About Central Bark Philadelphia

Portia joined the Central Bark Doggy Day Care franchise in 2006, and opened Central Bark Philadelphia in 2007. She left behind her Project Management career in the world of digital marketing to spend more time with her feet on the ground instead of in the “cloud.”

Portia chose “the dog life” due to an inherent, lifelong love of animals, and her desire to help those who choose dogs as companions and family members succeed in those relationships.

Portia’s dedication to elevating the canine-human bond and enriching our pet dogs’ lives through engagement and communication is the “Why” behind Central Bark Philadelphia.

“In a healthy relationship, everyone needs to have a life of their own, so why not our companion dogs? To me, dog day care can be a safe, healthy way to maintain a loving, caring, and respectful relationship with your dog. Central Bark Philadelphia provides the best environment for every dog that comes through our door. Being able to tailor each dogs’ day to their needs is key to delivering on our promise to our customers.”

Portia, Central Bark Philadelphia Franchise Owner

Our Team

Kristie

Manager

Kristie joined the Central Bark team in 2014 and has continued to be a growing part of the business. Before joining the team here at Central Bark Kristie’s goal was to be an animal control officer, because while growing up that’s all she wanted to do was work with animals and be a voice for them. Once given the amazing opportunity to join the Central Bark team Kristie worked her way up the ladder starting as a dog handler to now being the manager of Central Bark. Throughout her years at Central Bark Kristie has and continues to further her training and education by taking multiple business courses and joining programs like the dog Gurus to keep her updated on new training techniques and dog care. Kristie’s experience and love for animals makes her the perfect person to manage our amazing staff here at Central Bark.

Awards & Achievements

Pet Boarding & Daycare COVID-19 Training

The Dog Gurus training

Our Family Photo Album

Frequently Asked Questions

Do groomers sedate dogs?

No. At Central Bark®, we never sedate dogs in our salon. Our expert groomers always aim to help your dog feel as calm and relaxed as possible during their bathing and grooming experience. Suppose your dog has shown extreme stress or anxiety toward grooming in the past. In that case, we suggest […]

What are Rest Period Enrichments?

Rest periods can be paired with fun and interactive food toys (like a frozen peanut butter Kong) to create a rest period enrichment activity for your dog. Not only are rest period enrichments fun and mentally stimulating for your dog, but they also help build positive associations and crating skills. […]

How long does dog training take?

The timeline for learning new behaviors and skills is as unique as every dog! Because each dog is an individual, with different learning histories, breed genetics, and preferences in reinforcers like treats and toys, there is no way to say for sure how long training will take. It’s also important […]

Can a puppy be boarded?

Yes. We offer sleepovers to puppies and dogs enrolled in our Enrichment Day Care. Sleepovers at Central Bark® provide your dog a calm, relaxing sleepover in a place they can feel comfortable and loved. Because they’re in a familiar place, they can feel less stressed about being away from home […]

Read all FAQs

Central Bark^® Whole Dog Care

Our whole dog care approach offers a full range of fun and personalized products and services. To promote your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional health and happiness throughout their entire life.