Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Hamby
Hi Alisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Royal Bark Social Club is dedicated to my dear Jack. This is the house that Jack built. Jack was my one and only constant for 12 years. He was always by my side through the good and the bad times. Jack was a very special, loyal companion and was loved by all. He would turn non-dog people into “dog lovers.” His converts and fans called him “the best dog ever.”The day he left us to cross the rainbow bridge was one of the hardest days of my life. Jack was the inspiration for me to follow my passion and dream to pursue the Royal Bark Social Club. Not a day goes by where I do not think about him. After Jack passed I continued to foster and adopt golden retrievers, Sophia, Oliver, Sister Sally Singer, Amelia, Faith, and now the heir to the thrown, Sir Henry Leopold Twist.
With all that being said, my dogs are my children and my passion. After 18 successful years in pharmaceutical sales, I wanted to find a new fulfilling career and purpose. My husband, Robby, who planted the idea: “Why don’t you open a doggy daycare downtown?” What started as a simple suggestion grew into a vision that would take seven years to fully bloom.
In those seven years, I immersed myself in research and exploration. Every time I traveled for work, I sought out dog daycare and boarding facilities across the country. I observed what worked, what didn’t, and what truly set exceptional facilities apart. I attended multiple daycare and boarding conferences, learning from industry experts. The more I learned, the more I realized how seriously I wanted to take this endeavor. After all, our clients wouldn’t just be dogs—they would be cherished fur babies, loved as much as, if not more than, human children. Some of us only have fur babies, and I wanted to build a place that treated them as family.
When the Royal Bark Social Club opened its doors, in 2018, it was with one clear mission: to provide a space where dogs could thrive and their humans could feel at ease. Our tagline, “For the distinguished canine and their people,” reflects our dedication to creating an exceptional experience for both dogs and their owners. We roll out the red carpet for our clients—literally and figuratively—because we believe in setting the standard for care and service.
One of the features that sets us apart is our approach to daycare. At the Royal Bark Social Club, dogs enjoy off-leash play all day. We’ve designed our space with three indoor playrooms and a safe, secure outdoor area where dogs can rotate throughout the day for variety, exercise, and enrichment. We carefully evaluate each dog to ensure they’re in the right playgroup for their size, temperament, confidence, and energy level, prioritizing safety and fun.
In addition to daycare, we offer boarding suites that feel like a home away from home for our furry guests. Unlike traditional kennel setups, our suites provide a comfortable and cozy environment, ensuring that dogs feel secure while their humans are away. We also provide full-service grooming, offering everything from basic baths to luxurious spa treatments, so our canine clients leave looking and feeling their best.
Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to develop a loyal and wonderful client base. Many of our clients feel more like friends and family, and I am endlessly grateful for their trust and support. Running the Royal Bark Social Club is more than a business for me—it’s a labor of love. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a wagging tail or hearing a client tell us how much their dog loves coming here.
At the heart of everything we do is the belief that every dog deserves royal treatment. For the distinguished canine and their people, the Royal Bark Social Club is more than just a daycare, boarding, and grooming facility—it’s a community. A place where dogs can play, relax, and be cared for as if they were our own.
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?
Running a business as unique and personal as the Royal Bark Social Club comes with its share of challenges. From day-to-day operations to broader business strategies, we continually strive to maintain the high standards we’ve set for ourselves. While every challenge is an opportunity to grow, there are a few key areas that require constant attention and dedication.
One of our biggest challenges is finding the right individuals to join our team. At the Royal Bark Social Club, our brand, mission, and passion center around providing the best care possible for our clients—both the dogs and their humans. This means we need team members who share that same love for animals and the energy to match. While prior dog experience isn’t necessary, a genuine passion for working with dogs and a desire to provide exceptional care are non-negotiable. I prefer to train our staff personally, ensuring they learn to care for the dogs the way we do—putting safety, love, and attentiveness above all else.
Good energy is also critical. Dogs are incredibly intuitive and sensitive to human energy, so it’s important that our team members bring a positive, calm, and enthusiastic presence to work every day. They’re not just there to supervise; they’re here to entertain, enrich, and protect our clients’ fur babies. Finding individuals who truly embody these qualities can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort to uphold the experience our clients have come to expect.
Another challenge is keeping a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded market. When we opened our doors six years ago, there were far fewer options for dog daycare, boarding, and grooming in the area. Today, competition has grown significantly. To navigate this, we focus on what we do best—all day off-leash play, personalized care, and an exceptional customer experience. Rather than worrying about what others are doing, we keep our heads down, stay committed to our mission, and find ways to continue innovating and being creative.
We’re always looking for opportunities to enhance our services and improve the overall experience for our clients. Whether it’s offering new grooming packages, refreshing our play areas, or finding ways to better communicate with our customers, we strive to exceed expectations. Staying focused on our core values and constantly challenging ourselves to improve is how we maintain our competitive edge.
Despite these challenges, we see them as part of what makes this business so rewarding. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth every bit of effort to provide a safe, loving, and enriching environment for the distinguished canines and their people who trust us with their care. At the end of the day, seeing the wagging tails and happy faces of both dogs and their humans reminds us why we do what we do—and why we’ll continue to face every obstacle with the same passion and dedication that started this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of Royal Bark Social Club. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Located at 208 W. Baxter Avenue, only minutes from downtown and conveniently located off of I-275 Baxter Ave. exit
Open for daycare Monday – Saturday, Grooming Mon- Fri, and boarding 365 days of the year
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.royalbarksocialclub.com
- Instagram: royalbarksocialclub
- Facebook: Royal Bark Social Club
