Dogtopia of Milwaukee East Side

"So far so good! I love that they have webcams so people can check in on their pets. The cameras lag more often than I like, but you can still get the idea of how it's going. Only times it seems questionable is when there are 20+ dogs in one space and 1 staff member - but they seem to act fast when dogs get overly excited. They have de-escalation training, which I’ve witnessed on the cameras. I like taking my dog in early morning so she can play with 6 or so dogs before the masses show up later and she stops wanting to play as much. I love their dog platforms so she can jump out of the way if she gets uncomfortable with the more exuberant dogs. One thing I noticed here though, is when my pup comes home her paw pads smell very badly like urine, so I have to wash her feet well with dog shampoo. I wish they would add more pee pads or "porch potties" for dogs to target to reduce random pee spots that sometimes can't get cleaned immediately. After trying another boarding place that emphasizes pet comfort in suites (SkyDance Pet Lodge), this place seems a little overpriced for mainly kennel sleeping accommodations - especially because you are also charged a half day on weekends by default. That said, I tried Camp Bow Wow and considered it for boarding, but their “suites” are mainly like tall bathroom stalls in a big open noisy warehouse, with many play spaces active right there too. It made me appreciate Dogtopia more in that kennels feel familiar/normal to kennel-trained dogs, the individual rooms where they play and sleep are reasonably sized, and staff seem attentive overall - willing to intervene and seem to enjoy interacting with dogs. Lastly, of the two places I’ve taken my pup to with webcams, the dogs seem better behaved here since there are consistent repercussions for undesirable behavior (e.g., three strikes then timeout in kennel or being leashed and walked around to refocus)."

"Rita, the groomer at Dogtopia, does an excellent job grooming my energetic four-year-old miniature schnauzer named Benji! She gives him the best schnauzer cut and style that he has ever gotten despite the fact that sometimes his fur has become a bit tangled and matted between cuts. Rita makes him come out looking brand new and beautiful. Rita has always been receptive to any ideas I have about his grooming and has offered her own great ideas as well. Thanks Rita - you’re the best!"

"Nice clean facility. The groomer, Rita is the best around. Not only does she do miracle work to keep my scruffy boy neat and tidy, but I am also always amazed at the difference she makes when she grooms my very short haired dog. She is the only groomer I will use, not only for the results but also for her handling of my dogs. My boys are pretty anxious, and they let her do just about anything to them, and are excited to see her every time! Can't recommend Rita enough!!"

"I can't say enough about Rita and the gentle care and skill she provides my dogs. From my delicate blind 19 year old Teacup Yorkie, to my huge Irish Wolfhound with a very breed specific coat-everytime I pick up my dogs they look like they are ready for the show arena! All my dogs absolutely love their "Auntie Rita" and the fact that I can 110% trust and feel comfortable with how carefully and lovingly she handles them is honestly priceless to me. I have followed her for years and she has a lifetime client in me!"

"I give my highest praise to Dogtopia. Well run, excellent staff who know dogs. Great atmosphere and availability. Fantastic facility!"