Our Story

Built on science. Run with heart. And covered in dog hair.

Before we owned Dogcity, just like you, we were Dogcity clients.

Thirteen years ago, we were just two people who adored our dog and loved the idea of giving him somewhere wonderful to spend his days. Somewhere to play, make friends, explore, and come home happy.

At the time, Alex was a primary school teacher and Dan was working at Red Bull. We were also discovering something about ourselves: we loved creating things. Building things. Taking an idea, seeing what it could become, and finding ways to make it better. And as lifelong animal lovers, what better place to channel that energy than the dog care industry?

We could see the enormous potential in doggy daycare. We could also see an opportunity to do things differently. Dogs are so much more than animals who need somewhere to stay while their humans are at work. They're individuals. They have personalities, preferences, friendships, fears, and feelings. And we believed their days should be designed with all of those things in mind.

So, in 2013, we took a leap and bought Dogcity.

Small Beginnings, Big Ideas

In the beginning, Dogcity was a little operation with a handful of dogs, a small team, and two very enthusiastic new owners learning absolutely everything.

We did it all. We knew every dog, every family, and every little quirk that made our daycare dogs who they were. And alongside us was Dillon, our Senior Area Manager, who was there in those earliest days and is still part of the Dogcity story today.

As we grew, so did our understanding of what truly great dog daycare could be.

Alex's background in education brought a fascination with learning, development, behaviour, and the importance of creating environments where individuals feel safe enough to thrive. Dan brought the leadership, operational expertise, and ability to turn ambitious ideas into something real.

But loving dogs and knowing how to run a business weren't enough. If we wanted to provide truly exceptional care, we needed to understand the science behind the animals we loved so much.

So we learned. We researched. We listened to experts, challenged conventional practices, and continued to question what we thought we knew, and somewhere along the way, something that began as a business became a much bigger purpose.

More Than Daycare. A Fuller Life for Dogs.

The way we include dogs in our lives has changed.

They're no longer simply waiting at home for us to return. They're joining us on holidays, sitting beside us at cafés, exploring hiking trails, accompanying us on morning runs, and becoming part of more of our everyday adventures. And we love that.

As our lives become more intertwined, we've also come to recognise just how valuable positive socialisation can be in helping dogs feel comfortable, confident, and fulfilled in the world around them. But here's the thing: providing genuinely positive social experiences isn't always as simple as heading to the local dog park.

Most of us don't have access to a carefully selected group of compatible, social dogs, with trained professionals who understand canine body language, closely monitor interactions, and know when to encourage play, when to gently intervene, and when to give someone a break.

That's where Dogcity comes in.

We create opportunities for dogs to enjoy positive socialisation in a safe, thoughtfully managed environment, guided by people who understand that successful socialisation is about so much more than simply playing together.

It's about building positive associations, developing confidence, practising healthy social skills, and experiencing the joy of companionship. And importantly, it's about recognising that every dog is different.

For one dog, a wonderful day might mean wrestling with their favourite friends. For another, it might be a gentle introduction, a quiet moment of companionship, or simply feeling comfortable sharing a space with other dogs.

Our goal isn't to make every dog the life of the party. It's to give every dog the opportunity to enjoy positive social experiences that are right for them.

Science-Backed. Heart-Led.

We believe that loving dogs is where great care begins. But understanding them is what makes that care truly meaningful.

That's why our daycare program is grounded in canine behavioural science, learning theory, and an evolving understanding of dogs' social, emotional, and physical needs.

It's the science that informs how we introduce dogs, facilitate appropriate play, recognise subtle signs of stress, and create environments that support emotional wellbeing. But science alone doesn't make a wonderful daycare.

It's the person who notices when a usually confident dog needs a little reassurance. The team member who celebrates a nervous dog's first tentative friendship. The gentle encouragement, the patience, the belly rubs, and the genuine delight in seeing a dog have the best day.

Science gives us the knowledge to understand dogs. Heart gives us the commitment to do right by them - we believe the very best care requires both.

A Voice for Those Who Don't Have One

There's one belief that has shaped Dogcity more than anything else. Dogs can't tell us how their day went. They can't climb into the car and tell you they felt overwhelmed, that another dog made them uncomfortable, or that they would have preferred a quiet afternoon instead of another game of chase.

But they are communicating with us all the time. We just have to know how to listen.

That belief became the foundation of The Dogcity Method, our approach to daycare built around canine behavioural science, positive socialisation, emotional wellbeing, enrichment, choice, and force-free care.

It's why we invest so heavily in educating our people. Why we question our own practices. Why we continue to learn, refine, and improve. Because when someone trusts us with their dog, they're trusting us to speak up for an individual who can't speak for themselves. That's a responsibility we take seriously.

A Poodle and a Golden Retriever Walk Into a Business...

If you've met us, you'll probably understand why we work so well together.

Dan is our resident Golden Retriever. Enthusiastic, endlessly likeable, and happiest when he's bringing people together. He's the strategic and operational brain behind Dogcity, making sure the big ideas actually work.

Alex is decidedly more Standard Poodle. Thoughtful, particular, endlessly curious, and probably thinking about seventeen ways to improve something that everyone else thought was perfectly fine.

We approach things differently, but we're united by the same belief: that great care should never be accidental. It should be thoughtful, intentional, and constantly evolving.

And somewhere between Dan's big-picture thinking and Alex's obsession with the details, Dogcity became what it is today.

Still Our Baby, Just a Little Bigger

Today, Dogcity has grown to five locations across Adelaide, the largest family-owned dog daycare provider in the country, with an extraordinary team of around 70 people caring for hundreds of dogs every day.

It's a long way from where we started, but the things that matter most haven't changed.

We still believe that every dog deserves opportunities for positive social experiences that enrich their lives. That the people caring for them deserve to be educated, supported, and proud of what they do. And that families deserve to know their dogs are in the hands of people who genuinely care.

We're incredibly proud of what we've built. Not simply because Dogcity has grown, but because we've had the opportunity to help shape what thoughtful, progressive dog daycare can look like.

And after thirteen years? We're still learning. Still asking questions. Still dreaming up what comes next, and still completely, hopelessly obsessed with dogs.

Alex & Dan

Founders of Dogcity