Dog Daycare for Yorkville & Forest Hill Dog Owners

Yorkville and Forest Hill have something in common beyond property values: a population that invests seriously in their dogs. Walk down Bloor West from Bay to Avenue Road and you’ll count more designer breeds per block than anywhere else in Canada. Forest Hill’s tree-lined streets are home to families whose dogs see specialists — orthopaedic surgeons, veterinary dermatologists, behaviourists who charge $400 an hour.

These owners don’t cut corners on care. They also don’t tolerate mediocrity. And yet, when it comes to daycare, the options inside Toronto are almost uniformly mediocre. Understaffed commercial units, size-based grouping, attendants whose main qualification is enthusiasm. The grooming is boutique. The vet is world-class. The daycare is an afterthought.

Academy Daycare exists to fix that gap. We’re 35-40 minutes north in Gormley — an 8,500 sq ft specialist facility run by canine behaviour experts with 15 years of experience and a perfect safety record. For Yorkville and Forest Hill dog owners who apply the same standards to daycare that they apply to everything else, this is where that search ends.

What Specialist Daycare Actually Means

Every member of our team is a canine behaviour specialist. They read body language fluently. They identify stress, arousal, and conflict before it surfaces. They manage group dynamics actively, not reactively. In 15 years of operation, we have had zero serious incidents.

Temperament-Matched Groups

Most daycares sort dogs by size and hope for the best. We match by temperament, energy level, and play style. A calm Bernese Mountain Dog doesn’t belong with a high-drive Belgian Malinois regardless of their weight. A nervous miniature poodle doesn’t belong with a boisterous cockapoo just because they’re both small.

This is especially relevant for the breeds common in Yorkville and Forest Hill — French Bulldogs, cavaliers, doodle varieties, purebred sporting dogs. These breeds have dramatically different energy levels and social styles. Grouping them thoughtfully is the difference between a good day and a stressful one.

Three Programs — Honest About What Each One Does

Standard Daycare — $55/day

Structured group play for well-socialized dogs. Supervised by behaviour specialists, temperament-matched groups, with a balance of activity and rest throughout the day.

Option	Price	Per Day
Single day	$55	$55
5-day pack	$265	$53
10-day pack	$500	$50
15-day pack	$705	$47
Unlimited	$649/mo	Includes bath & nail trim

Day & Train — $95/day

This is the program Yorkville and Forest Hill dog owners consistently gravitate toward — because it does what they’ve been paying private trainers thousands of dollars to do, except it happens daily and in a real-world environment.

Day & Train combines full obedience training with structured socialization. Your dog receives 1-on-1 training sessions throughout the day — commands, leash work, treadmill fitness, place cot training — with temperament-matched group play between sessions.

The place cot training alone is worth the program for many clients. A dog that can hold a calm “place” command in a busy facility can do the same on a restaurant patio, in a hotel lobby, or in your living room during a dinner party. These are the real-life skills that Yorkville dog owners actually need.

We use professional tools: prong collars, e-collars (TENS-based, not shock), slip leads, and muzzles when appropriate. Intact dogs are welcome in Day & Train.

For context: private trainers in Yorkville charge $150-$250 per session for 45 minutes, once a week. Day & Train provides multiple training sessions every day your dog attends, plus socialization, exercise, and structured rest. The value comparison isn’t close.

Option	Price	Per Day
Single day	$95	$95
5-day pack	$465	$93
10-day pack	$900	$90
15-day pack	$1,305	$87
Unlimited	$1,395/mo	Includes bath & nail trim

Behavioural Daycare — $95/day

Forest Hill and Yorkville produce a specific type of behavioural case: a well-bred dog from an excellent line that has been under-socialized because the owner relied on private walks, dog parks, and their backyard. The dog is well-mannered at home but falls apart in a group environment — reactive, anxious, or so aroused they can’t function.

These dogs don’t need to be “fixed.” They need systematic, supervised exposure to other dogs in a controlled setting. At $95/day, behavioural daycare gives these dogs what no amount of private training or dog park visits can provide — the ability to exist calmly among other dogs.

If your dog has been declined by another daycare, this program exists because of dogs exactly like yours.

Boarding — $75/night

Same facility, same team, same management. $75/night standard, $65/night for stays of 7+ nights.

The Drive from Yorkville & Forest Hill

• From Yorkville: North on Avenue Road to the 401 eastbound, east to the 404 northbound, exit at Stouffville Road east to Gormley. About 35-40 minutes.
• From Forest Hill: North on Bathurst or Avenue Road to the 401, east to the 404, same exit. About 35-40 minutes.
• Alternative from lower Forest Hill: East on St. Clair to the DVP northbound to the 404. About 35-40 minutes.

Drop-off is 7:00-10:00 AM, pickup is 3:00-8:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

What to Know Before You Call

• Three current vaccinations: rabies, bordetella, DHPP
• Minimum 16 weeks old
• Spay/neuter recommended but not required
• Intact males over 1 year best suited to Day & Train
• No assessments — 15 years of experience means your dog isn’t a mystery to us
• Weekly report cards on behaviour, social interactions, and progress
• No facility tours — dogs in session come first

Why Yorkville and Forest Hill Owners Drive North

You already drive for quality. Your vet might be in Thornhill. Your breeder was in Muskoka. You’ve sent your dog to a trainer in Newmarket. Driving 35 minutes for the right daycare is consistent with how you make every other decision about your dog’s care.

Academy Daycare is what happens when behaviour specialists build a facility around what dogs actually need — not what a commercial lease allows. Expert supervision. Matched groups. Programs that improve your dog’s behaviour daily, not just warehouse them until pickup.

Call us at 437-776-9563 or fill out the form below. Tell us about your dog and we’ll recommend the right program. If standard daycare isn’t the fit, we’ll say so — and tell you exactly why.