Happy Hound Play & Daycare Oakland, California

Happy Hound is the worst experience we’ve ever had. They boast about reward based positive reinforcement training on their website but they actually use SHOCK COLLARS and CHOKE CHAINS to hurt dogs into submission. We fell for the lies and called about their training program. During the call, we explained our rescue dog Nova was abused as a puppy and now needs more socialization to help with her mild leash aggression and mild resource guarding. The lady on the phone was eager to tell us about what kind of training Nova would need, but only mentioned how she would “work with a trainer” for 3 weeks, learning socialization with other dogs. They said absolutely nothing about using shock collars or prong collars on the phone and happily took our money. Come training day, we went into their office with trainer Psalm and we explained again about Nova’s history as an abused rescue, and how her mild leash aggression is just a frustrated desire to play with other dogs. We specifically said Nova is good with dogs off leash, and we take her to dog parks all the time. She is not a bad dog with extreme problems. Yet even with all that info, the ONLY thing that Psalm talked about was all the different kinds of shock and prong collars she will be using to further abuse our poor dog. Not once did Psalm mention reward based positive reinforcement training, the method they bragged about on their website, so I asked about it. Psalm said that would “take too long” so it won’t happen. At first we thought we made a mistake with the booking and politely listened to Psalm talk about hurting dogs into submission. She used classic manipulative words like “E-collar” and how it’s just like “a tap on the shoulder”. If it’s just like a tap on the shoulder, then why not train using taps on the shoulder? I asked her how long Nova would need to use a shock collar after the 3 week training and she said “a very long time” so basically forever. That’s right, shock collars work so badly at training dogs that you can never stop using it, because you’re not teaching a dog why a behavior is bad, you’re just hurting a dog senselessly. That’s not training, that’s abuse, and Happy Hound KNOWS THIS, which is why they only lie about the opposite on their website. We told her right there that we do not want to go through the training program and want our money back. The office denied our request because the “deposit is nonrefundable” even though they only got our money via lying and scamming. This is a scam of a business who lies to clients and hurts dogs for money.

Check in was very quick and everyone was very kind! We were able to check out quickly however my dogs hair was still damp at the neck. She has a thicker coat than most dogs so it may have just been overlooked.

Amazing place to take your dog for daycare, boarding, and grooming services!

Wonderful staff, attentive to the needs of my 6 month old puppy. Everyone from the front desk, handlers, and administration, the team does a fantastic job being observant of my puppy’s energy level, conditions, and overall behaviors. There is a friendly vibe and the facility is well kept and very clean. Great range of services offered and convenient location from most east bay locations, with east access from freeway.

They are a great crew, very supportive, positive and took great care of my pup.

A dog yelping in pain is not proper training. As I was walking to the gym across the street from this dog care facility, I heard a loud dog yelp, first I thought of a possible accident with traffic, then I saw a person walking two dogs on Mandela Parkway, a minute later there was another yelp. As a dog owner this got my attention, I walked in direction to the street to see what was happening, before I got to the street I heard another little yelp. Knowing that those were dogs staying at happy hound, I headed towards the facility, in the distance I saw the dog walker keeping one of the dogs very tight on the leash, the dogs neck was stretched up walking on its "toes". Hurting a dog is not the proper way to train and teach proper behaviors. I hope this business addresses this issue wit their employees; patience, and empathy work better than fear, and violence.

Happy Hound did such an amazing job on our Bernese Mountain dog Ava!! Her fur was so soft and tangle free! I will definitely go them in the future!

Happy Hounds is amazing! They are the nicest, cleanest, friendliest doggie daycare I have ever experienced. They have treated our pup like family from day one!

I contacted Happy Hound to ask a few questions since I am interested in bringing in my three dogs, and the person who picked up was rude and not welcoming. He didn't even have clear answers to my questions and was talking to me fast. Very rude to be honest. I communicated how concerned I am about the people who are watching the dogs in the hounds, since I've been monitoring the cameras for the last week. I said that in order for me to bring in my dogs, I need to make sure they're happy and safe at your facility, and I noticed that the guys at the big hound were acting aggressively towards some dogs and I even took a video of that. You would think they would give me some kind of reassurance but nope! The person over the phone did not care to address any of my concerns. I looked up the owner's contact info and all I found was a LinkedIn page. I don't think this business cares. If they did, the owner would be more accessible at least or someone would call me back to address what I discussed. I am happy I monitored the cameras and happy I called the facility to know enough not to take my dogs there.

