The Barking Lot
940 Sherman Ave, Hamden, CT 06514
Overview
The Barking Lot is a 11,000 sq ft dog daycare and boarding facility in Hamden, CT operating since 2008. They offer traditional daycare ($43/day), specialized puppy daycare ($48/day), traditional boarding ($63-78/night), and individualized boarding ($82/night) for dogs who don't thrive in group settings. The facility features separate play areas for big and little dogs, a pool, and requires all dogs to pass a temperament evaluation and be spayed/neutered by 9 months.
Amenities & Policies
Required vaccinations: Rabies, DHLPP (Distemper), Bordetella, Negative stool sample (Giardia), Influenza (recommended)
Policies & Details
Hours & Billing
Cancellation & Deposits
Care & Play
Requirements
Safety & Emergency
Extras
What Reviews Say
157 reviews analyzedThe Barking Lot is overwhelmingly beloved by customers, with 90%+ of reviews giving 5 stars. Dogs are described as ecstatic to attend, staff is praised as caring and knowledgeable, and the facility is noted as clean and well-managed. Photo updates via Facebook are a standout feature. However, a small number of concerning reviews (about 5%) describe serious issues including dogs returning injured, traumatized, or sick, and allegations of overcrowding and poor communication about incidents. These red flags, while infrequent, represent serious safety concerns that prospective customers should weigh against the many positive experiences.
People love
Staff shoutouts
Worth noting
Dog returned injured/bruised with cuts
“He came back bruised and with cuts near his nose and on his legs.”
Dog developed behavioral changes/trauma after boarding
“His personality has never been the same. He was a fun, loving and happy dog everyday for three years before his week trip. He must have gone through some trauma during his stay.”
Dog became ill after boarding
“I left my dog here twice and she got Very Sick.”
Dog developed limp/injury during boarding without notification
“I noticed my dog develop a sudden limp... I don't understand why the barking lot didn't notice the sudden limping or just chose to ignore without telling us the truth.”
Potential overcrowding/dog mixing concerns
“I have the feeling that it is just so crowded with dogs that they don't want you to see that all cages have at least 2 dogs if not more in each cage.”
Understaffing allegations
“Seemed to be understaffed.”
Pricing concerns
“Only drawback is the pricing — it's rather high.”
Difficulty getting tour/seeing facility(2 mentions)
“When we asked for a tour we had to schedule one even though the place wasn't really that big.”
No live camera access
“There are no cameras for live feeds to check up on your dog.”
Top Rated
4.7 stars from 157+ reviews
This facility has earned a Top Rated badge for maintaining a 4.7-star rating across 157 reviews.
At a Glance
Pricing
Boarding
$63–$82/night
Daycare
$32–$48/day
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