. It’s so much fun to watch your pup run around and have a grand ol’ time, while also seeing lots of other cute puppies have fun. We’ve met several nice people that were in our playgroup and still run into them in the neighborhood, which is great as the dogs remember each other. I know a few of the other dog owners with similar work schedules set up dog dates with their dogs now in various areas of Riverside Park or Central Park as our puppies are now too old for the puppy playgroup. Added perk is that they go home tired!
We also use Playground Pups for the daycare service. On days where my boyfriend and I know we will have extra meetings or have family in town, we’ll drop Lucy off in the morning. As soon as we get within a block of PPups, she drags me to their front door, she’s so excited! Once we get in, the staff greets her with an enthusiastic «Hi Lucy!» as they learned her name after just a few visits. One of the staff members even told me once when Lucy was maybe 5 months old that she absolutely loves her and always wants to play with her when she’s there. I always leave lunch for her because Lucy doesn’t really like to eat breakfast in the morning so they feed her while she’s there. When I walk in to pick her up at the end of the day, they remember me and go get Lucy without my having to remind them which dog is mine.
This place is really filled with super friendly people who truly love dogs. I’m so happy they’re in my neighborhood!

I recently moved to the upper west side with my two standard poodles: Ferdinand and Cleo. I am not an overly picky owner: I don’t groom them to look like show dogs but I do like them to look beautiful and sleek. I was nervous to try a new groomer and playground pups was recommended by several poodle owners I met in the park.
When I arrived, both groomers came up to meet me and my pups. They spent at least 15 minutes petting them and discussing what type of groom I wanted. They both took notes. I also noticed that the manager was listening and taking notes as well. We decided to have each groomer groom one dog.
When I picked them up later, they came bounding out of the facility as if they had just spent a day playing in the park. Their cuts were exactly what I had asked for — I couldn’t even tell they were groomed by different people. They smelled great and not overwhelmingly like perfume, which I hate.
All in all it was a great experience and I’m relieved to know I now have local groomers I can trust!

I was very touched and blessed to be referred to Gail and Playground Pups.
After my 16 year old Chocolate lab Kahluah made his transition, we were left with a ton of animal toys, jackets, bedding and food. I was told by my neighbors to call Gail and have all of his belongings donated. Everyone in my neighborhood and all the dog walkers raved about Playground Pups and their service. I am just sorry that I didn’t know about them earlier.
Gail works with a rescue service, Rockin’ Rawhide that takes all donations and offers them to dog owners and rescue dogs in need. I was so happy to know that the thousands of dollars we spent will go to animals in need. They took everything we offered. I feel good knowing the spirit of my Kahluah will live on through his personal possessions. I just pray that some other loving animal will enjoy the many gifts we gave him.
This made the transition process so much easier for my entire family. If you have ever lost a pet, you know how difficult it is to let go of personal belongings. Gail made this so easy for me. It is a beautiful facility and if I ever get a pet again, I will definitely use Playground Pups for grooming and boarding services.
Playground Pups is the best.

