About Us

Happy Dog Daycare & Boarding

We are a locally owned and operated dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility in Utica, Michigan, proudly serving dogs and their owners throughout Utica, Sterling Heights, and surrounding communities.

Happy Dog at a Glance

All Day Daycare

24 Hour Staff

Full Service Spa

10,000 SQ FT Facility

7,000 SQ FT of Play Yards

Pickup / Drop Off Services

Our Story

Originally founded in 2010 as Dirty Paws Lounge in Sterling Heights, the business was purchased in April of 2019 by Jim, a former sales engineer who wanted to turn his lifelong love of dogs into something meaningful for his community. Since taking ownership, Jim has transformed Happy Dog Daycare with one clear focus: providing safe, reliable, and loving care for every dog that walks through our doors.
In March of 2024, Happy Dog Daycare expanded with the purchase of a new, purpose-built facility in Utica, designed specifically to support a busy dog daycare and boarding operation, along with professional dog grooming services. Every part of the building was created with dogs’ comfort, safety, and enrichment in mind.

We proudly serve working families and busy dog owners by being open seven days a week, with extended weekday hours from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. We understand how demanding schedules can be, and our goal is to make dependable dog care easy and stress-free.

With the expansion to the new Utica location, Jim welcomed Pete as a partner and General Manager. Together, they have built a knowledgeable, compassionate team dedicated to providing exceptional dog care while building lasting relationships with both dogs and their owners.

At Happy Dog Daycare, serving our community isn’t just what we do—it’s who we are.

Our Values

Trust & Transparency

As pup parents, we understand how tough it is leaving your pup in someone else’s care. We are here to assure you that we will give your pup the best quality care possible. Feel free to come take a tour of our facility and meet our staff to help ease your worries.

Having Fun Again & Again

Our job is to take care of your pup while you are away, but our goal is to make it such a fun experience that they want to come back again. We want your pups to be as excited to see us as we are them and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Honesty

We believe that honesty is the best policy when it comes to the care of a loved pet. We are all dog owners who want the best for our pups and it is no different when it comes to yours. We will never hesitate to update you on any concerns regarding your dog’s health, or emotional state.

Safety First

Our certified staff conducts evaluations on every dog that enters our facility before they interact with the other guests. This is vital in ensuring every pup that is trusted in our care is safe and well cared for. We know dogs, and will never knowingly put your pup in a situation that could put them, or others at risk.

Want to Join Our Team?

Think you are a good fit for our team? Click the button below to fill out an application.