Bed and BARKfest was founded in 2018, born from a love of dogs and a commitment to providing a better boarding and sitting experience than cold kennels or rushed hobby sitters. Our founder, Erin, has over 15 years of experience in the field and saw the glaring gaps in quality care options. Since then, we have grown into a trusted network of 13 loving homes and more than 20 dedicated sitters, serving hundreds of wonderful dog families across Oakland County. Our pack continues to grow, but our mission remains the same—to provide exceptional, personalized care for every dog who stays with us.

Our sitters are committed to the Bed and BARKfest mission of providing calm, kind, confident, and high-quality care in a warm, community-focused environment. We uphold boutique standards that set us apart, including ensuring dogs never go more than four hours without people time, maintaining each dog’s routines and training goals, and providing safe, peaceful stays where dogs can thrive. Every sitter is hand-selected through a multi-step process that includes background checks, reference checks, and in-person interviews. All are insured and bonded through Bed and BARKfest and receive ongoing education through our Peace, Love, and BARK program, NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) courses, education days with local professionals like trainers and veterinarians, and training on safety protocols such as dog introductions and emergency response. We believe in lifelong learning and professional integrity. Our sitters regularly attend training, collaborate with our team for support, and share in our commitment to providing exceptional care and building lasting relationships with the dogs and families we serve.

What to bring: A familiar bed or blanket, possibly a shirt or sweatshirt that smells like their favorite human. If used at home, their crate. The familiarity helps! If you can’t bring your crate, just let us know so we can prep one in the right size. Enough food for their stay, plus a little extra in case of delays or plan changes. The same goes for medications or supplements. A harness (if they use one at home). Any cold-weather gear they may need, such as coats, sweaters, or boots. Feeding bowls. A leash. You’re welcome to bring a favorite toy. Just note that all toys are shared during stays, so it might not make it home.

Will you take my dog to the vet? Your dog’s safety is our top priority. Every sitter is prepared to handle emergencies calmly and quickly. We will contact you immediately, and if vet care is needed, we will transport your dog to your preferred clinic or an emergency vet if time is critical. Before your stay, we require a completed vet form so we have all the necessary information in case of an emergency. We also ask for an emergency contact who can make decisions on your behalf if you cannot be reached. In addition, we have safety tools and protocols in place to help prevent issues before they happen.

In our boarding homes, dogs are never left alone for more than 4 hours at a time. For house sitting, dogs don’t go more than 6 hours without people time, and shorter windows are available by request. We believe dogs thrive on human connection, so we make sure they receive regular attention, playtime, and potty breaks throughout the day. This is far from the industry standard of 8 to 12 hours alone, which is common in many kennels or with hobby sitters. Many kennels do not have overnight staff, meaning dogs are left unattended for long stretches. At Bed and BARKfest, overnight care is always guaranteed.

For the most part, we do our best to match your dog’s routine from home. If dogs sleep in the bed, we match them with homes that allow dogs in bed. If they sleep in a cozy crate, we do that too. We encourage you to bring whatever bed, blanket, or crate they are used to so they can get their best night’s sleep. Occasionally, we may need to adjust sleeping arrangements for safety reasons. If a dog tries to wake up other dogs or becomes destructive, they may be moved into a crate to sleep. In most cases, dogs who are used to sleeping outside of a crate do very well with that in our boarding homes.

We have 13 homes throughout Oakland County. Farmington, Livonia, Beverly Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Southfield, Royal Oak, Oak Park, White Lake, Rochester and Clarkston.

A Meet & Greet is a relaxed introduction where you and your dog get to meet your sitter. For boarding, meetings take place in the sitter's home. If a house sit is being booked, our sitters come to you. We review your dog’s needs, routines, and quirks, observe how they respond to the sitter and environment, and answer any questions you may have. It is your chance to meet your sitter, for your dog to sniff them out, and our chance to ensure it is a perfect fit. We cannot board dogs who are human-aggressive, dog-aggressive, excessive barkers, or who have extreme anxiety. To make sure every dog enjoys the peaceful, mindful boarding experience we strive for, we need to confirm they will be a paw-fect fit for their stay. For house sitting, we are able to work with nervous dogs, but not human-aggressive dogs. Sitters must be able to confidently leash and care for the dog without a bite risk. We believe pet care is deeply personal, and we want you to feel confident and comfortable with your dog’s sitter from the very start.

