Bluffton facilities
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The Bark Shack

33 Ulmer Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910

4.6
212 Google reviews
Cage-freeOutdoor yardPool / water playAccepts puppiesReactive breeds OKMedication adminGroomingClimate controlled

Overview

The Bark Shack is a family-owned dog boarding and daycare facility in Bluffton, SC, operated by Karen Just and her daughter Izzie Holland. They offer dog boarding (both private and open boarding), doggy daycare with personality-based playgroups, cat boarding, grooming, and fun activities like water play. The facility features indoor/outdoor access, turf yards, and a water splash pad, with a required temperament assessment for daycare.

Amenities & Policies

Cage-free
Webcam
Staff overnight
Outdoor yardturf
Pool / water play
Small dog area
Accepts puppies
Reactive breeds
Medication admin
Grooming
Training
Climate controlled
Overnight potty breaks
Online booking
Spay/neuter required
Temperament test

Required vaccinations: Rabies, DHPP

Policies & Details

Hours & Billing

Drop-off hours:7am-10am

Cancellation & Deposits

Cancellation notice:24 days notice
Cancellation penalty:Full charge for first night boarding, 50% grooming, full daycare charge

Care & Play

Group play
Solo play
Daily updates โ€” Paid
Comfort items allowed
Feeding policy:Owner provides food
Raw diet accommodated

Requirements

Spay/neuter policy:Required for dogs over 7 months; intact dogs placed in Reserved Play
Temperament test fee:$25

Safety & Emergency

Emergency vet cost:Owner

Extras

Senior dog accommodations
Owner operated

What Reviews Say

212 reviews analyzed

The Bark Shack enjoys overwhelmingly positive reviews (approximately 75% 5-star ratings) with customers praising the friendly staff, excellent dog happiness, reasonable prices, and thoughtful personality-based playgroup matching. However, there are serious safety concerns in 4-5 reviews involving injuries during stays (paw injuries, ant bites, dog-on-dog incidents) and grooming mishaps causing vet visits. The owner responds to every review professionally and defensively when challenged. While most dogs return happy and exhausted, the safety incidents represent significant red flags that prospective customers should investigate further.

Dog happiness
4.8
Staff
4.8
Communication
4.6
Value
4.5
Drop-off / pickup
4.5
Facility
4.3
Cleanliness
4.2
Safety
3.8

People love

Dogs come home happy and exhausted(45)Friendly, caring staff(40)Personality/temperament matching for playgroups(15)Reasonable prices(12)Clean facility(10)Great for older/senior dogs(8)Owner Karen goes above and beyond(12)

Staff shoutouts

Karen(35 mentions)Dillon

Worth noting

Dog injured during boarding - paw pad ulceration requiring $900 vet bill

โ€œPet got severely injured during a two night stay. Now after a vet bill of almost $900, my poor dog has a 2-week recovery for ulceration of paw padsโ€

Dog attacked/injured by other dogs in daycare - owner claims dog was 'cowering in corner'

โ€œmy dog was clearly visible, cowering in the corner, while other dogs were jumping on top of himโ€

Grooming caused injuries requiring veterinary care

โ€œThe groomers BUTCHERED my beautiful golden! He was shaved all over. Very choppy. But worse of all are all the cuts and nicks on him requiring veterinary care.โ€

Dog left in ant hill resulting in ~100 bites, some infected

โ€œThey let him sit in a ant hill. Almost a hundred bites and one got infected.โ€

Staff on phones instead of supervising dogs

โ€œthe staff seemed more interested in scrolling through their phones than caring for the animals in their chargeโ€

Grooming quality issues(4 mentions)

โ€œThe groomers BUTCHERED my beautiful golden! He was shaved all over. Very choppy.โ€

Wrong pet given to customer

โ€œthey give us a female version of our dog... TOBY is a male and they gave us a femaleโ€

Dog came home injured/limping after services(2 mentions)

โ€œhe did come home with a limp that he had for two weeks after thatโ€

Owner replies to 100% of reviewsprofessional tone48 repeat customers

Top Rated

4.6 stars from 212+ reviews

This facility has earned a Top Rated badge for maintaining a 4.6-star rating across 212 reviews.

At a Glance

Google rating
4.6/ 5
Review score
4.4/ 5
Amenities8 of 14
Reviews212
Repeat customersNumber of reviews that mention returning or being a regular customer.48

Pricing

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