Doggy Day Care Melbourne

Doggy day care has taken off in a big way in recent years, and for good reason – day care is one of the safest and most effective ways to ensure your pooch gets the socialisation, exercise, mental stimulation and loving attention they need when you’re not able to be with them.

At Dogs HQ, we’ve been at the forefront of doggy day care in Melbourne since we opened our doors in Abbotsford back in 2011.

  • Huge play areas: purpose-built 480sqm centre with lots of room to run & play!
  • Strong reputation: 10+ years as one of Melbourne’s best dog day cares
  • Rotating activities, games & interactive toys to engage the mind
  • Experienced team able to handle the unique day care environment
  • Safe socialisation & learning: behavioural screening & continual guidance for all dogs
  • Unique fit-out: built-in tunnels, ramps, platforms, agility equipment
  • Dedicated rest areas: separate spaces for dogs who need a break
  • High staff ratios & constant in-room supervision (cuddles for everyone!)
  • Convenient pick-up/drop-off: easy to get to & easy to park
  • Fully secure facility: airlock doors
  • Close to vets: less than 1km from All Creatures Vet & CARE Animal Hospital
  • Specialised flooring: anti-skid, anti-bacterial and gentle on joints!
  • Vet-grade cleaning processes & products
  • Dog spa: we can wash & pamper your pooch so they smell like roses when you collect them!

Ready to give Dogs HQ doggy daycare a try?

Get started

To enrol for day care, we just need a bit of info first. Then we can make arrangements for your first day!

Enrol for Abbotsford Enrol for Sth Melbourne

Prices & memberships

We have a range of flexible pricing options to suit your needs and ensure you get a premium service at an affordable price!

View pricing

A day in the life of a Dogs HQ dog…

  • 7:30 am
    The day begins:
    From 7.30am, pooches arrive and are assigned to a playroom. First-timers are monitored closely as they meet their friends one-by-one; our regulars show them the ropes by getting stuck straight into the fun!
  • 8:00 am
    Early morning:
    Excitement levels are high - most pooches are more streak of light than dog at this point! For most, this is a time for running, jumping, chasing and playing. Our focus is to make sure they’re having heaps of fun while ensuring they’re not over-stimulated.
  • 10:00 am
    Mid-morning: Playgroups
    are reassessed to ensure each dog is comfortable and having a great time. New toys, equipment and games are introduced to keep the dogs engaged and to promote exercise and healthy play.
  • 11:00 am
    Late morning:
    Dogs generally start to wind down a little and either continue gentle exercise or begin commanding their human friends to administer cuddles and pats (we are more than happy to oblige!).
  • 12:00 pm
    Mid-day:
    The lights go down, the Australian sheepskin mats come out and the dogs are encouraged to have a little snooze.
  • 2:00 pm
    Mid-afternoon:
    The energy starts to return and we introduce brain training puzzles, games and toys to give the dogs’ minds a good workout. We have heaps of interactive activities, and we bring in new ones on a regular basis!
  • 4:00 pm
    Late afternoon:
    We all prepare for sad farewells. Pooches booked in for washes get the spa treatment, while further cuddles are administered to the rest of the pack as we reminisce on good times had.
  • 6:30 pm
    Night:
    Dogs head home and try to convince their parents they’re not tired, no really they’re not tired at allzzzzzzzzzzzzz …. A calm, quiet night is had by all

Every dog has different needs – some need lots of downtime, while others love to play for hours. That’s why we don’t have activity-specific rooms or a strict daily timetable; instead, we’ve customised our playrooms and our approach to ensure every dog gets what they need throughout the day, whether it’s room to run, games to play or a quiet place to have a sleep.

That said, a bit of routine is healthy for dogs, so we do try to encourage certain behaviours at different points of the day.

Want to come have a look and meet us first?

You’re more than welcome to visit us Monday-Friday between 11am and 4pm to see if we’d be a good fit for your dog; just give us a call or email and we’ll arrange a time. We can’t take you into the play areas as it overexcites the dogs, but you can see them through the window and meet our lovely team!