Best dog day care centers in Apex, NC
This ranking covers dog day care, boarding, and training providers in and around Apex, scored using our methodology based on ratings, review volume, recency, and sentiment patterns. Every business below handles day care or boarding in some form, though several also run training or grooming programs alongside it.
Grooming specialists are judged separately on their own merits in our best grooming services list. A few businesses here also do grooming well, but they're ranked on this page for their day care and boarding strength.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to dog day care center, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All-Star Dog Training | 93 | 4.9 (350) | — | Behavior training & board-and-train |
| 2 | K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel Apex | 90 | 4.9 (994) | — | High-volume boarding & daycare |
| 3 | Peak City Puppy | 89 | 4.9 (427) | — | In-home boarding & pet sitting |
| 4 | Harmony Animal Hospital, Pet Resort & Spa | 85 | 4.7 (502) | — | Combined vet care & boarding |
| 5 | Green Level Kennel | 85 | 4.8 (105) | — | Outdoor play & long-term boarding |
| 6 | Edgewood Farm Kennel | 84 | 4.8 (71) | — | Boarding paired with grooming |
| 7 | The Doggy Barbers | 81 | 4.7 (67) | — | Anxious & large-breed dogs |
| 8 | Town and Country Animal Care Center | 77 | 4.5 (241) | — | Integrated vet, daycare & enrichment |
| 9 | Pet Paradise Cary | 77 | 4 (283) | — | Live webcam monitoring |
| 10 | Everbrook Academy at the Crossing | 88 | 4.9 (62) | — | daycare boarding |
| 11 | The Growing Years Learning Centers (Apex, NC) | 86 | 5 (26) | — | daycare boarding |
| 12 | The Learning Experience - Apex | 84 | 4.7 (87) | — | daycare boarding |
| 13 | Everbrook Academy at the Peakway | 83 | 4.4 (88) | — | daycare boarding |
| 14 | Apex KinderCare | 82 | 4.7 (42) | — | daycare boarding |
| 15 | The Goddard School of Apex | 80 | 4.9 (30) | — | daycare boarding |
1. All-Star Dog Training
4.9 (350 reviews)score 93/100
With 350 reviews at 4.9 stars and the highest composite score in Apex, this is the pick for owners who need real behavioral work done, not just supervised play. Michael's team runs board-and-train programs for anxiety, reactivity, and leash manners, then teaches owners how to keep the progress going at home.
- Daily photo and video updates during board-and-train stays
- Trainers (Madison, Rebekah) personalize programs by dog
- Follow-up group classes and refresh packages at reduced rates
- Handles anxiety, reactivity, and aggression cases specifically
Watch out: This is a training-first operation, so it suits owners looking for structured behavior work more than casual drop-in day care.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
2. K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel Apex
4.9 (994 reviews)score 90/100
Nearly 1,000 reviews at 4.9 stars makes this the most-reviewed option on the list, with dogs reportedly coming home worn out and eager to go back. General Manager Dean and owner Larkin get named repeatedly for treating pets like family, and report cards with photos back that up.
- Dogs grouped by size with pre-screening before mixing
- Report cards with photos sent during stays
- Clean, professional facility on first impression
- Long-term clients report consistent quality over years
Watch out: One reviewer described overcrowding in the play area with staff looking stretched thin, worth asking about group sizes at peak times.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
3. Peak City Puppy
4.9 (427 reviews)score 89/100
Peak City Puppy covers dog walking, in-home overnight boarding, and puppy care across Apex, Cary, Morrisville, and North Raleigh, with a roster of named sitters (Kristine, Jenny, Rebecca, and others) who send daily photos. The pre-visit meet-and-greet and same-day emergency availability make it a strong fit for owners who want a home environment over a kennel setting.
- Daily photo and video updates during sits
- Named, consistent caregivers rather than rotating staff
- Same-day emergency response available
- User-friendly app for scheduling and payment
Watch out: A couple of reviewers flagged billing disputes and unclear communication around wait times between visits.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
4. Harmony Animal Hospital, Pet Resort & Spa
4.7 (502 reviews)score 85/100
Harmony pairs day care and boarding with a full veterinary practice, so dogs get exams, dental work, or geriatric care under the same roof as their stay. Named vets like Dr. Molly and Dr. Dave earn repeat praise for explaining treatment clearly, and daycare dogs are reported to arrive eager to play.
- Daily report cards after visits
- Multiple named vets with long-standing client relationships
- Specialties include physical therapy and geriatric care
- Dogs and cats visibly eager to return
Watch out: Two serious complaints (an unsupervised boarding incident and a billing dispute after a pet's death) point to gaps worth asking about directly.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
5. Green Level Kennel
4.8 (105 reviews)score 85/100
With 105 reviews at 4.8 stars, Green Level Kennel stands out for spacious outdoor play in mixed groups and staff who remember individual dogs' needs, backed by strong long-term customer retention.
