I cannot say enough good things about Yellow Brick Road. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Charlotte is incredibly wise, gentle, and nurturing, and is a true dog lover. She has a very special bond with the animals she cares for. Everyone on the staff is wonderful, caring, compassionate, and excellent with the dogs. I have taken my dogs to Charlotte's day care for years, first at South Bay Doggie and now YBR. They always came home better behaved than when I dropped them off, very tired and happy. My elderly dog recently had health issues and I couldn't leave him home alone, so for the last month I took him to YBR every day while I went to work. He required extra care because he couldn't walk, and Charlotte and her staff went above and beyond, caring for him as if he was their own. Vershell held him like a baby and hand fed him. Deb sat with him one day well after her shift ended because he wasn't doing too well and she didn't want to leave him alone. They made sure that he was fed, watered, clean, and comfortable. It is clear that YBR is Charlotte's passion and not just a business. We in the South Bay are so fortunate to have such a safe, well-run, loving place to take our beloved pets. I wholeheartedly recommend YBR to anyone who is looking for day care or boarding. - Robbie Villalobos 8/2/14
I used to work at this place a few years ago. Charlotte is a very loving and caring person, and you can see that she really cares about her employees as well as her clients and the dogs staying with them. It was a very fun environment (besides the cleaning up!). There is a big play area (for big dogs, or little dogs witth BIG personalities), there is a small play pen (for the little dogs, puppies, and big dogs who don't play that nice with dogs of their size), there are kennels, there is fresh water at all times, there are separate pens for dogs who like to play alone under supervision. Employees carefully feed the dogs according to what the owner wishes and administer prescribed medicine at no additional charge. They also provide obendience training.
They really do a lot to try to make your dog feel happy and good while you are away. I don't hesitate when I say that I highly reccomend this business. - Jerry V 10/28/14
As the head of an animal rescue organization and also a former Commissioner
on the Board of LA Animal Services, I've worked with various trainers and
dealt with many boarding facilities. Charlotte has been a renowned trainer for
decades, and has turned many "impossibles" to "adoptables": one of them was
a Shepherd who was dog-aggressive and needed a serious rehab. Charlotte
trained her, and the Shepherd eventually got adopted to a home that even had
another dog. It's been many years since this family adopted her, and there has
not been a single incident.
What you will notice at Yellow Brick Road is its cleanliness. While some
kennels smell urine/feces even in the entrance area, you will not smell
anything at Yellow Brick Road. Charlotte is also very careful about introducing
dogs and her interview process is very strict. She does not take chances, yet
accidents can happen, but when/if they do, she takes full responsibility. She
also has a strict policy on vaccinations, and any dog my rescue organization
boards at Yellow Brick Road has to have been fully vaccinated, and when we
take dogs from the pound, they have to be quarantined before they can be
boarded there.
Charlotte is in this business because she truly loves animals. She has
exhibited nothing but honesty and integrity with a strong work ethics, while
always treating the dogs and their guardians/owners as a priority.
I love Yellow Brick Road and so does my 5 year old Samoyed. I have visited during the day, while he was playing with other dogs, and I always found someone monitoring the dogs interactions which is the reason we take him there. The place is cleaned constantly and never smells "doggy". Charlotte is a very caring person and would not tolerate her employees putting the dogs in any danger. I have never advocated for a doggy daycare, but I tell everyone I know with dogs about her and Yellow Brick Road.
Tiny Lady, one of our rescues fromthe Devore San Bernardino Shelter, enjoys helping out in the office,
Charlotte, the owner, absolutely loves dogs and is a very experienced
dog handler. Her expertise//knowledge far surpass most of your
average canine daycare facilities. Not only has she owned the day care
facility for many years, she is renowned in the dog-world as a top notch
trainer. She is extremely generous with her time and facilities by not just
running a business but by rescuing dogs and saving their lives - housing
them until she finds a home for them. As well as holding a FREE class on
the weekends open to the public.
Yellow Brick Road is a happy environment for both dogs and people, I
highly recommend using this doggy-daycare facility.
I can't say enough good things about Charlotte and Yellow Brick Road!
Charlotte has helped us train and care for our rescue dog, Albert, for 5+ years. She and her staff are friendly, conscientious, caring and extremely focused on the well-being of the animals in their care. And, the YBR facility is clean and spacious, with plenty of room for dogs to romp or relax. Albert has never once gotten sick from a stay - and he is quite a frequent visitor.
Before we met Charlotte, we tried other doggie day care facilities in the South Bay. They were fine, but we found YBR to be by far the best fit for Albert.
I would highly recommend YBR to anyone. Charlotte and her staff really go the extra mile!
Shannon Boyle - 6/4/14
3 lb Katie and 5 lb Milton are two of our little old people we rescued from local shelters.
