Tampa
Dog Training & Enrichment

Empower your beloved pet to reach their full potential with our Dog Training Services

Elevate your dog’s skills with the guidance of our accomplished dog training professionals. A joyful dog contributes to a harmonious household. At Central Bark® Tampa, a team of skilled dog trainers utilizes enjoyable and positive methods, incorporating rewards to cultivate crucial life skills and behaviors tailored for dogs of every age.

Our offerings encompass personalized training, enrichment sessions, and group classes, reinforcing positive habits and deepening the affectionate bond you enjoy with your dog. Training sets the groundwork for canine good citizenship, fostering happy, sociable, and well-rounded dogs.

Discover Essential Aspects of Dog Training at Central Bark Tampa, FL

Join us as we navigate the world of dog training, shaping a harmonious and joyful bond between you and your furry friend:

  • Personalized Instruction: Tailored training sessions designed to address your dog’s specific needs and objectives. Experienced trainers provide guidance to overcome behavioral challenges or introduce new commands, ensuring personalized attention for your dog’s growth and success.
  • Group Classes for Skill Enhancement: Engage in our group classes to reinforce positive behaviors and enhance your dog’s socialization within a secure and supportive environment. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for your furry friend to interact with fellow dogs and humans while mastering essential skills.
  • Fostering Exemplary Citizenship: Training serves as the cornerstone of responsible behavior. We instill positive routines and essential commands in your dog, molding them into well-rounded individuals who navigate social situations with poise and confidence.
  • Strengthening the Bond: Our training goes beyond command teaching; it builds trust, fosters effective communication, and deepens mutual understanding between you and your dog. This cultivates an affectionate and respectful partnership, reinforcing your unique connection with your four-legged companion.

Central Bark
Tampa

14623 N Nebraska Ave,
Tampa, FL 33613Get Directions

(813) 979-1123

Open Today 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Call Now

Tampa Dog Training & Enrichment Options:

Central Bark Tampa trainer with dog

Training Tutor

Personalized one-on-one training sessions during day care visits help your dog develop important 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.

Central Bark Tampa trainer with one dog

One-on-One Enrichment

Personalized One-on-One Enrichment sessions give your dog the extra attention they love and the freedom to use their senses and safely explore their instincts through interactive toys, puzzles, and games. It’s fun and rewarding and exercise their bodies and minds and engage their senses. Add complexity with fitness and agility equipment.

Central Bark Tampa brown dog playing

Rest Period Enrichment

Your dog gets to 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 which can help them achieve a healthy balance of play, learning, and rest. It can also help them become more comfortable in crates by building positive associations.

Our Tampa Dog Training Experts

Our dog trainer Sydney with a brown dog.

Sydney

Sydney is an absolute dog enthusiast who focuses on building a dog’s confidence as well as the bond between people and their pets! She began her training journey volunteering with local shelters and is very passionate about helping animals acclimate to this crazy human world! Now, Sydney works with our daycare dogs to develop critical life skills and some fun tricks as well in their 1-on-1 training tutor and enrichment sessions. She customizes her training plan to suit each dog’s individual needs and comfort level using positive reinforcement-based techniques.

Pricing

Training & Enrichment Add-ons

ServicePrice
Training Tutor
One-on-one training session during your dog’s visit to practice important cues and behavior skills. Packages available.
20
One-on-One Enrichment
Personalized session during your dog’s visit with interactive toys, puzzles, and games to exercise your dog’s body and mind. 
15
Rest Period Enrichment
Private space with calming interactive food toy to help your dog achieve a healthy balance of activity and rest. 
5

Packages available. Prepaid packages are nonrefundable. All sales are final. If you have any concerns about food sensitivities or toys, please speak to an associate at the front desk to discuss options.

Kelisha M.
I love this place! Alexis had been grooming my dog Celine for a couple years now & she’s the best! She also puts color on her that everyone loves!
Martin M.
Barry has the best time here and I love the photos I get of him. Very quickly they learned my face and my dog and never once felt like I was just another customer. Prompt, responsive, nice, and caring staff and facility.
Kelly K.
This place is magical. Alexis, the groomer, works wonders and the whole staff is so wonderful. They treat my dog like he is their dog, they are so caring and professional. My dog is groomed there and recently started attending daycare, and I am excited to bring him back!
Ashley P.
I almost don't want to leave this review, because I am worried everyone will want to come to her! But I have to say Alexis is hands down the BEST dog groomer we have ever been to.
Myrna E.
My dog is always so excited to go to Day Care which makes me happy and gives me a peace of mind. The staff is really friendly and helpful with any question I might have. I absolutely love to see the pictures and videos in social media. The location is [...]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is dog day care?

Dog day care gives dogs a fun place to play with their friends while their owners are busy at home and work.

At Central Bark®, doggy daycare is our specialty, and nobody does it quite like us. We don’t just give dogs a place to play. We create a personalized program of activities that optimize your dog’s whole health – their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

Central Bark goes beyond a traditional doggy day care with our unique Whole Dog Care philosophy. Our personalized approach helps enrich your dog’s whole health and well-being throughout their entire life so you can enjoy a healthy, happy, and loving life together.

The heart of our whole dog care approach is our Enrichment Doggy Day Care program. We combine Central Bark’s industry-leading doggy day care expertise with the latest dog behavior science. Our mission is to give dogs a balanced blend of exercise, social group play, learning, rest, and TLC. To help your dog be a healthy, happy, calm, and well-rounded member of your family.

Learn more about Enrichment Doggy Day Care.

How to choose the best day care for your dog

Selecting the right doggy day care is an important decision for you and your family. You want to make sure you find the right fit for your dog and your family’s needs. Follow these tips to find the perfect place for your pup! 

