GoDog Research Triangle Park (RTP) — Local services in Durham

I trusted GoDog with my dog, for doggy daycare but I will not be going back...

Prior to boarding, I did a walk through of the facility and verified all the procedures with the staff. I was told my pup would attend daycare during his stay from about 10am-4pm. This was a huge sell for me to board him here as he is high energy and loves to play with other dogs. The last thing I wanted was for him to be in a kennel all day (I could've done this at home).

I dropped my pup off for boarding Friday around noon and was pretty shocked to see the way he was treated during daycare. He was consistently being sprayed with a spray bottle, put onto a leash, pushed or pulled away from other dogs, and placed into the isolation kennel. I would argue there are times when this intervention is very necessary but sniffing and curiosity of other dogs is not one of them. It was clear the staff member was becoming increasingly frustrated with my dog due to his high energy and they lost their patience. I decided to leave my dog there because there was a staff change and the new handler treated my dog much better. Chalked it up to a bad day and I kept an eye on him for the remainder of the day through their online cameras.

The following day, I checked in periodically throughout the day looking for my dog on the webcams to see him playing during the daycare times I signed him up for. He never appeared. I called around 4pm Saturday and was told my dog was given a 'personal playtime' (this was likely no more than 30 minutes) on Saturday instead of daycare. When I asked why, the handler said that there were 'big personalities' in their facility and said he would do better alone. When I pressed that, they admitted that there was staffing issues as well.

Sunday morning I logged on to the cameras to see if my dog would be allotted any playtime before I could get there and he never appeared. When we arrived to pick him up, he was seemingly distressed (took about 30 minutes to calm his breathing down) and after taking him out, we noticed he was extremely dehydrated. I asked if I would still be charged for daycare since he did not attend and was told that it was all included in boarding fees whether you received personal playtime or daycare.

With this being my dogs first boarding experience with GoDog, I was worried about him and careful to check in, turns out I was right to do so. I recognize that staying in a kennel for a weekend is not the worst thing in the world, however, I would expect staff to be honest about the services I am receiving. We will...

I normally don’t leave lengthy reviews, but the recent experience boarding our dog Marz here needs to be shared so other pet owners can make informed decisions.

Before boarding, I took Marz to the vet to ensure he was completely healthy and ready for his stay. He’s a spirited, high-energy dog who loves people and has always been described as sweet, social, and full of life. We’ve boarded him before elsewhere with no issues.

He was boarded from August 2nd - August 13th. On August 9th that evening, the facility contacted me to report a limp, but assured us in writing & a video that he was otherwise “his normal self” and “not in pain.” They said they would monitor him for any changes. At no point did they mention any swelling, changes in demeanor, or other concerns.

When I picked Marz up, the difference was immediate and alarming. His paw was visibly swollen, something we noticed within seconds. His usual excitement and vocal greetings were completely gone, he didn’t bark, howl, or show any of his normal joyful behaviors. There were also other physical changes he had bruises on both sides of his mouth, along with signs of discomfort we have documented in photos, which we shared with the facility.

What makes this more concerning is that staff had given him a complimentary bath during his stay, meaning they had direct, hands-on contact with him. For them to miss such obvious swelling and behavioral changes raises serious questions about the level of observation and care he actually received.

When I brought the concerns to the facility, the response was disappointing. Instead of taking accountability for missing these clear signs, we were told they are “not veterinarians” and simply wished him a speedy recovery. While we understand they cannot diagnose medical issues, basic attentiveness and reporting physical changes do not require a veterinary degree just care and diligence.

I entrusted them with our dog’s well-being, and that trust was broken. I understand accidents can happen, but when they do, owners deserve full transparency, not deflection. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this facility for anyone expecting thorough monitoring of their dog. I’m simply sharing so others can make their own informed choice about whether to board...

Very glad to have found GoDog RTP! My pup, Sophia, has been coming here for both daycare and boarding over the past few months and I've been very happy with our decision to start bringing her here.

First, the facility is great. The lobby is large and clean which is a huge plus. I also appreciate the small thoughts, like having a gated entry prior to the building doors just in case a loose pup tries to sneak out!

Secondly, the staff is wonderful. The first day I came here I was immediately welcomed, as was my dog. I appreciate very much that the staff are attentive to my dog and are excited to see her when she comes in to play. When we first tried out GoDog and took part in the full day at 1/2 price, GoDog staff provided a written assessment of my dog and her behavior during the day. Within the assessment, it was apparent that they'd actually spent a good amount of time observing my dog and her behavior rather than offering just a blanket statement like "she did well". I also appreciate the staff's transparency and communication -- I'd dropped off my dog for daycare one day and received a call not 30 minutes later about a potential health issue. Thankfully this was something known to us, and that our dog was being treated for (UTI), however I'm grateful for the fast and direct communication about her health!

Lastly, my dog really seems to enjoy it here. While she's a bit overly attached and can whine when I leave her to play, she's always excited to see her friends on staff and she always comes home tired from a day of shenanigans.

I'd happily recommend GoDog RTP to anyone in the Durham area looking for a daycare or boarding facility...