Does your dog light up when they see their friends?
Social Play is BFFE’s traditional group dog daycare and overnight boarding program for dogs who enjoy playing and socializing with other dogs.
At our Joppa and Cockeysville, Maryland resorts, dogs enjoy supervised group play with thoughtfully matched playmates, outdoor activity and structured rest throughout the day.
Our rotational play model balances play, socialization, enrichment and downtime so dogs have opportunities to recharge between play sessions.
What Is Social Play?
Social Play is designed for dogs who are comfortable in a group environment and enjoy interacting with other dogs.
What’s Included
Supervised Group Play
Play with compatible dog friends under the supervision of trained BFFE handlers.
Indoor + Outdoor Time
Room to run, explore, sniff and enjoy fresh air.
Rotational Play + Rest
Morning and afternoon play rotations are balanced with structured downtime for rest, hydration and relaxation. BFFE’s current Social Play schedule includes approximately two hours of supervised outdoor play in the morning and another two hours in the afternoon.
Thoughtfully Managed Playgroups
Our handlers monitor each group and consider factors including age, energy level, personality, play style and comfort throughout the day.
Live Pet Cams
Pet parents can check in on Social Play during designated Pet Cam hours.
Is Social Play Right for My Dog?
Social Play may be a great fit for dogs who:
- Love playing and interacting with other dogs
- Are comfortable in a group environment
- Enjoy an active, social day
- Respond appropriately to other dogs’ social cues
- Benefit from exercise and social interaction
- Can comfortably rest between play sessions
Dogs joining Social Play complete an evaluation so our team can get to know them and determine whether group play is a comfortable fit.
What if my dog doesn’t love group daycare?
That’s okay. Not every dog daycares the same way.
Dogs who prefer smaller social opportunities, individualized enrichment or more one-on-one attention may be happier in Play My Way.
Senior, aging and differently abled dogs, or dogs who need more hands-on support, may be better suited for Assisted Canine Care.
Visit our Dog Daycare Maryland Guide
or take our 60-second quiz to FIND YOUR DOG’S PERFECT DAY
Social Dog Daycare
Why Doesn’t My Dog Play All Day at Daycare?
Because a good daycare day includes time to rest.
At BFFE, Social Play isn’t nonstop activity.
Our rotational play model balances exercise, socialization and enrichment with structured opportunities to rest and recharge.
Dogs enjoy supervised morning and afternoon play rotations with downtime between sessions for rest, hydration and relaxation.
A Typical Social Play Day
MORNING
Supervised group play with dog friends
↓
MIDDAY
Rest + hydration
↓
AFTERNOON
Another supervised play rotation
↓
HOME TIME
Time to head home after a full BFFE day
Full-day and half-day dog daycare options are available.
Can I Watch My Dog at Daycare?
Yes. Check in through our Live Pet Cams.
Social Play pet parents can access our live dog daycare cameras during designated play hours to check in on their dog throughout the day.
Social Play Overnight Dog Boarding
Can My Social Play Dog Stay Overnight?
Yes. Social Play is available for both dog daycare and overnight boarding.
Dogs who enjoy Social Play can keep their familiar BFFE care routine when their family travels.
During the day, boarding guests participate in Social Play with their dog friends. In the evening, they transition into their overnight routine with meals, relief and rest.
Is Someone at BFFE Overnight?
Yes.
BFFE has team members onsite 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including overnight team members who remain at the resort to care for boarding guests throughout the night.
Social Play Overnight Lodging Options
Traditional Overnight Lodging
Our standard overnight accommodations for Social Play boarding guests.
Lux Suites — Cockeysville
Private accommodations with additional amenities, including 24/7 in-suite webcam access.
Petite Suites — Cockeysville
A quieter lodging option designed especially for smaller dogs.
[EXPLORE DOG BOARDING]
Does BFFE Offer Social Play Memberships?
Yes. If daycare is part of your dog’s regular routine, membership may be a good fit.
BFFE Memberships provide preferred daycare rates and additional benefits for pet parents who make BFFE part of their dog’s routine.
Social Play memberships are available at both our Joppa and Cockeysville locations.
Social Play Dog Daycare & Boarding in Joppa and Cockeysville, MD
Social Play daycare and overnight boarding are available at both Best Friends Fur Ever resorts in Maryland.
Joppa, Maryland
Our Joppa dog daycare and boarding resort offers Social Play for dogs who enjoy supervised group play. Located at 1009 Philadelphia Road in Joppa, Maryland, we serve families throughout Joppa and Harford County.
