NEW LOCATION OPEN 1/5 - 363 Senoia Rd Peachtree city
Welcome to Barks & Recreation!
At Barks & Recreation, we believe dogs deserve more than just supervision while their owners are away. They deserve an environment where they feel safe, fulfilled, emotionally supported, and genuinely understood!
What began as a passion for animals grew into a mission to create a different kind of daycare experience: one focused not only on physical activity, but also on enrichment, emotional wellbeing, confidence building, and reducing stress in dogs.
We understand that not every dog thrives in large, chaotic daycare environments. Many dogs benefit from a calmer, more intentional approach that balances socialization, mental stimulation, rest, structure, and individualized care. That philosophy became the foundation of Barks & Recreation: The Canine Confidence Center.
Our Philosophy
Our goal is simple:
to create an environment where dogs can build confidence, feel emotionally safe, and enjoy positive experiences tailored to their individual personalities and needs.
We focus heavily on enrichment based care, incorporating activities that encourage:
- problem solving
- confidence building
- mental stimulation
- healthy social interaction
- decompression and rest
- emotional balance
More Than A Daycare
Barks & Recreation was created for dog owners seeking a more thoughtful and personalized alternative to traditional dog daycare.
We proudly provide:
- enrichment based daycare
- home styled boarding
- structured activities
- confidence building experiences
- relationship focused care
- a calmer, lower stress environment
Because we believe every dog deserves to feel safe, supported, and celebrated for who they are.
At the heart of everything we do is one simple belief:
Dogs are not just pets, they are family.
And they deserve care that reflects that.
About Us
Experience & Expertise
Ashley Barber (Owner) has worked professionally in the pet care industry since 2011 and has dedicated years to studying canine behavior, enrichment, emotional wellness, body language, and relationship based care.
Unlike many traditional daycare environments that focus primarily on supervision and group management, Ashley’s approach is rooted in continued education, hands on behavioral experience, and a deep understanding of canine emotional wellbeing.
Over the years, Ashley has worked closely with dogs of all personalities, temperaments, and backgrounds, including:
- shy and sensitive dogs
- anxious dogs
- rescue dogs
- high energy dogs
- adolescent dogs
- and dogs who may struggle in more traditional daycare settings
In addition to her professional daycare experience, Ashley has also spent years fostering dogs within the community for Fayette Humane Society, providing firsthand experience helping dogs adjust to new environments, build confidence, decompress, and develop healthy social skills. Working closely with foster dogs has helped deepen her understanding of canine stress, emotional regulation, and the importance of individualized care. This is one of the many reasons that these type of dogs are her favorite and clearly her specialty!
Ashley is also actively pursuing professional certification through the CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) and continues to invest heavily in ongoing education surrounding canine behavior, enrichment, fear free handling, and emotional wellness.
That combination of education, hands on experience and genuine passion helped shape the unique philosophy behind Barks & Recreation: The Canine Confidence Center.
For Ashley, this business has never simply been about “watching dogs.” It has always been about building trust, creating meaningful relationships, helping dogs feel safe and understood, and providing compassionate, individualized care that supports both emotional and physical wellbeing.