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
The cost of your party depends on what you need to celebrate your occasion. You can rent space in our facility to celebrate, then bring in your treats and decorations. Or you can have us plan and run your entire event, complete with a special treat, party favors, hats, decorations, and more.
Call today to learn more
At Central Bark®, our goal is to provide a balanced day of play, learning, rest, and love. Learning and mental exercise can happen in various ways, including training activities, brain games, scent work, and more. Our playgroups offer several hours of active playtime paired with learning opportunities during Group Play Skills. This way, dogs have plenty of time to socialize and get their energy out, while also exercising their minds through learning.
During one of your dog’s rest periods throughout the day, they are offered a rest period enrichment activity to stimulate their mind while encouraging healthy rest. These licking and chewing activities involve food rewards, such as frozen peanut butter KONG®. These activities engage their minds while helping foster quality rest.
Did you know? Scientific studies have shown that licking and chewing behaviors (especially those that involve food rewards!) are self-soothing, decrease heart and respiratory rates, and even release dopamine in a dog’s brain.
Training Tutor sessions stimulate the dog’s minds and bodies and help them learn important skills, behaviors, and tricks.
One-on-One Enrichment sessions give the extra attention dogs love and the freedom to use their senses and safely explore their instincts through interactive toys, puzzles, and games.
Did you know? 15 minutes of mental activity is equal to 30 minutes of physical exercise!
Our dog socialization day care is built on a unique system of “flexible playgroups” to ensure a safe and positive social environment for every dog. We carefully match your dog with friends based on their age, personality, size, and play style, creating a balanced and stress-free environment. This is especially beneficial for day care for dogs with anxiety or shy puppies, as it provides a low-pressure way for them to build confidence and have a great time.
All dogs are different, and like humans, your dog deserves grooming customized to their size, breed, and level of attention. For this reason, prices may vary by service and location.
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