Yellow Brick Road is AWESOME! We love that it is a much newer facility than the rest...
it is so clean and obviously well taken care of. I am a huge germaphobe, so this is certainly
a breathe of fresh air to say the least.
I have a fearful Shar Pei mix who we adopted years ago. She is afraid of the outside world,
and even on walks she really is just too nervous to enjoy herself. I was on a search to find
some confidence building exercises. When doing my search, and asking around all fingers
pointed towards Yellow Brick Road Agility classes.
I called and spoke with Charlotte, the owner. She and I agreed that Bella would do
best in a one-one-one agility class. We signed up, and I cannot be more pleased with
the results. Not only was Charlotte available when I was (which can be tough) but
Bella LOVES her! Just saying the word "agility" gets a head tilt and a smile from
our girl. She loves all of the exercises, and we even found her running off course
just to do the "A Frame" and the "tunnel". Our walks have really been a lot more
enjoyable for her, and greeting people is like cake! Bella is really coming out of
her shell.
We tell everyone we know about Yellow Brick Road and the wonderful classes there.
On another note, I found out that a lot of the dogs boarded at YBR are rescues in
need of homes, and charlotte offers a discounted rate for rescues. She also
rescues senior, and handicap dogs that were abandoned. She is absoultely 100%
committed to our furry friends, and in my book that is what I call a hero.
Yellow Brick Road is fabulous. Rover Rescue has been working with Charlotte for thirteen years. When she decided to open Yellow Brick Road Doggie Playcare and Gym, I knew it was a great day for all the dogs in the South Bay. Charlotte is a generous supporter of dog rescue groups and has been particularly important in the on-going success of Rover Rescue and the well being of all our dogs - big and small. One of my great pleasers is to see a Rover Rescue dog that was adopted locally and they get to go to YBR. It has happened time and time again that see this happy, playful dog at YBR and it turns out to have been adopted five years ago. I highly recommend YBR for dog daycare or overnight boarding.
James Mackey, head of Rover Rescue in Redondo Beach
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to 1501 El Segundo Blvd., and you'll find the best playcare for dogs exists at the end of the rainbow! Yes, there is playcare, and agility, and training and a phenomenal staff who LOVE the dogs. As the founder of Lhasa Happy Homes Rescue, I had to search far and wide for a trainer and facility where our dogs could come to learn manners and be safe. Charlotte Bell, the owner, is a respected dog handler and trainer, but most of all dog LOVER. We've worked with her for many years, and she has helped us train more than one unruly Lhasa Apso to save their lives and prepare them for their forever homes. Many of our dogs stay at YBR until they get adopted, and Charlotte is not only fair but accommodating in all ways. That is because she genuinely loves dogs -- young, old and in between. She even rescues from shelters herself. She also offers free training classes that our adopters can attend to insure their new munchkins to be the best companions they can be! This is not a woman who is in it for the money; she has a heart and desire to help the animals. No facility can promise 100% satisfaction, and to anyone who has had a bad experience anywhere, remember dogs can be dogs....that is not human error. I would not only highly recommend her, I would tell you if you are in the area, or even leaving town and near the airport....follow the Yellow Brick Road to this facility to feel secure that your dogs will hardly miss you while you are gone! The Wizard says so!!
Lhasa good wishes Randee Goldman Founder
Galdalf (17 years old) - one of the resident senior rescued dogs at YBR
My dog has been going to daycare at Charlotte's facility for the past few years since he was a puppy and at South Bay Doggie. He is a high energy dog so its great to have a place where he has a chance to socialize and play with other dogs. The staff always greets him by name and is happy to see him. He can't wait to get inside the door! I am someone who does not take their dog to the dog park as I am not comfortable with dogs that I'm unfamiliar with. Also, I would feel awkward if i had to correct or call off someone else's dog if i felt it wasn't a good situation. Therefore, its great having my dog go to Yellow Brick Road where the staff are familiar with all dogs and their personalities and take great strides to make sure the right temperaments are put together.
To those who have experienced issues with bites, cuts or kennel cough, I am so sorry you have had that experience as i know it can be very worrisome to entrust people with your dog as many of us see them as family members. However, with the positive of having your dog be able to play with others in a cage free environment there is also a risk which is that on occasion there may be a scuffle. However, i don't know a single doggie daycare, dog park, any area with loose dogs, etc...where this has NOT occurred. At least in this supervised environment the staff are aware of what personalities might not be a good fit and make the accommodations so that they can provide as safe a place as possible for your pups to play. And as for the kennel cough I know that is like a cold/flu for dogs. The vaccination will only prevent one strain just like flu shots for humans.
I have taken my dog through Charlotte's obedience class, the 4pm handler class and Good Canine Citizen and can say that she has only ever exhibited ways for you to handle your pup in a calm, effective and assertive way.
I am extremely grateful to Charlotte and the YBR staff for helping me raise my pup into the best dog he could be!
