Where it started
Rosie, my soul dog
My childhood dog, Rosie, was my absolute soul dog. She went everywhere with me and was my constant companion.
She's a big part of the reason I've always known I wanted to work with animals.
The people behind the pack
Small on purpose.
Honest by default.
The Barkyard Club started with a simple frustration. Dog daycare on the Gold Coast too often meant concrete, kennels and a room full of dogs nobody was really watching. That is storage. It is not care.
Why we exist
We built the opposite of a kennel.
Small groups. Real supervision by an experienced industry professional. A home rather than a facility. Beach mornings instead of a yard and a hose.
Dogs who come home genuinely tired and genuinely happy, not wired and stressed from six hours of unmanaged noise.
Every dog here does a trial day first, because a good fit matters more than a full booking sheet. If your dog would be happier somewhere else, we will tell you. That is not a sales tactic, it is the whole point.
Good dogs know good people.
The Club itself
Where they actually spend the day.
A home with a yard, a couch and a beach ten minutes away. No stock photography anywhere on this website.
Meet Sarah
Hi, I'm Sarah.
I've always had a huge love for dogs and animals, right from when I was a little kid.
The foster fail
Then along came Tigger
These days, I have my own four-legged sidekick, Tigger, a Wolfhound x Staffy who we originally welcomed into our home as a foster... and, well, we foster failed!
She's now very much part of the family, although we still continue to foster when we can.
Five years in the industry
What I noticed in the big rooms
I've spent the past 5 years working in commercial dog daycares, gaining experience with dogs of all different breeds, sizes, personalities and needs.
While I loved working with the dogs, I started noticing that the busy, high-volume daycare environment wasn't the right fit for every dog, especially anxious, nervous or easily overwhelmed pups.
Why The Barkyard Club
Smaller, calmer, more personal
That's what inspired me to create The Barkyard Club. I wanted to create something smaller, calmer and more personal, where dogs aren't just another number in a big group.
With only a small number of pups at a time, I can get to know each dog individually, understand their personality and give them the attention and support they need.
For me, daycare isn't just about tiring your dog out.
It's about giving them positive experiences, building confidence, learning how to settle, exploring new environments and simply enjoying being a dog.
5years in commercial daycare
Smallgroups, every single day
Stillfostering when we can
How Sarah runs the day
A balance, not a burnout.
From beach adventures and park trips to enrichment, play and plenty of downtime, every day is about finding the right balance for each pup.
Confidence
Positive experiences that build a dog up, at their own pace.
Enrichment
Games, puzzles and new environments to explore and figure out.
Play
Proper play with a small group, matched and supervised throughout.
Downtime
Learning how to settle, because rest is part of a good day too.
The Barkyard Club is my little home-based dog daycare, built around the way I believe dogs should be cared for, with patience, understanding, fun and plenty of love. Sarah
The rest of the team
And the Chief Welcoming Officer.
Tigger
Chief Welcoming Officer
Every great club needs a Chief Welcoming Officer. Meet Tigger, a Wolfhound x Staffy who came to us as a foster and never left.
How we work
Four rules we do not bend.
Small by design
Spots are limited so every dog is supervised properly, not just contained.
Kennel-free, always
No concrete runs. No rows of crates. A home, a couch and a bed.
Honest reporting
You get the real story about your dog's day, including the parts that need work.
Experienced hands
Structured play, enrichment and genuine affection from someone who does this professionally.
Where to find us
Southport, right in the middle of the Gold Coast.
Easy for families across Southport, Labrador, Main Beach, Ashmore, Bundall, Benowa, Parkwood, Arundel and Surfers Paradise, with beaches and parks minutes away.
- Drop-off 7:00am to 9:00am
- Pick-up 3:00pm to 5:30pm
- Monday to Friday, with weekend boarding by arrangement
- Exact address shared once your trial day is confirmed
We are a home-based club, so the address goes out with your booking confirmation rather than being listed publicly.
Social proof
Dogs can't type reviews.
Their humans can.
“Our Labrador absolutely loves coming every week.”
Barkyard Club familyDog Daycare · Client feedback
“The best daycare on the Gold Coast.”
Barkyard Club familyDog Daycare · Client feedback
Feedback shared by Barkyard Club families. Tag @thebarkyard_club on Instagram to add yours.
Ready when they are
Their first day is only $30
Three relaxed hours with the pack, an honest report on how they went, and no obligation to book another thing.
A $20 non-refundable booking fee secures your dog's spot and comes off your first day.