Lucky Dog Bark - Lake Norman — Attraction in Cornelius

I had been using Lucky Dog for my three dogs for 2 and a half years now. This summer I have been bringing them just about every three weeks for the weekend as my husband is in the military and is gone all summer for training and I have been visiting him when I can about 4 hours away. Two are Mals and one is a Mal Shepard mix. I left one Mal and the mix with them this past weekend. I recieved a call Saturday that the one had pulled her tooth out on the crate after they were vaccuming around her crate while she was in it. Initially they called telling us that she needed to be picked up because she was too anxious. I explained she does not like vaccums, and does get anxious in the crate, otherwise please keep me informed on her tooth but I was not too worried as she is a very anxious dog (why I boarded her). The next day I came to pick them up I was told that they are too anxious and had to be “better trained” before they could come back. I informed him that they are PROFESSIONALLY trained and that they just don’t like the crate. He then asked WHO trained them. Are you serious? They’re off leash trained by a professional and I worked with them myself. He then mentioned to me that last night one of them chewed part of the crate and “tore his mouth up.” Thats when I became upset and asked why I wasn't informed of this? He said “ I dont know you should have been. “ He then proceeded to tell me that there have been other issues in the past when I asked why all the sudden there has been a problem when Ive been taking them here for years. Apparently one chewed a bowl before. I had told the staff long ago they could not have anything in their crates but bones. He said it was “dangerous” to not give them water overnight in the summer. How hot is your facility??? He then proceeded to say they are too anxious in the group and stay to themselves. I asked then why had I been told EVERY TIME I called/picked them up that they were doing great and played well in the group? Again his answer was “someone dropped the ball” and I should have been informed. They had never been aggressive- so I don’t see the problem. He could not tell me why I had never been told about any of this until today. Basically I had been lied to. He then said it was the owner and general managers decision and he was just told to talk to me. I asked why they couldnt have talk to me themselves and he said they were TOO BUSY opening a third location. Unreal. For two years I have been bringing my dogs and boarding and have been told every single time that they were wonderful, so I kept brining them. Why was I lied too? Your facility boards DOGS. They chew things and they dont like to be in a crate. They get anxious away from home. It is your JOB to care for them while I cannot. Obviously the facility “dropped the ball” in more ways than one. I am glad it happened and I regret taking my dogs for so long. I’m sure a manager will post on this and tell me how wrong I am as they did another one star reviewer. If you have a shepard, mal, or any “anxious” breed DO NOT take your dog here. They OBVIOUSLY cannot handle it and I shudder to think of how they were handling my high energy dogs. I really do blame myself for not being more involved in my dogs care and allowing this place to care...

Love going here, but our most recent trip was a disappointment. While the staff, (as always!) rocked, & the bar tender was excellent, the place itself, (outside play area), was utterly filthy. There was so much 💩💩💩 everywhere that it was actually hard not to step in it. Sadly, someone or a few someone's had let their dog(s) take quite a few shts all over the place, & completely failed to adult, & clean it up. I don't blame the staff in ANY manner, other than I wish they'd have said something to the guilty party, (there's no way it wasn't seen... there seriously was a ton of sht).

Usually there's someone outside who is on top of cleanliness issues, however, I'm thinking they must've been super short staffed that day. Myself, along with another lady ended up picking it all up. I didn't want our pups, (or anyone else's stepping in it, nor was the smell appealing while it baked in 95° hellish heat. 😂

There was another man there who continuously let his Border Collie piss in the all of the water bowls, (repeatedly), & was too busy chatting with everybody to pay attention to what she was doing. Several of us ended up dumping those bowls out, washing them & refilling them with clean, piss free water, (repeatedly as well). When something was said to him, he clearly had zero ducks to give, (yep; I said ducks... I'm trying to keep my sailors mouth out of my reviews! 😂🤣). If you come up here to relax & hang out with your pups, please be an adult, & watch them!!

Too many people rely on the staff to literally pick up behind them & their dogs, & it's not right. They appear to be very short staffed right now, (not their fault!), as are many businesses, & as dog owners, it's our responsibility to clean up after our doggos. It's not hard, & if we all pitch in & do it, the Lucky Dog Bar will be nice & clean, & ready to...

On the first day our pup was eligible to go to a dog park/play with other dogs, we celebrated at the Lake Norman location. With my previous dog, I was a regular at the Steele Creek location. But after moving to Davidson, we find the Lake Norman location more convenient. And I am SO HAPPY to be a part of the extended family.

The location is clean, well-organized, and the staff... We absolutely LOVE!

We visit the fenced/outdoor dog park about three times a week, taking advantage of both the Monday night trivia (which in itself is a spectacular event) AND the Lucky Dog "Beer and a Bath" night on Tuesdays.

We also use the Day Care at least once a week. We love how easy it is to make reservations online using the Owner Portal. Getting our dog's vaccination data uploaded was a snap. The staff even helped us get the digital paperwork from our vet.

We've also used overnight boarding on multiple occasions. Once, there was a mix-up with our feeding instructions and (I love this!) the overnight staff sent us a chat/text message to confirm. It was both thorough and thoughtful. And! Coming home from the same trip, my flight was delayed... And delayed... But the team at Lucky Dog stayed open/available for me to pick up my pooch. I was able to chat (via txt) regarding my estimated time of arrival. They had my boy all ready to go, leash-in-hand. It was such a sweet thing to do.

Lastly, when we arrive at Lucky Dog Lake Norman, my dog is eager to "join the pack" because being part of a play group has helped him develop healthy social skills. When we walk in, he's so confident because he knows he's about to have his BEST DAY EVER. And more importantly, when he comes home from both day care and boarding, he's relaxed and cheerful.

That's exactly what we love about trusting the team at the Lucky Dog Lake Norman-- we...