Uptown Dog was founded upon Brian and Gina Bergford's dream of creating a peaceful, replenishing environment where dogs can achieve a balanced way of being. We had a desire to create a rich and rewarding place for dogs to truly be themselves. We envisioned a new kind of facility - one where owners could allow their dogs to experience the benefits of being members of a balanced pack. We also wanted to offer unique dog training and behavior opportunities and resources for owners who wanted to make the most out of their relationship with their dog. Starting our journey was in large part inspired by the philosophy and work of Cesar Millan*. Cesar's work to rehabilitate dogs and train people is the theme of his incredibly popular television show, Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel (visit http://www.cesarsway.com/ for more info).

As we've continued along our journey, we've been blessed to meet other top trainers who have contributed greatly to our knowledge and understanding of behavior and training. Most notably, the opportunity Brian has had to personally work with Aimee Sadler, Director of Behavior and Training for the Longmont Humane Society and Executive Director of Training and Behavior for the Southhampton Animal Shelter. Aimee's cutting edge work, which includes utilizing play groups in shelters to help successfully rehabilitate undersocialized dogs, has received national recognition. Aimee has inspired us - and a great many others - with her infectiously positive attitude, wisdom, and love of dogs and people. We are honored to know her and call her a friend.

By specializing in dog behavior and dog psychology, Uptown Dog provides a higher level of service than the average dog daycare facility (click here for information about dog training services). The dogs in our care are taken on pack walks before they are allowed to participate in play group activities. The group walks are designed to provide a constructive energy outlet that mirrors the dogs' natural instincts to migrate and work as a pack. During the afternoons, the dogs enjoy off-leash playgroup in our indoor and outdoor play yards. Specialized playgroups are structured to help teach and reinforce positive social behaviors as the dogs play and interact. Because our staff members understand the foundations of pack dynamics, we can safely manage the dogs in our care and help them maintain a balanced state of mind. Our facility is equipped with over 4,600 sq. feet of indoor/outdoor activity areas. This allows us to provide each of our guests with an appropriate playgroup by separating dogs not only by their size, but also by their play style and energy level. As an owner, you can have peace of mind knowing that when your pet is away from home, they are receiving the best care possible.

Uptown Dog is also committed to working with shelters, shelter animals, and owners to support our local communities. Please visit our Adoption Opportunities page for additional information. One of our primary goals is to educate and empower the community of dog owners to understand the way dogs perceive and process their world. It's so important for us to acknowledge the fact that even though our dogs are "our babies", they are not the same as our human children and therefore have a completely different set of needs. Through recognizing this difference and working to fulfill those needs, we can develop more meaningful relationships and a deeper bond with our dogs.

As you can see, despite the title of this page, it's really not "about us" - it's about serving you and your dog. So drop us a line and tell us more about you! It would be our pleasure to answer any questions you have and learn how we can be of help. Both you and your dog will love the Uptown Dog difference and it has to be experienced to be fully appreciated, so make your reservation today!!

*We have no official affiliation with Cesar Millan or the Dog Whisperer program.

2011 IACP Conference Photos:

Click on thumbnails to see full-size photos

Aimee Sadler: Please see notes above and visit http://www.longmonthumane.org/otherservices.php?c=osdtasbatd for additional info.
Joel Silverman: Joel has done groundbreaking work at Sea World with marine mammals in addition to his superior training of movie-set dogs, cats, and birds in Hollywood. Visit http://www.companionsforlife.net/Meet_Joel.html for more info.
Martin Deeley: Co-founder of the IACP, Martin is also an internationally recognized and sought-after trainer, writer, and speaker. His list of accomplishments and accolades are not only impressive, but too numerous to delve into within a few short sentences. Visit http://martindeeley.com/writer.html for additional bio information.
Brother Christopher: Virtually everyone has heard of The Monks of New Skete and it was our pleasure to meet Brother Christopher. The Monks wrote one of the most popular dog training books of our time entitled "The Art of Raising a Puppy".
Visit http://www.newskete.com/ for more info.
Jeff King: The "Winningest Musher in the World", Jeff has won the 1,000+ mile Iditarod race four times and won many other prestigious races along the way to logging over 100,000 miles on a dog sled. Visit http://www.huskyhomestead.com/ for additional information.