For Central Bark Aurora Fox Valley customers
Don't Just Take Our Word For It. Ask The Parents Who Already Have.
Real Central Bark parents will tell you the same thing: their dogs get greeted and snuggled the second they walk in, play safely in a small matched group all day, and come home with a report card and photos so nothing about the day is a mystery. We run the whole day. You just see the proof.
See it for yourself, free
His first full day of daycare is free. Tell us about him and we'll call to book it.
Don't just take our word for it
“Milo is new to daycare but he has loved it so far. He gets greeted and snuggled on the second he walks through that door. I appreciate getting a report card with pictures of his day. Everyone is super nice and caring. Highly recommend.”
“Amazing, love this place.”
“My dog Sosa just started at Central Bark. He is very happy and excited to attend. The staff has been great!”
“We were very happy with the care and attention to our dog for both her grooming appointment and then for a 5 day stay for boarding while the family traveled. We got daily updates on how she was doing.”
“I took my dog Maia here to be groomed and I must say it was a great experience. Maia looks absolutely amazing. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. This will be Maia’s permanent grooming spot.”
“Kali LOVES central bark! We’ve tried out a few other daycare and we didn’t see such a happy puppy till we came here. Mike is awesome and super flexible and everyone is so nice!”
“We have used Mike’s team for boarding our GSD when we go out of town and they have grown on each other... We have been using their grooming for several months as well and they do a great job. Thanks Mike!”
“My dog, Ryder, looks and smells absolutely amazing. The online booking process was incredibly easy, and the staff is so friendly and caring. The absolute best part is how efficient they are - no waiting around for 6 hours like at other places.”
“We signed Milo up for training with Francesca and could not be happier with her training skills. She has a genuine love and understanding for dogs and is awesome at what she does.”
“We had planned a vacation a couple of months before we adopted Charlie, and were nervous about leaving him for a week. He had the best time and the staff sent us photos everyday!”
“He gets greeted and snuggled on the second he walks through that door (and I am sure all day as well). I appreciate getting a report card with pictures of his day.”
You hand him to strangers, then the door closes
You've never left him in a room full of other dogs before. Once the door shuts, you have no idea what actually happens in there. Is he safe with the group? Is anyone really watching him, or is he just one more dog in a big loud pack?
That not-knowing is the hard part, not the daycare itself. So this page isn't asking you to trust a claim. It's showing you what real parents actually saw when their own dogs walked through that same door.
Here's exactly what happens behind that door
No dog joins a playgroup blind. Every dog passes a one-time, four-day behavior assessment first, $20, nonrefundable, so we really know how he plays before he ever meets another dog. That's how he gets placed into a small group matched by age, size, personality, and play style, not dropped into one big free-for-all.
The day itself has structured group play skills and scheduled rest periods with enrichment built in, so no dog gets overwhelmed. And you don't have to wonder how it went: a report card with photos of his day comes home with him.
Mike and Beth Carter own this location, and their own dogs, Lily and Ellie, go through the same assessment and the same small playgroups yours will.
Mike and Beth Carter, owners of Central Bark Aurora Fox Valley
“What if he doesn't pass the assessment?”
We'll tell you honestly what we saw and talk through the right next step, whether that's a smaller group or training first.
“Is the free day a bait and switch?”
No. The full day of daycare is free, plainly. The only charge up front is the one-time $20 assessment.
Everything in his free full day
The exact same day our paying members get, on us for his first visit.
- A full day of supervised daycare, in a small playgroup matched to your dog
- Group play skills, taught in the group, not left to chance
- Scheduled rest periods with enrichment, so he never gets overstimulated
- Both play spaces: 9,000 sq ft indoors plus 3,700 sq ft outdoors
- A report card with photos of his day, sent straight to you
After his free day, Daycare is $46/day drop-in, or $38-41/day on a 1-3 day per week member plan.
See his whole day before you pay a dollar for daycare
- You get a report card with photos of his day, before daycare ever costs you anything.
- The only thing you pay up front is the one-time $20 behavior assessment that decides which playgroup keeps him safest.
- Puppy? The weekly Puppy Hour for puppies 8-16 weeks is also free, no cost, no commitment.
What happens after you fill out the form
- 1
Request your free day
Fill out the form below. Takes about two minutes, and someone calls you back the same day.
- 2
Complete the one-time behavior assessment
A relaxed, $20, nonrefundable look at how he plays. It decides which playgroup keeps him safest.
- 3
Get placed in a matched playgroup
Grouped by age, size, personality, and play style, not tossed into one big pack.
- 4
Bring him for his free full day
Any weekday, 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Real play, real rest, real supervision.
- 5
Get his report card with photos
Waiting for you at pickup, so you see exactly how his day went.
A few things worth knowing
Why is there a $20 fee if the day is free?
The $20 pays for the behavior assessment, not the daycare. It’s one time, nonrefundable, and it’s how we decide which playgroup keeps him safest. The daycare day itself is free.
Is this for one dog per family?
Yes. One dog per family, new customers only at Aurora Fox Valley, and it can’t be combined with other offers.
What are your hours?
Aurora Fox Valley is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, for drop-off and pickup.
What does daycare cost after the free day?
Daycare is $46/day drop-in, or $38-41/day on a 1-3 day per week member plan.
What if my dog doesn’t pass the assessment?
We’ll tell you honestly what we saw and talk through the right next step, whether that’s a smaller group or training first.
My dog is a puppy. Does this still apply?
Puppies 8 to 16 weeks old go to our free Puppy Hour instead, a weekly supervised socialization hour, no cost, no commitment.
Does the free day expire?
No. There’s no deadline, so there’s nothing to rush.
His first full day is free. See it for yourself.
Book his one-time $20 behavior assessment, and his first full day of enrichment daycare is on us. You'll get a report card with photos of his day, the same proof every parent on this page already has.
Claim your dog's free day
Someone from Central Bark will call to get his assessment on the calendar.