Bark & Play

Bark and Play is a dog daycare and boarding spot at 131 Kalamath St. in Denver, taking small, medium, and large dogs. Overnight stays run $60 to $70 per night, and reservations are made online.

What a day there looks like

Dogs split their time between an indoor playroom and a 4,000-square-foot backyard with real grass. The outdoor area has slides, toys, and a climbing play set, along with sunbathing spots and a shaded area for dogs that need to cool off. A kiddie pool comes out in the summer. Poochie cots give everyone somewhere to nap once the play winds down.

Services and amenities

• Overnight boarding for small, medium, and large dogs
• Daycare with indoor and outdoor play areas
• Playroom video cameras viewable through the ODoggy app
• Medication administration and special diets
• Meal feeding for dogs who bring their own food

What sets it apart

New dogs get a free three-day trial before anyone signs up for anything. That gives staff time to see how a dog handles a group setting, and it gives the owner a read on the place before booking a longer stay. The playroom cameras are the other differentiator: an owner stuck at the office can pull up the app and check on their dog mid-afternoon.

Practical details

The facility opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, closing at 7:00 p.m. on all of those days. Vaccinations are required for every dog. Booking happens online, and questions can go to 303-446-2275 or barkandplaydenver@gmail.com. The address puts it just south of downtown Denver, an easy stop on the way out of town or on the morning commute.