City Bark- Parker

City Bark in Parker, Colorado, is a highly rated, private getaway for dogs that resembles a spa for grooming, health, and schmoozing as much as it does an open space for dogs to co-mingle and play. You could almost expect the brochure to boast about protein shakes and a steam room. 

The City Bark, which has four locations in the state – Parker, Littleton, Denver, and Lodo – is a full-service operation that includes “Doggie Daycare” a fenced-in park, boarding, grooming, “self-wash tubs” and training, as well as boarding for felines. But it also includes plenty of canine-appropriate apparatus for the curious dogs to explore in the open dog park area and a glorious wading pool for overheated wag-tails. 

On top of that, City Bark serves as a foster home for several dog-rescue groups and dutifully turns the dog waste into compost. Online reviews of the Parker location include some pretty stunning notices. One mentions that the park has “doggie cams” that allow owners to keep an eye on their dogs even if they are out of town. As such, the place gets rave reviews for the loving attention the City Bark staff bestow on their clients – anything to keep those tails a'waggin'. 

There is even a very sweet thank you note from an owner whose dog up and disappeared while in City Bark's care. The staff was so professional and thorough, the dog (Honey) was quickly found and returned to the grateful owner. Hey, dogs will be dogs and they all love to see what is on the other side of the fence. 

That said, there is mostly brochure-style information online so that the dog park is noted to have “hills for your active furry companion to run up and down.” However lacking in details that might be, the write-up says there's a “spot for every pooch” no matter what personality they have and there's “ample space for fetch and retrieve,” as well as resting space for an elderly dog whose fetch and retrieve days may be over. 

Because the City Bark is privately owned, there is a fee involved, but you have to call the business to find out what it is. It varies, obviously, as there are several different options you might choose from overnight boarding to grooming to doggie daycare services.