Dogpile Dogs

Dogpile Dogs is a family-owned dog daycare and dog boarding facility at 1338 Illinois St in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. The setup is off-leash and crate-free, so dogs spend the day in shared indoor and outdoor play areas rather than in runs. Someone is on site around the clock.

What the day looks like

Play is a mix of group sessions and one-on-one time, and the indoor and outdoor areas are fitted with obstacles and day beds. Meals are served three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a refrigerator set aside for the dogs, so wet and mixed food is not a problem. Each dog eats in its own private gated area, which takes food aggression off the table.

What sets it apart

Nights are communal. Boarding dogs sleep on the same plush cots, couches, and mattresses they nap on during the day, with staff on site 24/7. Owners who would rather their dog sleep alone can request separate accommodations. Medication administration and special diets are both handled, which matters for older dogs and dogs on a set routine.

Services at a glance

• Cage-free, off-leash daycare
• Overnight boarding, communal or separate sleeping
• Group and one-on-one play, indoors and out
• Grooming and baths
• Medication administration and special-diet feeding

Practical details

Hours are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Published daily rates run $50 to $55. Questions and bookings go through (415) 826-3647 or dogpiledogs2018@icloud.com, and the facility keeps an Instagram account where the dogs turn up regularly.