Tour the day care center before leaving your dog there. We recommend visiting several centers in your area before making a final decision.

While you’re there, ask yourself:

  • Is the play space clean, odor-free, comfortable, and safe for the center’s stated capacity? 
  • Pay attention to how the management and staff treat you, your dog, and the dogs in their care. Are they mature, knowledgeable, courteous, professional, and patient at all times? 
  • Note how the dogs respond to the staff – do they seem happy, relaxed, and excited? How do staff members greet and treat each dog?
  • How do other dogs act during your visit – relaxed, happy, stressed, scared, or out of control?
  • Is there a great deal of noise? 
  • Does the facility seem well organized and equipped with essential tools and supplies? Look for access to fresh, clean water, sanitation tools, ready access to treats to reinforce good behavior in playgroups, toys, secure fencing, rubber flooring in the inside play spaces, and access to outdoor play spaces.
  • Are there enough crates for every dog on-site in case of an emergency?
  • Are the dogs ever left alone together without a staff member present?
  • Are the handlers engaged with the dogs in their care and actively working with them? Or are they sitting on the sidelines? 

Questions to ask the doggy day care provider:

  1. Will my dog get individual attention time with staff?
    Ask if staff will have time to work individually with your dog on behaviors, play with them, and give them support and love while at day care.
  2. Are there small group play options?
    Small playgroup options help ensure your dog will have a social environment that allows them the freedom and comfort to thrive based on their unique needs, preferences, and play styles. 
  3. What’s the daily schedule? Is this tailored to my dog’s unique needs and preferences?
    Dogs thrive on routine, so the center should have a clear schedule for how things run every day. A consistent program tailored to your dog’s individual needs and style will promote a healthy and happy dog. 
  4. Are there regularly scheduled playtimes and nap times throughout the day?
    Day care should offer your dog a safe and balanced day of play, learning, rest, and love so you can look forward to a happy, well-balanced dog at the end of every day. 
  5. How and where are the dogs’ given downtime to wind down from the day’s activities to help prevent exhaustion and overstimulation?
    Maintaining a healthy balance of rest and play is important for the physical, mental, and social health of dogs. Just like human athletes, rest helps dogs avoid bodily injury and provides a space for them to unwind, so they do not become over-stimulated or over-aroused during play. This creates a much safer social environment for dogs. 
  6. Are there fenced and secure outdoor play areas? 
    Safe outdoor areas are important for a healthy, fun playtime. Whether it is romping in the snow or playing in swimming pools, everyone loves recess outside!
  7. How are new dog introductions handled?
    The center should clearly outline their procedures around new dog introductions, with effective policies that encourage happy, healthy, and lasting relationships and experiences.   
  8. What training does the staff receive?
    Doggy day care staff should be professionally trained and educated in animal behavior, socialization, and obedience training to ensure every dog’s well-being.  
  9. Are the dogs supervised at all times?
    A trained staff member should ALWAYS supervise dogs.
  10. Ask about behavior management tools used at the facility while caring for the dogs. What happens if your dog does something right? What happens if your dog does something wrong?
    Staff should use positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques to develop and reinforce behaviors that will enrich dogs’ lives at home and day care. Avoid centers that use punishment or correction to manage dog’s behavior as those techniques can create negative associations and fear. Utilizing reward-based techniques and positive reinforcement, on the other hand, can help build healthy relationships and happy experiences.
  11. What provisions are there for avoiding dog scuffles?
    Ask staff how they manage the dogs in their care. What do they look for in dog-dog interactions? How do they deal with emergencies and scuffles? How do they interrupt and redirect dogs? How do they build useful playgroup skills to keep the dogs safe proactively? Pay attention to how staff redirects dogs who need additional support to stay safe and whether they respond promptly and use effective strategies in these situations.
  12. Is there an in-depth interview to determine relevant background, behavioral, and health information including confirmation of spay/neuter, proof of vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, etc.? How is this information kept up to date?
    Find out what kind of assessments and evaluations the center uses before they accept a new dog. Also, every dog’s information should be regularly updated and kept on file to prevent illness and injuries.
  13. Do they have safety, cleaning, and disinfecting policies and procedures? What are they?

Learn more about Enrichment Doggy Day Care.

How do you crate train a dog?

For dogs, being comfortable in a crate is a life skill that is incredibly useful for them and their owners. If you have ever traveled with your dog or had the unfortunate experience of an overnight stay at the vet, knowing your dog is comfortable in a crate is immeasurably comforting. 

Crate training can take just days or a few months, based on your dog’s age, temperament, and past experiences with crates. The two keys to successful crate training are to keep the experience positive and go slowly.

When your puppy is not in their crate, keep the door open and reward them every time they choose to enter, even if you didn’t ask them to enter it. When crating your puppy, give them a safe enrichment item (like a stuffed Kong) that will keep them busy and allow them to self-soothe while confined. Remember that crate training should take place in a series of small, slow steps that will help your puppy become more comfortable.

Central Bark® offers everything you need to help you care for your new puppy. Our Enrichment Day Care gives puppies all the socialization, exercise, mental stimulation, and rest they need for a lifetime of happiness with you and your family. We also 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
.

What is dog training?

Dog training teaches a dog to perform certain behaviors, often in a variety of contexts. At Central Bark®, our training classes are based on the latest research and scientific understanding of dog behavior to enhance the bond between you and your dog.  

We use positive reward-based techniques to help puppies and dogs of all ages develop essential life skills and behaviors that will enrich their lives at home and day care. These methods set dogs up to succeed and reward them for performing desired behaviors. Rewards are tailored to the dog’s preferences and can include food treats, time to play with a favorite toy, or verbal praise. 

Learn more about our training classes.

Visit our Dog Blog for more helpful tips
.

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.