--- title: "Irving Bark — Chicago, IL" url: "https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/irving-bark/" updated: "2026-08-20" data_pulled: "2026-07-07" census_at: "2026-08-20" source: "Dogs Away — public Google Business profile (identity, rating) + Dogs Away disclosure census of the facility's own website" license: "All rights reserved. Read and cite freely. No bulk copying. (https://dogsaway.co/terms/)" attribution: "Source: Dogs Away (dogsaway.co)" --- # Irving Bark Dog day care center in Chicago, IL — part of the Dogs Away index of dog boarding and daycare in Chicago, IL (https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/). **★5.0 from 19 Google reviews, Dogs Away score 9.6/10.** The Dogs Away score is a Bayesian-adjusted Google rating on a 0–10 scale (prior weight 25 reviews at the 4.669 network mean). ## Facts - **Services:** daycare, boarding - **Address:** 3637 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 - **Phone:** (312) 767-7818 - **Website:** http://www.irvingbark.com/ - **Google Maps profile (verify):** https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Irving%20Bark&query_place_id=ChIJq2incmrND4gR_TNNRr7EPa4 ## Hours | Day | Hours | | --- | --- | | Monday | 7 AM–7 PM | | Tuesday | 7 AM–7 PM | | Wednesday | 7 AM–7 PM | | Thursday | 7 AM–7 PM | | Friday | 7 AM–7 PM | | Saturday | 10 AM–5 PM | | Sunday | 10 AM–5 PM | ## Booking terms, safety and care - **Breed & size limits:** Weight limit of around 65 lbs — facility's words: "Our weight limit of around 65 lbs ensures your dog is only playing with other dogs close to their size" (https://www.irvingbark.com/boarding-daycare) - **If a dog is sick:** Dogs that are coughing or showing signs of illness are not allowed in — facility's words: "No dogs allowed who are coughing or showing signs of illness." (https://www.irvingbark.com/faq) ## For travelers - **ORD** (Chicago O'Hare): 10.3 miles, straight line - **MDW** (Chicago Midway): 11.3 miles, straight line - **Weekday hours span:** 7 AM to 7 PM - **Open Sunday:** yes Hours from the public business profile; drop-off and pick-up windows can be narrower. ## Published rates - **Overnight boarding:** $80 per night (first dog, standard rate) - **Daycare:** $50 per day > “Pricing la Carte Single Daycare Visit Single Boarding Stay $50 $80 Up to 24 hours. 1/2 day rate billed after 24 hours *$50 per night surcharge for puppies.” Source: https://www.irvingbark.com/pricing — checked August 20, 2026. ## Disclosure record Publishes 8 of 27 checked policies on its own website (census August 20, 2026). "Not published" is a fact about the website on that date, not a claim about the facility's practice. ### Admission requirements - **Vaccinations required:** Required: rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, leptospirosis · Not mentioned: canine influenza > “we require vaccinations for Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, Bordetella, and Leptospirosis - also negative fecal exam result within the last 12 months and some sort of flea and tick prevention” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq - **Bordetella lead time:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Fecal / parasite test:** Negative test required > “negative fecal exam result within the last 12 months and some sort of flea and tick prevention” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq - **Spay / neuter:** Required > “Dogs must be spayed/neutered, microchipped, be in good health, and have a snap collar with a name tag.” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq - **Temperament evaluation:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Vaccination records:** Proof checked, not taken on word > “vaccinations records must be submitted as they are required for licensed daycare and boarding centers” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq ### Operations - **Staff on site overnight:** Yes — a person is on site > “We are different from our competitors because we work and live on site . Our capacity is intentionally low so we can provide high quality care.” — https://www.irvingbark.com/about - **Staff-to-dog ratio:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Maximum playgroup size:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Staff certification:** Fear Free certified > “All staff members are fear free certified: an education program that aims to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in pets and improves the experience of every human and pet involved.” — https://www.irvingbark.com/boarding-daycare - **Play model:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Groups separated by:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Time out of their room:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Solo care for dogs who skip group play:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Housing:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Outdoor access:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Capacity:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Climate control:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Live cameras for owners:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Photo / report-card updates:** Yes — described by 6 Google reviews; not stated on the facility's website as of August 20, 2026 - **Tours:** Tour with the evaluation > “Can I get a tour? Yes, fill out our meet and greet form. We'll get back to you asap.” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq - **Injury / fight policy:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Veterinary access:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Administers medication:** Yes, no charge > “Will you give my dog medicine? How much will it cost? Yes, we can give your dog meds. Please provide detailed instructions, or show us the best way! It's $0” — https://www.irvingbark.com/faq - **Feeding:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Availability:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 - **Online booking:** Not published on their website as of August 20, 2026 ## Licensing Illinois licenses and inspects dog boarding and daycare facilities. The Animal Welfare Act (225 ILCS 605) makes it unlawful to operate as a kennel operator without a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Department's Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare licenses and inspects kennel operators, day care operators, breeders, dealers, pet shops, shelters and animal control facilities. The application fee is $350 per license type, licenses expire annually on 30 June, and a preliminary Department inspection is a prerequisite to issuance. Minimum standards for boarding are set in rules, not left to the operator. This is the first market in the index outside Colorado with a genuine state regime — Texas has none at all. Market licensing detail: https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/ ## How to cite Irving Bark, Chicago, IL. Dogs Away, https://dogsaway.co/chicago-il/irving-bark/ (census August 20, 2026; listing data July 7, 2026). Source: Dogs Away (dogsaway.co). Read or cite this one record with a link. Do not bulk copy, scrape or rebuild the directory. Terms: https://dogsaway.co/terms/ Structured data: https://dogsaway.co/api/v1/facilities/chicago-il/irving-bark.json