Cockeysville, Maryland
Our Cockeysville dog daycare and boarding resort offers Social Play daycare and overnight boarding. Located at 246 Cockeysville Road in Cockeysville, Maryland, we serve families throughout Cockeysville and Baltimore County.
Group dog daycare is supervised care for dogs who enjoy playing and socializing with other dogs. At Best Friends Fur Ever (BFFE), our Social Play dog daycare program combines supervised group play, indoor and outdoor activity, and structured rest throughout the day at our Joppa and Cockeysville, Maryland locations.
BFFE uses a rotational play model rather than expecting dogs to play continuously all day. Social Play dogs enjoy supervised play rotations balanced with structured downtime for rest, hydration and relaxation. This gives dogs opportunities to recharge before returning to play.
Thoughtfully Managed Playgroups
Every day, our Shift Leaders organize Social Play groups based on each dog’s size, energy level, personality and play style.
Dogs are generally grouped into our Teenies and Big Dogs playgroups, with our team considering more than size alone when deciding where each dog will be most comfortable. Throughout the day, our handlers monitor play and can adjust groups as needed.
The goal is to create safe, compatible playgroups where dogs can socialize with friends who match their play style and energy.
Yes. Dogs joining BFFE Social Play complete an evaluation before participating in group daycare. This gives our team an opportunity to get to know your dog and determine whether a group environment is a comfortable and appropriate fit.
Not sure group daycare is right for your dog? BFFE offers other ways to daycare, too.
Explore our Maryland Dog Daycare Guide to compare Social Play, Play My Way and Assisted Canine Care.
Yes. Pet parents with dogs in BFFE Social Play can watch their dogs through our live dog daycare Pet Cams during designated play hours at our Joppa and Cockeysville locations.
Yes. BFFE offers both full-day and half-day Social Play daycare options.
Yes. BFFE Social Play is available for both dog daycare and overnight dog boarding at our Joppa and Cockeysville locations. Boarding guests participate in Social Play during the day before transitioning to their overnight routine.
Dogs boarding in Social Play follow a similar daytime routine to our daycare guests, with supervised group play, indoor and outdoor activity, and structured periods of rest. In the evening, boarding guests transition to dinner, relief and their overnight lodging routine.
Social Play boarding includes traditional overnight lodging at BFFE. Additional lodging options are available at our Cockeysville resort, including Lux Suites and Petite Suites.
During the day, yes. Social Play boarding guests participate in daytime Social Play, which pet parents can view through our live Pet Cams during designated play hours.
Lux Suite and Petite Suite guests at Cockeysville also have access to a private in-suite webcam.
We’ve made getting started simple.
1. Tell Us About Your Dog
Complete our inquiry form and tell us a little about your dog, including their age, personality, play style and experience around other dogs.
2. Schedule Their Social Play Evaluation
Dogs joining Social Play complete an evaluation so our team can get to know them and determine whether group dog daycare is a comfortable and appropriate fit.
3. Plan Their First Day
Once your dog is ready for Social Play, our team will help you plan their first daycare day or overnight stay.
Not sure whether Social Play is the right fit? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Social Play daycare and overnight boarding rates vary based on the type of visit and membership status. View our current Social Play daycare and boarding rates.
The folks here are so nice. My dog Rocky acclimated in about 5 days… He is so happy here now. I’ve never seen anyone say a cross word to anyone or any animal. These folks are more than professional – they love dogs and it really shows.
Liz Goode
Social Play Dog Daycare & Boarding Includes:
-
- Supervised group play with compatible dog friends
- Thoughtfully managed playgroups based on size, energy level, personality and play style
- Teenies and Big Dogs playgroups, with placement based on more than size alone
- A rotational play model that balances active play with structured rest and downtime
- Morning and afternoon play sessions with opportunities to rest, hydrate and recharge in between
- Indoor and outdoor play with room to run, sniff, explore and socialize
- Trained BFFE handlers monitoring play and making adjustments throughout the day as needed
- Live Pet Cams so pet parents can check in during designated play hours
- Full-day and half-day daycare options
- Overnight boarding that allows Social Play dogs to continue their familiar daytime routine while their families are away
- 24/7 onsite care for boarding guests, including team members onsite overnight
- BFFE Membership options for dogs who make Social Play part of their regular routine
- An evaluation before joining Social Play to help determine whether group daycare is a comfortable and appropriate fit
- Special diets can be accommodated