Happy Hound is the first place I checked when I got my puppy, Bubba Gump. I didn’t look any further. Suzanne welcomed us and we were sold. Bubba has been at day care since January and he is always so excited to be there. He loves the Adventure Walks, and is well trained by the staff. I wouldn’t let anyone else take care of my Bubs! Dennise and Bubba

ALL THEIR SERVICES ARE STELLAR AND STAFF ARE PHENOMENAL!!! I brought my dog to Happy Hound so she could socialize with other dogs. The daycare staff has been great introducing her to other dogs and providing advice for what to do when home. On day one, Aries didn’t know how to be a dog but the staff slowly introduced her to the other dogs and have been patient with Aries. I was happy to get a video of Aries playing with another dog. YAY!!! When Aries was not doing well physically (unrelated to daycare), the staff sent my dog a ‘get well’ card which I really appreciated. I also enjoyed the training they provide. Aries graduated from leash training and the team provides Sunday group time for additional training which I so appreciate. The trainers and day care staff have always responded to my questions (either via email or in person) quickly and professionally. Happy Hound is awesome. My dog is a happy dog and I’m a happy client.

This was my first time visiting Happy Hound and had a great experience. My only suggestion for this puppy play date would be to offer a larger space. It was a bit crowded with 9 puppies and their humans. Other than that, my Ragnar had a great time!

I’ve taken my dog (a very sweet Rottweiler) to 6 groomers who’ve been unable to trim her nails because she’s “aggressive”. We have tranq’d her (via the vet) but no luck. Our vet recommended HappyHound. What unbelievable PROS! These people know what they’re doing - they bathed and trimmed the nails of my “aggressive” sweetheart without incident in hour! We didn’t even have to tranq her either. She totally was stress free. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS LOVING GROUP OF CARING PEOPLE! Everyone I came into contact with was professional, friendly and wonderful!!

Thanks team Happy Hound Play

Great place to leave your pup. My dog goes to daycare once a week, and has a great time. One of the major pluses is that you can watch your dog on a video camera between 10am - 4pm. We also brought our dog there to be trained. She learned a lot of fundamentals that she still adheres to. Safe, clean, and fun for the dogs. Highly recommended.

Our dog loves it there!

My puppy is still new, but she is getting used to it little by little. When she comes home she is exhausted which I like because she definitely had a full day of fun there.

Was so nervous to send our pup to daycare for the first time - Happy Hounds not only made us comfortable, but also our pup. Highly recommend!

Wouldn't leave our fur baby anywhere else!! He trots in happily and out tired..love them!!

I am very pleased. The facility is in high quality, the staff is very professional and seem to have good team work. I am amazed how well they took care of my dog and amazed how responsive he is to the trainers. Highly recommended.

Super attentive, super clean, lots of cameras to spy on the pups ... Our dogs love this place

I am very impressed with the training results for our dog Cooper! Even the two hours of training we got when we picked him up was extremely helpful. We’ve now been bragging to all our friends on how well behaved Cooper is now and they are now going to send their dogs there as well.

This place is cheerful and beautiful with incredibly friendly staff. Super happy to have found them.

Had a good assessment. They gave us a tour and explained all the options. Rocco will be back for the services!

Happy Hound is the best!!!

Our dogs are happy when they stay at HH. 2 GS requie lots of TLC. They get it at all times. Their facilities are clean. No foul odors of urine or unclean place. We know our GS are safe. Thank you Adrienne and staff for your great care and attention. ????????????

Took my 3 month old undervaccinated Shepard mix to a puppy social. Staff was friendly and helped navigate the big pile of puppies. So much fun to watch them play and chit chat with all the other puppy owners!

The only place I trust with our rambunctious and quirky guy and our sensitive but feisty girl. One’s a finicky judge of character and doesn't warm up to people quickly or easily. Both are always excited to go see the crew at Happy Hound and always chilled out and well mannered when they get home (you high drive dog people know what I'm talking about!). There's a great energy to the staff and dogs, which goes a long way for safe and playful daycare experience. We recommend HH often and enthusiastically!

Happy Hound has been nothing but good to me & my dog Charley. After my mom passed I needed to find a doggy daycare for him. I admit I was a nervous momma leaving her pup there but Suzanne & staff have been the best. Even though my pup is a small dog he didn’t fit in with the smaller dogs. We moved him to Lounge Around Town & he fit in perfectly. I have been taking my pup there for well over a year M-F & once in awhile on Saturday. The staff are very friendly know each dog by name & Charley loves the attention he gets from them. I would check in with their cameras to see how’s he doing too. Happy Hound will not disappoint & I was so happy to see them reopen after Covid. Update: We are back! They still operate on Covid hours I hope they go back to pre Covid hours it sure would help me. I just wish they would open the gates earlier than 5 minutes prior to opening.

We love getting our dog groomed at Happy Hound. Kim, the groomer, does such a good job and our dog loves coming here. She comes back looking cute, clean, and never nervous or tired. Honestly- we refuse to go anywhere else since we love Kim so much!