I’ve noticed that many of the stellar reviews open with (paraphrasing) «my dog has been raised at PGP»
For anyone who is just seeking daycare and perhaps has an older doggie raised by you, I am delighted to say… This is still the place! If I could give 10 stars I would.
If you have a nervous dog, take the time to read my post.
Quick back story, in the event that you have a similar kind of dog with nervous tendencies:
My dog Lacey is a ‘pit/​lab/​American Dingo’ rescue from Georgia. She was born just days after Hurricane Katrina at a time when boarding options were sparse at the local shelters bc so many pets were displaced in the surrounding areas. I adopted her when she was only 8 weeks old (with worm belly and clean pink puddly paw pads). As she matured, I don’t know if it is something in her breed mix/​DNA or just a personality trait, but Lacey is outwardly emotional and afraid of her own shadow. She doesn’t trust new people. She is petrified of loud noises. She hides under the bed when there is a fly in the apartment. Shes’s so sweet, but she’s a nutso nervous nelly. Up until this past year I have always been close to home or have a dog walker, so there was never really a need for daycare.
However, knowing my Lace Face, loves! Loves! LOVES! other dogs, when I rented an apartment far from my office, daycare sounded like a great solution.
Needless to say, I was worried about how Lace would react to not only being left somewhere with out me, but some place where she didn’t know anyone. Prior to PGP, anytime we would go to the vet, or for a bath, I would be able to hear her Unilocaling for me from the waiting room.
Now for the good stuff — - My Nervous, nutso, not-​cool-​with new-​people-​Lace Face is IN LOVE with this place!!! They are all such great care givers that even though they have probably hundreds of dogs on a weekly basis, when we go in, they treat Lacey like she’s a celebrity! I laugh bc as soon as we walk up to the door, the dog who normally can’t have me out of her eyeline view is like, «c’ya bye-​mom» and never looks back.
They take the time to know all the dogs and their owners. They truly have your baby’s best interest at heart. They’re so honest when you ask questions about what’s going on inside. If you put into perspective that you are sending your dog to a babysitter, they’re really reasonably priced especially as far as the surrounding competition. I honestly can’t say enough about how grateful I am to have them take care of Lacey and to know how happy she is to be there. If you’re still reading this verbose review, the moral of the story is, «look no further!» Gail and her team know what’s up and You can rest assured knowing your pup is in GREAT hands.

I’m relatively sure that my 5-​month old corgi/​cattle dog puppy only puts up with me because I’m the person who gets her to Playground Pups in the morning. Playground Pups was recommended to me by my dog trainer – I work from home, and while I originally thought having a dog would work out well with my schedule, I quickly learned that puppies require constant attention and don’t take «Hey, I’ve got to get this done» for an answer. I send her to PGP a few days a week so I can get work done without feeling like a neglectful puppy mama. And the great part is that she’s so exhausted from playing all day she sleeps most of the days she’s not there. My pup absolutely adores this place, she pulls me there in the morning and could care less that I’m abandoning her (I guess that’s a good thing). The staff always gives me an update at the end of the day, and if we’re working on a specific behavioral issue (in her case, barking) they keep an eye out and follow through on her home training while she’s there. She enjoys it so much that we signed up for their Saturday morning training sessions. Basically, what I’m saying, is that all of my disposable income goes to Playground Pups, but I’m cool with that because I know that my puppy is happy and safe while I’m busy with work.

Playground Pups is amazing! I have been bringing my boarder terrier Olive here for a year, since she was just 6 months old. They care for Olive like a princess. When she arrives, Gail, Linda, Jenn and the team are so excited to see her — they make us both feel like she is the only dog in the building! They are also super duper flexible, always willing to help you out in any way that they can. Gail, the owner, understands customer service and provides nothing but extreme courtesy and professionalism. Even though I moved a bit uptown, I still make the trek here. I am nothing but grateful for the Playground Pups and its staff. Although I primarily use PP for daycare, I have and would again leave Olive overnight.
My only wish is that they had a web cam so I could watch Olive during the day! :)

This is the BEST place. We started with puppy play group and went through the amazing training with Linda– who knows everything. The staff are kind and calming and our shy dog loves everyone there. We never worry when we have to board him. Gail is professional and knows and loves every dog there. When we travel, the staff are kind enough to send us email updates and photos. If you are looking for a great place to board/​groom/​train your dog, this is the place! They also have a great boutique of coats and treats.

Romeo and Elmo LOVE it here. After working at home for several years, I had two velcro dogs who didn’t want to have anything change — wake up, go for a walk, come home, go back to sleep etc etc.
The first week or so that I brought them to PP, Elmo was pretty nervous… but now, they get upset when I work from home and they don’t get to go to «school». Both dogs are completely in love with the staff (especially Jen — who says that they «stalk» her whenever she is in the playrooms) — and their whole temperament has changed.
I can’t be happier with the experience!

Been going to PPups for a year or so now. Could not imagine going somewhere else. Let’s just say when my friends ask if I would be interested in an apt in another neighborhood, they quickly remember «Ohhhh! — your baby’s daycare!» and recall that we are NOT going ANYWHERE too far from PPups!
They love the dogs, know the dogs, and the dogs love them right back. My little guy sees his favorite caretakers on the street and pulls me over to say hello, and the caretakers give him kisses. When my dog doesn’t feel well, they know it because they know my dog and his personality.
They’ve gone out of their way several times to help accommodate any special needs that we’ve had (picky eating, impromptu baths, etc.)
I appreciate these people so much.

