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
Central Bark® Certified
Enrichment Dog Day Care
Pet Boarding & Daycare COVID-19 Training
The Dog Gurus training
Our Family Photo Album
Frequently Asked Questions
Even with such a proactive approach to safety as described above, scuffles between dogs can and do happen from time to time. Although this is a rare occurrence, dogs are animals and don’t always talk about whose tennis ball it is. If a scuffle does occur, staff are trained to intervene immediately by making a loud noise and separating the dogs involved as quickly as possible. For most dogs enrolled in our program, this is enough to stop the situation. If needed, we are also equipped with squirt bottles and a hose. Any dog involved in a scuffle will receive a cursory body check and play break to calm down.
Central Bark® reserves sleepover services exclusively for dogs accepted into the daycare programs, so the same policies do apply.
Whether you’re crate training, leash walking, or potty training your pup, consistency is key. It’s crucial to establish a routine, practice positive reinforcement, supervise your puppy (especially when potty training), and avoid punishing your puppy when mistakes happen.
Central Bark® offers everything you need to help you train your puppy. We offer expert training and classes so you and your puppy can learn and bond together.
Learn more about our training classes.
Visit our Dog Blog for more helpful tips.
Puppies have unique nutritional needs that require specially formulated food to keep them healthy and happy as they grow. The best food for your puppy will depend on their dietary needs, breed, and personal preferences.
Every item in our Central Bark® Market is specially selected to enhance your puppy’s physical health and nutrition, and provide enrichment, happiness, and comfort. We can help you choose from our selection of healthy and nutritious food to help your puppy develop so they can enjoy a long and happy life with your family.
Call or visit our Market today!
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.
Let’s get started
- Click Request Appointment
- Register Online
- We will contact you and schedule your first visit