- Extensive outdoor play groups
- Staff know dogs individually across repeat visits
- Handles anxious dogs with gradual introduction
- Long-term customer retention
Watch out: A rare complaint mentioned a rushed, stressful drop-off and a lack of daily updates during one stay.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
6. Edgewood Farm Kennel
4.8 (71 reviews)score 84/100
Edgewood Farm runs boarding, daycare, and grooming from a quiet, wooded property with 50 individual runs, and dogs reportedly know the route and can't wait to arrive. Jamie and Tiffany's grooming work gets singled out as a real strength, not just an add-on.
- 50 individual runs in a quiet, wooded setting
- Staff recognize and accommodate anxious dogs
- Consistent repeat customers over multiple years
- Fair pricing for the quality of care
Watch out: One reviewer reported rough handling during a grooming session that left a young dog fearful, worth flagging if your dog is sensitive to handling.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
7. The Doggy Barbers
4.7 (67 reviews)score 81/100
Chris and the team have built loyalty strong enough that customers drive 35-40 minutes for the results, particularly with anxious or large-breed dogs that need a calmer, more patient touch.
- Calm, patient handling of anxious or difficult dogs
- High-quality haircuts and finishing work
- Fair pricing
- Dogs generally happy to return
Watch out: One customer reported cutting injuries and uneven work, so it's worth checking in on technique for first-time visits.
Services: grooming, dog walker, pet sitter
8. Town and Country Animal Care Center
4.5 (241 reviews)score 77/100
Town and Country combines veterinary care under Dr. Merriman with daycare enrichment like nature walks, pool time, and a paw beach pond, all on one site. Groomer Brian also gets called out by name for skilled work.
- Dr. Merriman's long-term care and client loyalty
- Integrated vet and daycare under one roof
- Range of enrichment activities beyond basic play
- Professional, safe-feeling facility
Watch out: Two recent grooming complaints describe dogs shaved against explicit instructions with little accountability afterward.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
9. Pet Paradise Cary
4 (283 reviews)score 77/100
Pet Paradise Cary offers VIP suites, pool access, and live webcam monitoring so owners can check in on their dog mid-stay, which addresses a common source of boarding anxiety directly. Dogs are consistently reported to leave tired and happy.
- Live webcam monitoring included
- VIP suites with individualized playtime
- Pool access for exercise
- Clean, well-maintained facility
Watch out: A few reviewers wished for more unprompted photo updates during longer stays, and the overall Google rating is lower than others on this list.
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training, puppy daycare
10. Everbrook Academy at the Crossing
4.9 (62 reviews)score 88/100
Children here arrive eager and leave eager.
- caring, patient staff
- clean facility
- child excitement and confidence growth
- attentive communication and updates
Services: daycare boarding, dog training
11. The Growing Years Learning Centers (Apex, NC)
5 (26 reviews)score 86/100
Families consistently report their children thrive here, with every reviewer praising the cleanliness, safety, and genuine care staff provide by name.
- attentive, caring staff by name
- clean facility and filtered water
- safe, nurturing environment
- strong director leadership
Services: daycare boarding, dog training
12. The Learning Experience - Apex
4.7 (87 reviews)score 84/100
Parents consistently highlight the warmth and genuine care of the staff, with teachers remembered by name and children eager to return daily.
- warm, attentive staff
- personalized educational approach
- safe, nurturing environment
- strong parent communication
Watch out: hidden pricing until after registration
Services: daycare boarding, dog training
13. Everbrook Academy at the Peakway
4.4 (88 reviews)score 83/100
Staff go out of their way to make children feel at home, treating students with genuine care while keeping parents connected through daily photos and video updates.
- attentive caring staff
- smooth transitions for new children
- rich enrichment activities and events
- daily photo and video updates
Services: daycare boarding
14. Apex KinderCare
4.7 (42 reviews)score 82/100
Parents with infants through kindergarteners report years of loyalty and genuine affection for this center.
- attentive, responsive staff
- creative, engaging learning environment
- strong teacher-child relationships
- consistent communication via app
Watch out: unresponsive phone lines for prospective families
Services: daycare boarding
15. The Goddard School of Apex
4.9 (30 reviews)score 80/100
Most families report consistently positive experiences with engaged teachers, structured enrichment activities, and clear communication.
- attentive, caring staff
- strong curriculum and learning outcomes
- clear parent communication
- clean and well-organized
Watch out: CPS complaint filed by school during parent disagreement
Services: daycare boarding, grooming, dog training