Two years later and our three year old «puppy» is still full of personality. But what also hasn’t changed is how well the gang at playground pups takes care of her, how they know all her little quirks and just how to handle her, and how her tail practically wags her little body sideways each morning on her walk there once she realizes where she is going!

My Shiba Inu Rex was pretty much raised by the staff here.
We began Rex’s venture @ PP with the free 10 AM puppy socials, when he was 6 months old. This class was so important in getting Rex acclimated to other dogs and people. He’s about 1 ½ yrs old now and has gone frequently for day sessions. At about 9 months of age, we found he had a malignant tumor. It was very heartbreaking. Throughout his health ordeals, the staff has been kind, warm, loving, and accepting.
At the time of this review, Rex has undergone a surgery to remove the tumor– but it’s returned with a vengeance. We just make the rest of his days happy now, and that includes time with his buds at PP. When I walk him at night, Rex pulls me towards Playground Pups (it’s obviously closed) and sniffs and paws at the metal gates that are pulled down when the shop is closed… because he wants to go inside! That’s how much he loves this place.
He’s also received grooming here. I don’t know what the fuss is over the previous reviews, but Rex was well groomed, clean, and nails done right.
Shibas are notorious for being an anti-​social breed. Rex is not only an exception– he’s one of the most social dogs in the neighborhood. I attribute his temperament and sociability to Gail, Linda, Shanley, and the staff of Playground Pups. I patronize local businesses– and want to make sure word gets out on good businesses, like this one. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.

Review is only for the start of our puppy training and free puppy play group.
Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 – 11 you can bring your puppy that is under 7-​months old and let them play. You just have to send in your dogs shot record the first time you go.
The head trainer, Linda, is wonderful and in the first few weeks of training I can already tell she is great at what she does. We have gotten some great tips and assistance on how to train our young pup at home.
We have not used their regular daycare or boarding, but we may give the latter a try sometime in the future.

My dog LOVES this place and therefore I love this place.
No other place makes my dog so happy. This is the best place for grooming as well as for overnight stays or daycare. Love the owners here & everyone who works here — wonderful place!

Got a Living Social coupon for our pup to get a haircut /​bath. We scheduled an appointment in advance, yet when we arrived, they said we had missed it earlier in the day. They apologized for the scheduling confusion and said they could get to her within a few hours. So we left and waited for their call.
Four hours later, we were told our pup was ready to be picked up. On one hand, I am pleased that she was clean and had no injuries (and that it was half-​price!). That’s where the fun ends. Though they followed directions (such as don’t chop off her eyebrows), her haircut was incredibly choppy. If you can imagine, the hair was cut in straight lines with no shape or layering. Even her ears were all cut to one exact length, making her look very odd and unnatural. It’s one thing to know how to cut a puppy’s hair, it’s another to cut it to look natural. They missed the boat on the latter.
Finally, when we brought pup home, she slept more than she has in a long while. And I don’t think it was in a good way. My sense — though I’ll never know for sure — is that she was UBER-​stressed out for the four hours we were away, not comfortable or happy, and therefore she used up a lot of energy. I can’t know where they had her or what they did with her when they weren’t in the grooming process, but I know she was completely overwhelmed and worn out, which normally doesn’t happen after a grooming session.
All-​in-​all, I’m glad to have gotten a deal since grooming is so expensive in Manhattan, but I probably won’t be back.

Gail and the rest of the staff at Playground Pups are incredibly knowledgeable, diligent about excellent dog care, and — on top of it all — very warm and kind.
Our dog attended «school» at Playground Pups 3 – 4 times a week for the last 5 months. We adopted him last year and he is still getting over pretty extreme separation anxiety. Gail and her staff took extra time and energy to work with him, and create a loving and fun environment. We also had him groomed there a few times and the staff did a great job.
I really can’t properly extend the amount of gratitude that we have for Playground Pups. We are so sad to leave because of moving to Tribeca. Our dog really misses Gail!