Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Kapica.
Hi Suzanne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I am Suzanne Kapica, and my husband, Jason, and I own Puppy Playground in Decatur, Texas. Puppy Playground came to life when we moved to Texas and our dog, Lambeau, needed daycare and boarding. Unfortunately, we had spoiled Lambeau, so not just any boarding and daycare would do. How could we enjoy a family vacation knowing one of our most treasured family members was in a kennel for 23 hours a day? Sure, we could pay for him to have some playtime outside of the kennel, but that was the only option, and the time outside would be very limited. Lambeau also really missed having playmates, so we adopted a new brother, Bernie. While this helped for a while, we now had two dogs that needed care when we went on vacation.
We scoured Google looking for a cage-free option, as we had in Michigan. We kept coming back to the phrase, “someone should start a ‘Lucky Puppy’ in Texas,” and just like that, my husband found a property listing that seemed perfect. Suddenly, Puppy Playground became a “thing,” and we started truly planning our labor of love. Puppy Playground was born.
As a family-run business, we focus on giving dogs a country play experience that feels like home. Dogs can dig in the dirt, run around on acres of grass, and swim in the pool to cool down. Daycare naps can happen in the sun or inside the barn on rugs, couches, or the cool cement. We offer ice-chewing breaks, carrot chewing, and toys, whenever the group dynamics allow it. Boarding guests stay in the house with various options: some stay in bedrooms with baby gates for more privacy, while others sleep on a chair, sofa, dog beds, or the floor in the living room. This may sound chaotic, but after a fun day of play, they are pretty tired. Ask any owner with a dog that attends daycare, and they will tell you that sleeping through the next day is what we call “a Puppy Playground hangover.”
This is our fifth year in business, and we are grateful that the community continues to trust us with their fur babies. We love them all as our own! We continue to grow and have added grooming and training services. Life has presented us with a few health challenges that limit the amount of time we can spend with our guests, so we have brought on live-in managers, Meg Grivas and Jon Lloyd. Meg and Jon bring new energy and dog training skills to the team. Extending our family was easy because they love and respect dogs as much as we do. As we grow, we continue to draw customers from all over the metroplex and beyond. Many folks find us and have their dogs stay while they are in town from other states. We are honored to have so many customers from near and far. If you can’t make the drive, no problem! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: P
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Jason has worked in franchising for many years, so we wanted to find a franchise to help make it a bit easier to start a business. Unfortunately, there is not a franchise that fits the cage-free vision we had, so we had to go it alone. Figuring that out was not easy. Fortunately, we had been business owners/partners before. Honestly, the biggest challenge was feeling confident about having dogs in a “pack” environment.
I (Suzanne) started by finding a mentor in Michigan who has this model (the only one I knew). I also began doing many training classes, reading books, watching online classes and videos, and then just started slowly. Yes, it was scary at times but we started slow and just kept learning as we went. I even talked with other trainers to see how they deal with issues and in social situations, and many were honest and said they wouldn’t even consider doing what we do. That gave me pause, but we were already in it, so we just had to keep learning and growing.
Life gave us many other challenges, including learning to work with your in-laws (turned out amazing but had some hiccups), owning a business while raising a high school baseball player who wanted to play in college (he now does, way to go Magnus), and then health challenges. Again, not easy, but we had to get creative, and so we had the luck of finding Meg and Jon.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of how we can be so specialized in our care for each guest. Although we may not be profiting as much as some of the larger daycare and boarding facilities that have a smaller footprint but house and care for many more dogs, we provide highly individualized care.
Our guests, members of the pack, receive care tailored to their unique needs. We have many senior dogs who prefer to spend more time inside the house napping, but they can also enjoy sunny outdoor naps whenever they wish. We accommodate shy dogs that require more time in a calmer group, allowing them to observe and enjoy their surroundings without the chaos of a busy space, thanks to our sectioned-off large yards. Additionally, we welcome dogs that many other places would not accept, as we take the time to ease them into socialization. This is particularly beneficial for rescue dogs or puppies with limited or traumatic experiences. Learning to be a dog and integrating into a pack is not easy, and it isn’t right for every dog. However, we have successfully helped many dogs find a family home away from home when other facilities would have stressed them out greatly.
Finally, I am immensely proud of the trust and love we receive from the owners who become our friends. We are fortunate to share so many hugs from people who shed tears of relief knowing they can finally enjoy a vacation without worry. They know their “baby” or “babies” are having fun while receiving plenty of love and attention.
What makes you happy?
Knowing we make a difference. I always try to see how I can leave a mark on the world. Maybe not in a way that makes headlines, but certainly in a way that touches lives. We help dogs feel safe and have fun during a time that still may be stressful (being away from home and their families), but to feel less stress by being in a place that feels like home. We also help the customers and community by offering something that did not exist and that seems to be truly loved and valued. The small ways add up and that makes me happy.
Pricing:
- $60 per night for boarding in our home.
- $35 per day for daycare M-F 7am to 6pm
- Grooming and training prices are on our website: www.mypuppyplayground.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mypuppyplayground.com/
- Instagram: mypuppyplayground · Instagram
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyPuppyPlayground/
- Yelp: mypuppyplayground · Instagram
