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
Awards & Achievements
Central Bark® Certified
Enrichment Dog Day Care
Pet Boarding & Daycare COVID-19 Training
The Dog Gurus training
Our Family Photo Album
Mogs confidence has bloomed a thousand fold since she’s started going weekly. She always gets excited when I say “day care” & always comes home exhausted, which we love!
I adopted a second dog who was with me for a few months. Unfortunately their personalities didn’t mix in the home & it became a safety issue & he was rehomed. During the time I had him, Central Bark stepped up with advice, fitting me in for extra days & doing their best to tire him out & help him get a bit more socialization. I tried so hard & one day I walked in & just cried. Gaby gave me a great pep talk, let me cry some more & helped me recenter.
That brings me to my next point, the staff. I don’t know everyones names, but everyone there is always friendly, supportive, honest & most importantly, just love the dogs they work with. They are very flexible with requests from parents (if they’re doable) & have fun seasonal events for the pups. I know I’m missing some people, so blame it on my head, not my heart. Thank you Gaby, Kristie, Jaime, Bassam, Kensley, Marcus, Julia, Sara and the whole team! You all work so hard & so well together, handling the parents & the dogs (the dogs are the easy part)! 😊
Thanks for being such an important part of Mogwais life!
Frequently Asked Questions
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 (and so will you). A full day of Doggy Day Care is complimentary with your sleepover stay.
Central Bark® Enrichment Doggy Day Care combines our industry-leading doggy day care expertise with the latest science-based activities and techniques. We personalize your dog’s day with fun, healthy, and well-balanced activities that appeal to their instincts and enrich their bodies, minds, and senses.
Each day at Central Bark includes exclusive options like:
- Flexible play groups allow us to match your dog each day with the social atmosphere and play schedule they can enjoy and benefit from most. This helps give them a healthy balance of play, rest, and learning and creates a safer social environment with a better quality of play. And our lower dog-to-staff ratios offer more individual attention, education, and love.
- Group play skills help dogs practice important behaviors and life skills like name recall, group sit, and calmly going in and out of doors and gates. These activities are fun and rewarding for your dog and help improve behavior and impulse control, prevent overstimulation, and creates a safer social environment.
- Rest Period Enrichments help dogs relax and recharge in their own private space with calming interactive toys and healthy food pairings tailored to their preferences and diet. It promotes physical and mental relaxation and can help them become more comfortable in crates by building positive associations.
- One-on-One Enrichment add-on sessions give your dog the personal attention they love, supplemented with interactive toys, puzzles, and games. Sessions are fun and rewarding, exercise their body and mind, and engage their senses. Add complexity with fitness and agility equipment.
- Training sessions during day care visits help your dog develop essential skills and behaviors like name recall, sit, stay, down, wait, leave-it, door and gate control, and loose-leash walking. Excellent for your dog and easy for you! Your dog will come home tired and well-socialized, with the training and skills they need to be a well-behaved member of your family.
Sleeping in a new or unfamiliar environment can be stressful for some dogs. That’s why we offer sleepovers to dogs already enrolled in our Enrichment Day Care.
Sleepovers at Central Bark® offer 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 (and so will you). A full day of Doggy Day Care is complimentary with your sleepover, so your dog can play with their friends after a good night’s rest.
With a variety of training solutions available, training costs depend upon what kind of training you and your dog need.
Central Bark® offers everything you need to help you train your new puppy or older dog. Including group classes and Training Tutor sessions that can take place during day care. Our expert training and classes help you, and your dog learn and bond together.
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.
