Welcome to Petite Paws Playcare
Petite Paws Playcare is a boutique, small-group environment designed for your dog’s happiness, comfort, and safety. Every guest receives personalized care, plenty of playtime, and the chance to build friendships in a safe and supportive space.
Why We’re Different
We are a positive reinforcement based facility, and believe heavily in working at your dog’s pace by adjusting schedules according to their individual needs. Our Operations Manager and Assistant Manager have formal education in dog training and behavior, and they follow science-based, evidence-backed approaches to help dogs learn, grow, and thrive.
Not every dog is a daycare dog, and if daycare isn’t the right fit, we will let you know. Our goal is always to do everything we can to help your dog flourish in the ways that suit them best. Transparency is key, so we keep you informed about your dog’s day, behavior, and progress. We also focus on risk prevention and careful management to ensure every dog is safe, happy, and supported.
What We Offer
We include daily walks at no additional cost. We also offer force-free nail trims and teeth brushing services. For dogs who need a little extra help to feel comfortable, we provide acclimation programs designed to help them become comfortable and confident at their own pace.
Our well known fitness/agility program is available as an add-on and offers one-on-one training sessions focused on confidence building, mental stimulation, and learning engaging tricks to practice at home.
Our Philosophy
We believe in helping every dog flourish in their own way by combining positive reinforcement, active management, and safety-first practices. Our goal is simple: your dog leaves happy, enriched, and loved, and you leave with peace of mind. If you have been searching for a second home for your little one, your search ends here.
Meet The Petite Team
Keegan Barteski - Owner
Keegan has been the owner of Petite Paws Playcare since July 2020.
Have you noticed a facelift the facility has gotten in the past year? Keegan has been working hard to revamp the space to provide the highest quality service to human and furry clients alike. With a background of retail management and visual merchandising, he took over the daycare with the vision “to create a chic and safe lounge for small dogs, full of merriment that my own special guys (Guido & Gunner) could enjoy!”
Sara K - Operations Manager
CSAP-BC, Dip. CBST (Aggressive Behaviour Specialization)
Sara has been the Manager at PetitePaws since August 2020.
Likely the first face you see dropping off your dog, she is also the face behind our Instagram!
Having worked as a canine hydrotherapist, Sara is passionate about incorporating canine health—both physical and mental— into the daycare setting. Earlier this year she launched the Fitness Program as a way to provide a more enriching experience for dogs while at their home away from home! A staunch advocate for force free and science-based positive reinforcement methods, she believes that, "the relationship we have with dogs is so unique and symbiotic–they push our boundaries and teach us daily how little we actually know— and so we owe it to them to open ourselves up to new ways of understanding and conversing with our best friends, to empower them, by setting them up for success!"
Sara is a certified Separation Anxiety Behaviour Consultant and has completed her Diploma of Canine Behaviour Science and Technology with a specialization in Aggressive Behaviour, along with the KPA Puppy Start Right course and looks forward to a lifelong journey of continuing education to raise the bar in the dog daycare industry.
Education:
Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Behaviour Consultant Program (2023)
Pet First Aid Certified
Diploma of Canine Behaviour Science and Technology, 2021
Karen Pryor Academy Puppy Start Right, 2022
BA Communication Studies and Publishing Arts
Dana T - Assistant Manager
Dana has been with Petite Paws since October 2022. For as long as she can remember, she has always wanted to work with dogs and that interest has only grown with time. She enjoys learning about each dog’s personality and individuality and shows a strong dedication to positive reinforcement methods surrounding companion animal care. She is committed to further her education and is working through her professional dog trainer certification with the Academy for Dog Trainers.
Not only is she an incredibly talented trainer, she’s got a heart of gold and gives a mean doggy scalp massage!