It is all about the right fit. We take time during your onboarding to learn about your dog’s personality, routine, and needs, then match them with a sitter or home that truly complements them. We consider factors like energy level, temperament, other dogs in the home, and the sitter’s experience with similar breeds. We like each dog to know a few of our sitters and homes so there are always great options for your pup. Rather than booking solely based on size or location, we place each dog in a home that best suits them. Some of our homes specialize in seniors who need a gentle pace, while others cater to fun-loving, active dogs who thrive on play and adventure.

About half of our homes have fenced yards and half do not. We believe what makes a stay great is not the fence, but the quality of the sitter who knows how to tire and enrich your dog. Our hands-on approach ensures dogs get the right amount of exercise and have their energy needs met based on their individual personalities and preferences. For any of our homes, fenced or not, all outdoor time is monitored by an experienced sitter. At homes without a fence, we use long lines for safety while still giving dogs room to explore. A fence does not automatically make a dog safe or meet their exercise needs. What truly matters is intentional, hands-on care that includes reading the dog in front of us, tailoring activities, and providing enrichment that works both their body and mind. Some of our highest-energy guests stay at homes without fences, including our Main House in Farmington, and go home calm, happy, and ready for a nap after a full day of interaction and enrichment. Bonus story: We have seen what happens when people rely too much on a fence. A six-foot privacy fence did not stop one dog (not one of ours) from getting lost while staying with a hobby sitter. The dog was missing for eight days because no one was watching. That is never how we operate. Fences don’t keep dogs safe, people do. At Bed and BARKfest, whether there is a fence or not, our priority is diligent supervision, safety, and the right care for each individual dog.

No way, your dog will not be crated all day. We prioritize active play, socialization, and outdoor time. Crates are used during rest periods, sometimes for feeding times or if specifically requested by you. We love helping dogs maintain the routines they are used to at home. If a dog does not crate at home, they typically can be crate free with us as well. However if a pup becomes overly anxious or destructive we may ustilize a crate if needed for safty.  

Your dog will likely be around other dogs during their stay. However, we carefully assess each dog's temperament to ensure they are placed with compatible playmates. We find that pups really enjoy getting to be with a pack. The added friends they make helps each stay truly feel like a vacay for your pup!

We only book one new dog at a time at each of our boarding homes. For your dog’s first stay, they will be placed with other dogs who are already part of our pack and whose personalities and play styles we know well. This helps us learn your dog’s preferences, personality, and overall behavior in a safe, structured way. Because of this, we recommend plenty of notice for a first stay, which also gives us time for a Meet & Greet and proper planning. If you are looking for peak dates like spring break, Christmas, or New Year’s, please note that we book up very quickly, with some families reserving their spots years in advance. Once you are part of our pack, we do our best to accommodate last-minute trips. Bookings made with less than a week’s notice include an additional fee to cover the time and effort required to manage these requests. Early booking is always the best way to ensure you get your preferred sitter or home.

Our goal has never been to be the cheapest option because we are not offering the cheapest service. To maintain our small-scale socialization model and incredibly high standards for our sitters, we charge based on the value we provide and the expertise we bring to the table. Your dog receives premium, personalized care from sitters who are insured, bonded, and prepared to handle a wide range of needs. They are never left alone for more than a few hours, and their care is guided by our commitment to safety, comfort, and enrichment. We invest in sitter education, safety protocols, and maintaining the highest standards so you have true peace of mind while you are away. We do not cram 100 dogs in a room and call it a “doggy hotel.” We have curated a boutique model for dog parents who want to invest in peace of mind and their dog’s very best stay.

At Bed and BARKfest, we are committed to boutique standards because your dog’s comfort is our calling. Unlike cold kennels, your dog stays in a peaceful, homey environment with no long stretches alone. Unlike casual pet sitters, we hold ourselves to high standards, believe in accountability, and provide exceptional care tailored to each dog’s needs. Every sitter on our team is carefully selected, insured, and bonded, and shares in our mission to provide calm, kind, confident, and community-minded care. We follow clear safety and care commitments, including never leaving dogs alone for more than four hours in boarding homes, maintaining their routines, and offering enrichment designed for their individual personalities. When you book with Bed and BARKfest, you are not leaving your dog with a stranger. You are joining a trusted, well-supported community that treats your dog like family and is dedicated to giving them the safest, happiest stay possible.