If you’ve ever dropped your dog off somewhere and wondered, “Are they really being supervised the way they should be?” — you’re not alone.
A recent feature in Babizmag shared the story behind K9 Activity Club, and it’s more than a founder spotlight. It’s a look at how one decision to raise the standard helped redefine what dog daycare in Sonoma County can be.
Before founding K9 Activity Club, Alicia McElroy Collins was running a successful commercial lighting company. But dogs were always part of her life. Raised by a professional dog trainer, she grew up understanding behavior, structure, and the responsibility that comes with caring for animals. So when she experienced inconsistent care in traditional daycare settings — overcrowded playgroups, limited supervision, little mental stimulation — she couldn’t ignore it.
Instead of accepting “that’s just how it is,” she asked a better question: What would structured, enrichment-based dog daycare actually look like?
When the opportunity arose to purchase a struggling dog facility, she didn’t ease into it. She bought the property, shut down the existing operation, and rebuilt it from the ground up. The remodel wasn’t just physical — it was philosophical. The goal wasn’t simply to watch dogs. It was to create a safe dog daycare environment that integrated professional dog training, structured socialization, and real mental enrichment.
That foundation is what makes K9 Activity Club different today. Exercise alone doesn’t create balanced dogs. Mental stimulation does. Structured playgroups, guided interactions, enrichment activities, and training woven into the daycare experience all support better behavior long term. Whether a dog is attending daycare, boarding overnight, or enrolled in a training program, the focus is the same: intentional care, not chaos management.
One of the most important insights from the Babizmag feature is that dog businesses actually serve two customers — the dog and the human. The dog experiences the environment, but the owner decides whether to trust you again. Sometimes doing what’s right for the dog means setting boundaries or recommending training before full daycare access. That approach may not always be the easiest, but it builds long-term trust and keeps safety at the center of everything.
When COVID disrupted the pet care industry, that commitment to structure and adaptability proved essential. Instead of pulling back, K9 Activity Club expanded its training programs and leaned further into enrichment. As more dogs struggled with changes in routine, the need for professional guidance and mental stimulation became even clearer. The focus wasn’t just on staying open — it was on continuing to raise the standard for dog daycare and safe dog boarding in Sonoma County.
Today, K9 Activity Club serves hundreds of families who are looking for more than basic supervision. When people search for “dog daycare with training” or “trusted dog daycare near me,” they’re often looking for structure, safety, and professionalism — even if they don’t know how to articulate it yet. Raising the bar means delivering those elements consistently, not just marketing them.
This story isn’t just about business growth. It’s about refusing to accept average in an industry built on trust. Dogs are family, and professional pet care should reflect that level of responsibility. K9 Activity Club was built on the belief that dog daycare can be enriching, structured, and behavior-focused — and that belief continues to guide every decision forward.
The journey started with risk. It continues with intention. And for our community, that makes all the difference.