Newington facilities
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What a Ruff Life

94 Pane Rd, Newington, CT 06111

4.8
73 Google reviews
Outdoor yardGrooming

Overview

What a Ruff Life is a dog daycare and boarding facility in Newington, CT offering daycare, overnight lodging in individual cabanas (Standard at $55 or Deluxe at $75), self-wash stations, grooming, and special events. The facility features indoor and outdoor play areas with secured fencing and provides various add-on services like 30-minute walks, 1:1 playtime, and pet updates for an additional fee.

Amenities & Policies

Cage-free
Webcam
Staff overnight
Outdoor yard
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

Policies & Details

Cancellation & Deposits

Holiday surcharge

Care & Play

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

Extras

Multi-dog discount โ€” Eligible for discounts

What Reviews Say

73 reviews analyzed

What a Ruff Life is overwhelmingly beloved by customers with 93% 5-star reviews. The facility excels in dog happiness, staff friendliness, cleanliness, and quality care - dogs are consistently described as excited to arrive and exhausted (in a good way) when picked up. However, there are serious red flags: two 1-star reviews describe significant safety incidents including a dog requiring emergency surgery after being injured by another dog, and another describes a dog being given an allergic treat with poor communication and a defensive owner response. These incidents, while isolated, raise concerns about transparency and safety protocols. The vast majority of customers are loyal repeat visitors who appreciate the convenient hours, reasonable pricing, and genuine love the staff shows their dogs.

Dog happiness
5.0
Staff
5.0
Cleanliness
4.9
Facility
4.8
Drop-off / pickup
4.6
Value
4.5
Communication
3.8
Safety
3.6

People love

Dogs love attending - high excitement levels(25)Friendly, caring staff who treat dogs like family(30)Clean, well-maintained facility(12)Great for boarding - dogs happy upon return(15)Convenient drop-off hours(8)Excellent grooming services (especially Jenn)(6)

Staff shoutouts

Tony(8 mentions)Mena(3 mentions)Jenn(4 mentions)Diane(2 mentions)

Worth noting

Dog injured by another dog - staff downplayed injury as 'scratch', let dog play all day, charged full price, dog needed emergency surgery

โ€œAnother dog tore part of his ear, but staff downplayed it as a 'scratch,' let him play all day, and still charged me for the full day. When I picked him up, his ear was visibly ripped and he needed emergency surgery costing over $1,100.โ€

Dog given treat despite allergies, lack of transparency about timeouts and discipline methods (spray bottles)

โ€œMy 10 month old puppy became extremely sick after being given a treat he's allergic to and something they claim they never give. I also learned my dog had been put in timeouts for months without anyone ever telling me... They also use spray bottles on the dogs without disclosing it.โ€

Overcrowding and potential understaffing - 30+ dogs in play room

โ€œI wish they didn't have so many (over 30) dogs in the play room. They do have a tiny fenced area outside, but I have no idea how they could all fit there. It appeared that they were short staffed to accommodate all those dogs.โ€

Owner defensive when confronted about issues

โ€œWhen I asked about it, the owner became defensive instead of addressing my concerns.โ€

Communication and transparency issues(3 mentions)

โ€œWhen I called, I was told they had 'investigated,' which was not true. Only after I confronted them did the owner actually look into it.โ€

Facility too chaotic/overwhelming for some dogs(2 mentions)

โ€œToo chaotic and overwhelming for our dog. My dog didn't do well in their environment. She was too overstimulated to relax.โ€

Injury handling concerns

โ€œThey refused to share footage and took no responsibility.โ€

Top Rated

4.8 stars from 73+ reviews

This facility has earned a Top Rated badge for maintaining a 4.8-star rating across 73 reviews.

At a Glance

Google rating
4.8/ 5
Review score
4.5/ 5
Amenities2 of 14
Reviews73
Repeat customersNumber of reviews that mention returning or being a regular customer.42

Pricing

Boarding

$55โ€“$75/night

Daycare

$23โ€“$36/day

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