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PlayCare · Portola

PlayCare in Portola

Small-group, supervised playcare for well-socialized Portola dogs. Calm, structured, and run by humans who know every dog in the room.

Get startedCall (628) 285-3700

Why Portola dogs love working with Top Dog SF

Portola was San Francisco's flower and vegetable nursery district for most of the 20th century, and it's the one neighborhood in the city where you'll still pass working greenhouses and plant nurseries along San Bruno Avenue. It sits along McLaren Park's eastern flank: the second-largest park in San Francisco and by far the least developed, with real wooded canyons, unmarked trails, and enough undergrowth that coyote sightings are a genuine, documented occurrence rather than an urban legend.

Our Portola clients live in a mix of single-family homes with real yards (unusual for the city) and newer infill housing, with sporting and working breeds who actually get exercised in McLaren Park's back trails. The training priority is dependable off-leash recall in terrain wild enough for dogs to disappear from sight fast, plus comfort around San Bruno Avenue's nursery-truck and light-industrial traffic.

San Francisco's old flower-growing district: still home to working nurseries and the city's wildest park. About 19 minutes to our training facility, and our team has been working with Portola dogs since 2004.

What our Portola PlayCare days actually deliver

  • A safely tired dog who's ready to settle when you get home
  • Continued socialization with a consistent, vetted group of city dogs
  • Trained, attentive staff, no warehouse daycares, no chaos pens

Where we work in Portola

  • McLaren Park (Fern Canyon / Shelley Drive area)

    Genuinely wild wooded canyon trails: one of the least crowded off-leash areas in the city.

  • Portola Playground

    A neighborhood-scale green for structured fetch and leash work.

  • McLaren Park meadows

    Open grass fields near the amphitheater, good for long-line recall practice.

Common Portola dog challenges

  • Off-leash recall in McLaren Park's dense, coyote-populated back canyons
  • Comfort around San Bruno Avenue's nursery-truck and light-industrial traffic
  • Building stamina for the neighborhood's genuinely steep hillside blocks

Local landmarks: McLaren Park (eastern side), San Bruno Avenue nursery district, Portola Playground, Fern Canyon. ZIP 94134.

PlayCare pricing for Portola

Same rates across every San Francisco neighborhood, no Portola ZIP-code premium.

PlayCare pricing for Portola
PackagePrice
First day trialNew clients start here$48per half day
5x per weekMost popular$1,100per month
4x per week$950per month
3x per week$750per month
2x per week$550per month
PlayCare 10 packageExpires 30 days from purchase$750per package
Full-day drop-inWhen available$90per day
Half-day drop-inWhen available$48per half day

Prices are current rates and may change. Custom multi-dog and package pricing available on inquiry.

Common questions from Portola dog owners

Is there small dog daycare near me in Portola?
Yes. Our small dog daycare at 2121 Taraval St in the Sunset serves the entire Portola area (ZIP 94134) and nearby Excelsior, Visitacion Valley, Bayview. About 19 minutes to our training facility, and we specifically cater to dogs under 25 lbs with a 1:6 staff ratio.
How much does dog daycare cost in Portola, San Francisco?
Drop-in playcare is $90 for a full day or $48 for a half day for Portola clients, and every new dog starts with a $48 half-day trial so we can evaluate fit. Monthly packages run $550 (2x/week) to $1,100 (5x/week), the PlayCare 10 package is $750, and pricing is identical across every SF neighborhood, with no premiums for Portola ZIP codes.
Do you offer daycare pickup and dropoff in Portola?
About 19 minutes to our training facility from our Sunset facility. Most Portola clients self-drop between 7:30 and 9 am and pick up by 6 pm. Ask us about carpool coordination with other Portola families during inquiry.
What kind of dogs come to daycare from Portola?
Portola playcare regulars are mostly under-25-lb dogs: French bulldogs, dachshunds, cavaliers, mini poodles, toy mixes, and Muttville rescues. Group size is capped at 12, and every dog is matched by temperament and play style before joining an ongoing group.
Is dog daycare good for reactive or anxious Portola dogs?
Not every reactive dog is a daycare fit. We evaluate temperament first via a $48 trial day. For dogs with reactivity, resource guarding, or serious anxiety, we usually recommend private training in Portola before or instead of daycare, and can refer you to the right program during inquiry.
What are your daycare hours and can I do half days?
PlayCare runs 7:30 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Half days ($48) and full days ($90) are both available for Portola clients, and you can mix and match within a PlayCare 10 package.
Do dogs need to be evaluated first?
Always. Every new Portola dog starts with a $48 half-day trial so we can confirm temperament, play style, vaccination status, and group fit before booking ongoing days.

Other services we offer in Portola

We also serve nearby San Francisco neighborhoods

Right on Portola’s borders: Excelsior, Visitacion Valley, Bayview, Bernal Heights, and every other neighborhood in the city.

Ready to get started in Portola?

Tell us about your dog and we'll match you with the right playcare program.

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