Your Meeting Ran Long. Your Dog’s Bladder Didn’t.
Dog Daycare & Boarding Near Aberdeen Proving Ground for APG Employees, Contractors & Military Families
You know the kind of day. You’re working at Aberdeen Proving Ground, the meeting that was supposed to end at 3:00 is still going strong, your commute home is waiting for you—and suddenly you’re doing the math.
How long has the dog been home?
Seven hours?
Eight?
And your pup is definitely not impressed that the General, your supervisor, your contractor—or that meeting that should have been an email—doesn’t seem particularly concerned about their potty schedule.
We get it.
That’s one reason Best Friends Fur Ever in Joppa can be such a lifesaver for dog parents working at Aberdeen Proving Ground, APG South, Edgewood Arsenal and throughout the Route 40/I-95 corridor.
You handle the workday. We’ll handle the dog day.
A Better Workday for Your Dog
Daycare doesn’t have to mean dropping your dog into a giant playgroup for eight straight hours. Actually, we don’t believe it should.
Dogs need activity, but they also need rest. Some love playing with other dogs. Some would much rather chase a ball with one of our team members. Others need time to warm up before deciding whether this whole “daycare” thing was their idea.
That’s why we offer different ways to spend the day.
For the Social Butterfly: Social Play
Have the dog who believes every stranger is simply a best friend they haven’t met yet?
Our Social Play Groups give dogs opportunities for outdoor play, exercise and socialization with dogs selected based on things like size, temperament, energy and play style.
And no, they don’t play nonstop all day. Dogs rotate between play and structured downtime so they have opportunities to rest, reset and head back out ready for more.
For the “Dogs Are Fine, But Where Are the Humans?” Dog: Play My Way
Then there are the dogs who aren’t looking for 20 new best friends. Believe or not, this is most dogs.
Play My Way is our individualized daycare program built around one-on-one attention, enrichment and activities with our team.
Maybe your dog loves toys. Maybe they want to explore. Maybe they’d rather hang out with a person than negotiate the politics of a dog playgroup. That’s okay.
Daycare should work for the dog you actually have—not the dog someone thinks you’re supposed to have.
For the Senior Who’s Earned a Slower Pace: Assisted Canine Care (ACC)
Not every dog is looking to spend their day chasing friends around the yard.
Some of our older pups have officially entered their “I’ve earned the good life” era.
Our Assisted Canine Care (ACC) program is designed for senior dogs, dogs with mobility limitations, and pups who simply benefit from a quieter environment and a slower-paced day.
Instead of expecting them to keep up with younger or more energetic dogs, we meet them where they are.
That might mean a more relaxed pace, individualized attention, extra monitoring, quieter activities, and plenty of opportunities to rest and recharge.
Because getting older shouldn’t mean your dog has to stay home every time you have a long day at APG.
It just means their version of a great day might look a little different.
So whether your pup is a social butterfly, prefers one-on-one Play My Way, or is a senior who deserves a slower Assisted Canine Care day, we’ll help determine the experience that makes the most sense for them.
Working at APG Doesn’t Always Mean a Predictable 9-to-5
Between mission requirements, long meetings, changing schedules, contractor deadlines and commutes along Route 40 and I-95, sometimes “I’ll be home at 5” becomes…
“Well, apparently I’ll be home at 7.”
That’s where daycare can make life considerably easier.And you don’t have to use it five days a week. Maybe you need us on your longest APG days. Maybe you’re hybrid and want daycare on your in-office days. Maybe your dog could use a couple of days each week to burn energy while you’re working. Or maybe you just want to come home occasionally without being greeted by a dog holding a tennis ball and demanding immediate compensation for being abandoned all day.
We’re flexible.
New to Aberdeen Proving Ground? Add Dog Care to the Relocation List.
PCS? New civilian position? New contract?
Moving to the Aberdeen, Edgewood, Belcamp, Abingdon, Havre de Grace or Joppa area means figuring out a lot of things quickly.
Where’s the grocery store? Who’s the new vet? What’s the best route to work?
And…
Who am I trusting with my dog? That’s a big one.
Every new dog at Best Friends Fur Ever starts with a New Kid Day.
It’s our opportunity to get to know your pup—their personality, comfort level, confidence, energy and social preferences—before recommending what their daycare experience should look like.
Some dogs walk in ready to run for mayor.
Others need a minute.
Both are completely normal.
The point isn’t to see whether your dog “passes daycare.”
It’s to figure out what kind of daycare helps your dog have a great day.
Traveling for Work? We’ve Got That Covered Too.
APG life doesn’t always keep you in Harford County.
If you’re heading TDY, traveling for work, going on vacation or just need overnight care, Best Friends Fur Ever also offers dog boarding near Aberdeen Proving Ground at our Joppa resort.
There’s another advantage to using daycare before you need boarding:
Your dog gets to know us. They learn the environment. They meet the team.
So when the suitcase comes out and you suddenly disappear for four days, they’re not arriving somewhere completely unfamiliar.
Convenient for APG, Edgewood Arsenal & Harford County Dog Parents
Our Joppa dog daycare and boarding resort serves families throughout:
Joppa • Edgewood • Abingdon • Belcamp • Aberdeen • Havre de Grace • Fallston • Kingsville and surrounding Harford County communities
So whether you work at Aberdeen Proving Ground, APG South, Edgewood Arsenal, CECOM, DEVCOM, ATEC, or with one of the many government contractors supporting the APG community, there’s a better answer than watching the clock and wondering how much longer your dog can wait.
You Have a Job. Your Dog Needs One Too.
Their assignment?
Play.
Sniff things.
Make friends—or don’t.
Get some fresh air.
Take a nap.
Demand attention from our staff.
Repeat as necessary.
And when you finally escape that meeting and head home?
Your dog has had a day too.
Looking for dog daycare near Aberdeen Proving Ground, dog daycare in Aberdeen or Edgewood, or dog boarding in Harford County?
Come meet us at Best Friends Fur Ever in Joppa. Schedule your pup’s New Kid Day and we’ll help you find the daycare experience that’s right for them.
Because the General may not care that your dog needs a potty break. But we definitely do.