Smilin Dogs — Local services in San Carlos

I have been a long time client of Smilin Dogs, going on 7 years now. Prior to last week, I only had good things to say about them as outlined in my previous two yelp reviews and numerous referrals. But I can not after last week in good conscious continue to speak well of this establishment or send my dogs there. They left my dog in a random neighbor's yard and then lied about it.

My 4 year old lab spent the day at the daycare facility in San Carlos and was to be transported home by Smilin Dogs, just as he has been for three years now. It was after normal drop-off and I checked our camera feed and determined he had not been dropped off yet. I called the office to check in and was told he was on route and had been sent in a later transport. Ok no problem. They immediately called me back and advised that he had in fact been dropped off and driver confirmed he was in his crate. I had family at the house and they checked only to advise that was not true.

I called back at this point a little frantic. I was placed on hold while the office tried to reach the driver. The driver then told the office he was in fact in an all wood house, the one next to our house, he thought. Which was conveyed to me. The office receptionist offered to come look with us since it wasn't clear exactly which house next to us the driver referred to. There was no explanation as to why my dog was not in my house, after the driver insisted he was crated in my house.

I then come to find out, he was in fact not in the house next to mine, but two houses over. A neighbor was posting signs on her gate that a dog had been found. My family members were outside looking for my dog trying to figure out where the driver had left him. They stopped the neighbor who said, they heard a sound at their side door. Next thing they know a large dog is in their bedroom (he nosed their patio door open) sitting and crying. Thankfully he stayed put in their room because they have three dogs that are not friendly to new dogs but were in another part of the house.

During this entire disaster, I also found out that the daycare had been sold over a year before. I asked for Konrad, the owner I was aware of to call me asap to discuss this disaster. Only to be informed that he had sold the company. It is common courtesy to advise your clientele when a large change like this takes place. They did not because according to them nothing changed. Regardless if they didn't perceive it as a change, the clientele should have been made aware. It is common courtesy, we entrust our dogs/family members to you, the least you can do is tell us when things change.

I received a follow up call from the Manager and was told that the individual ignored protocol and rules when dropping off my dog and it is unclear why the driver left my dog at a random house. I can only surmise that employees lack training or the company isn't taking care when they choose/hire their employees.

I am very sad and disappointed in what has happened. We used to have one or two walkers assigned per day, now it is a constant rotation of new walkers (they all have a paper in hand with instructions to how to enter our house since they constantly change routes/dogs). It wasn't as personable but the dogs still seemed happy and I trusted they were safe. But after Friday's debacle, I can not trust them to take my dogs off leash hiking or monitor play when they can not even drive my dog the mile from their facility to my house and drop them off safely.

As I told the manager, I can not continue to recommend them after this incident nor will my dogs continue to attend. I urge Smilin Dogs to re-evaluate their training and hiring process so that no one else has such an experience. It is is frightening and mind boggling that someone they vetted as an employee found it acceptable to leave a dog in a random yard and to then...

My little Peanut hated all the day care. She hated it passionately. When we had her in other places, she simply be mad at us and wont let me pick her up or pet her for a few hours. She would put on a hard break and attempted to escape.

But with Smilin dog, she didn’t hate it! She didn’t love it but she always came home looking tired and happy, spunky. I don’t know how to tell you but her reaction between Smilin dog and other day care were so drastic.

I think its how Smilin dogs staffers care for her. Peanut had a lot of medical issue and generally dont like other dogs. But this place took good care of her and became the only place I trust to care for Peanut while i was away. One time Peanut just recovered from being so sick she lost almost all her hair. I had to travel and left her there for 2 weeks. I was so worried. But when i picked her up, she was a total different dog. She had all her energy back and her hair stared to grow back a few weeks later. I dont know what to tell you but i am a believer in Smilin dogs’s love and care for your pup.

My Peanut has crossed the rainbow bridge. My other dog, Mac, is now a regular here. I truly truly thankful for them and will remain a customer as long as I...

My boy Colby went to Smilin Dogs 3 times a week as well as occasional boarding for over 4 years. It was his happy place as well as mine because I knew that the facility gave the dogs a lot of space and the level of supervision needed to keep them safe as well as having to greatest group of dog loving handlers anyone could hope for. I moved out of the area and never found any service that even came close so my boy spent the last 4 years without the socialization and fun he was used to and we both felt the loss.I recently moved back to the area but live an hour and half away (if the traffic gods are with me). I looked locally, but once again there is nothing like Smilin Dogs. I brought Colby back to Smilin Dogs today for a day of fun and it was exactly as we both remembered. The staff and managers are as are phenomenal as they were years ago and my boy came home as happy and tuckered out as he used to. I will bring him at least once a week when I am in the area despite the drive as well as having him board when I am staying overnight. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to have Smilin Dogs back...