Playful Pack is a premier dog daycare and boarding franchise founded in 2019 in the Washington, D.C. area and is now headquartered in Virginia. The company began franchising in 2023, offering a modern approach to pet care through clean, social, and safe environments for dogs.

Playful Pack provides a range of services, including dog daycare, overnight boarding, dog washing, and select grooming. Each facility spans approximately 3,000 to 3,500 square feet and features pack-style play areas, safety-focused design, and live-streaming webcams that allow pet owners to check in on their pets remotely.

What sets Playful Pack apart is its commitment to enriching dogs’ daily lives with “Play‑tivities” such as bubble sessions, story time, and themed photo events. It also actively partners with local rescue groups, reinforcing its role as a community-focused and dog-loving franchise.

Training

Playful Pack provides a robust training framework for franchisees and their staff to ensure consistent service quality and operational success. The programs are structured into several key components:

1. Initial Training Program – This includes two modules: the Owner/Operator Module and the On-Site Module. The Owner/Operator Module takes place at Playful Pack’s headquarters, while the On-Site Module is held at the franchisee's premises and typically lasts up to five days.
2. Training for Personnel – At least one person who completes the Initial Training Program must train all employees on essential operations like sales, maintenance, and using systems.
3. Additional and Refresher Training – Franchisees and their Designated Managers may be required to attend up to five days of additional training annually, which could be at the headquarters or another location as specified by the franchisor.
4. Remedial Training – If the franchisee or staff fail to meet operational standards, the franchisor may mandate up to five days of remedial training to address these deficiencies.
5. Replacement Training – When there are changes in key personnel, the franchisor will provide necessary training for replacements, subject to training fees and scheduling availability.

Territory Protection

Playful Pack grants franchisees a Designated Marketing Area (DMA) which serves as the basis for their territorial protection. Within the DMA, no other Playful Pack franchises may be established, and franchisees are not required to meet specific sales thresholds to maintain exclusivity.

This territory exclusivity remains valid as long as the franchise agreement or development agreement is in good standing and not terminated. However, the protection does not extend to prohibiting the franchisor or its affiliates from operating under different trademarks or systems within or outside the DMA.

Additionally, while franchisees can serve customers from outside their DMA, they must obtain written consent to actively solicit in another franchisee’s territory. These reserved rights ensure the franchisor retains strategic flexibility even while offering a defined operational space to each franchisee.