I wanted to update my review since my original review was based on daycare, months ago!
I now have a second dog and Gemma hasn't been to daycare in about 5 months, but we went yesterday and both dogs had a full spa day. We are so happy we went!!
Gemma walked in, losing her mind with excitement and was jumping all over Blue (the receptionist) as if they were absolute best friends. This may sound normal for most dogs, but Gemma is shy, standoffish, fearful of most people, doesn't show me affection, and can be timid of even people she knows so for her to jump into this person's arms after 5 months shows me JUST how much of a true kind hearted animal loving soul they are!
Onto the bath! Gemma hates self-care in ALL forms. She doesn't let me bathe her, brush her, trim her nails. She's insufferable. And Carl has never had a professional experience as he was found as a stray roaming the streets of Utah after he was dumped, so I wasn't sure how the sterile environment and sounds might be for him. Mike did a WONDERFUL job. I didn't know Carl was so white and both dogs came back fluffffyyyyy and soft and with short nails (amen) and smiling and Gemma tolerated the experience so well. Blue was even kind enough to call me when Gemma was about 20 minutes away from being done so I could pick her up right away so she wouldn't be anxious waiting for me.
This place has been such a clutch find for us. When Gemma was in heat, she was able to still go to drop off every day in a private room and before Carl is fixed, I know private rooms are an option for him as an intact male should I need it. I haven't found ANY other daycares or facilities where this is an option (yesss I fix my pets when they're fully grown).
We've been really happy with all of the care and flexible options! Weāve utilized all day daycare, twice a day playgroups when all day was too stimulating, the 1:1 when Gemma was in heat and also injured and couldnāt play, and also the grooming services. We looked into other chain daycares as well as home providers and this really was the best place for us.
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My dog is OBSESSED with Wag. The staff are so friendly and we have the best experience when I bring her. She runs in from the parking lot and always leaves tired and happy. Whenever I watch the cameras, sheās running around playing or taking a brief nap. We wouldnāt go...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreWag Hotel exceeded all my expectations for boarding my Frenchie. First off, the staff is incredibleātheyāre clearly happy to be there, and that made all the difference. My Frenchie stayed for 10 days while I was working in Miami, and since I usually travel with him, leaving him for so long was tough. Thankfully, the webcam was a lifesaver; I could check in on him anytime and see if he was eating and when. The āhotel scheduleā they provide is great for keeping track of what heās up to throughout the day.
I was worried he might not eat much during the first few days as he adjusted, so I requested they give him breakfast and dinner. To my surprise, they went above and beyond by offering him lunch and a treat to encourage him to eat during the midday. It felt like they were treating him just as I would, and I couldnāt have been more grateful.
I kept the webcam on even during my flight back, and it was so reassuring to see how gentle they were with him. They even took the time to refluff and remake his bed during housekeeping. They allowed me to leave him with a blanket that smelled like me to help with his anxiety, which was such a thoughtful touch. I also took one of his toys along for the same reason, and it was comforting to know they were taking care of him just the way I would.
One of the best parts of Wag Hotel was their attention to detail with his feeding. I add salmon oil and supplements to his breakfast, and they had no problem accommodating that. Next time, I plan to sign him up for all-day play every other day so he can socialize more without getting too exhausted.
The pictures they send three times a day are incredibly comfortingāI could even tell from them that he made a Frenchie friend! They noted that he was getting plenty of pets and cuddles from the staff, and they even played fetch with him. It was a 100/10 experience. If youāre as protective of your dog as I am, Wag Hotel is the place you need. My only small wish is that they had cameras for the play breaks, but thatās why Iāll opt for all-day play next time. This experience was flawless, and I couldnāt recommend them more.
The 24/7 drop off and pick up was also so comforting. Now if I want to go out for the night such as a concert I can drop him off and pick...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreTLDR; Quality of care and communication has dropped substantially over the last ~2 years and it is no longer worth the premium price ($116/day minimum for mediocre care) - I don't recommend you trust your pet with this business and encourage you to seek one of the plentiful alternatives.
I had been boarding my dog here occasionally for the last 4 years and initially it was a good facility. I'm not sure if there was a change in management / ownership, but this facility is incapable of taking care of and monitoring dogs in group play situations. The quality of care, service provided, and group size are not aligned with the cost that they charge. They also stopped sending report cards, which they falsely claim they do on their website, and generally the facility is managed poorly.
The current managers of the San Diego facility do not seem like they like dogs, or animals in general or have their best interests in mind. They are cold, uncaring, and bad communicators. They will alter your reservation without notifying you, claim they will reach out, but won't, and are generally shady.
It is also overpriced as compared to the many other options in the San Diego area. If you want to board your dog in a small room and have them get a tiny amount of exercise and play it will easily cost you $116+ per night. That is just the base price, not including taxes and upcharges. I'd suggest for your wallet and more importantly for your dog's quality of life you consider alternatives.
I should note that there are some nice non manager staff who are doing the best they can within the poorly managed facility.
My advice to this facility is to do better by your customer. Start over and fire the current San Diego leadership and replace them with people who care about animals and service. You will continue to lose customers and your business will spiral downwards until it fails until you do so. Put the animals first. Increase the quality of care to be aligned with what you're charging, this may cut into your margin in the short term, but it's the ethical thing to do and necessary for your business to be sustainable long term. Best of...
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