About Us – Dog's Day Farm

Harvesting Happiness

Our mission is to create a haven where dogs flourish and dog parents breathe easy.

How Dog’s Day Farm Began

When I was 10, my parents faced a difficult decision: it was time to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Rusty. Despite his occasional misbehavior, Rusty held a special place in our hearts. But my parents chose not to reveal the painful truth to my brothers and me. Instead, they followed a well-worn path, one taken by many parents in similar circumstances: they assured us that Rusty was “going to a big farm where he would be happy.”

As a child, I clung to that comforting image — the vision of Rusty running freely across vast fields, happy. It stuck with me over the years. Fast forward to today, and we’ve transformed that childhood dream into reality. Here, dogs experience the expanse and freedom of a country haven.

-Matt

Matt & Kelly Brown

BUSINESS OWNERS

Matt and Kelly both grew up in Montgomery County and have called their 25-acre farm in Gaithersburg home for over a decade. Their three children grew up in the business — and though they’ve all since graduated college and started careers of their own, they’re still very much involved in loving the dogs (two of them still live on the farm… for now!). The farm family also includes Tess, their 16-year-old puggle, Misty the cat, the barn cats, the chickens, and a couple of very long-term dog guests who have basically become residents.

Matt and Kelly have a wealth of experience working with dogs, both individually and in group settings, and have been managing large groups of dogs since opening Dog’s Day in January 2012. Matt left his thriving coffee business in 2010 to pursue his longtime dream of creating a farm for dogs to play. He gained professional experience by assisting with puppy training at Your Dog’s Friend, a non-profit in Rockville, Maryland, and working at a small cage-free daycare. Kelly has years of experience with dogs, and has a background in childcare and small business. Besides helping to manage day-to-day operations, you might find her showing off her handy-woman skills, making repairs and picking up slack around the farm. Matt and Kelly are also former volunteers at the Montgomery County Humane Society, caring for the shelter dogs.

“What can we say, we love dogs. So much so that we’ve made it our mission to provide the best care experience available for your pup. We are confident that you will be happy with your decision to give us the privilege of caring for your four-legged family member.”

— Matt & Kelly Brown

Experience You Can Count On
Many of our team members have been with us for years because we love what we do—and it shows in the relationships we build with the pups and their families.

Samantha “Sam” N.

MANAGER –with us since 2017

My name is Sam, and I stumbled into the wonderful world of Dog’s Day in 2017. Some of my earliest memories are of begging my dad for a dog, and even after we finally got one, I still kept asking for more. Dogs are all I ever talked about as a kid. Ask my dad! As I got older, those dreams turned into wanting a career that would let me work with animals. So when I saw an ad to work with dogs on a farm, I jumped at the opportunity, and I have not looked back. One of the first things I learned is that while this job is incredibly fun, it is so much more than just playing with puppies all day. Creating a safe, fun environment for every dog takes careful attention and an understanding of dog behavior. While formal training gave me a strong foundation of knowledge, I believe that time and experience have been my greatest teachers. Today, one of my primary roles is helping manage our morning playgroups. Alongside my teammates, I carefully monitor each dog’s body language, group dynamics, and individual needs. Every dog communicates differently, and getting to know their unique personalities and preferences is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I also spend a lot of time connecting with pet parents, whether it’s during initial evaluations or by providing updates that keep them informed and at ease about their dog’s day. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions about whether we are the right fit for some pups. That is the hardest part of my job, but I know everything we do is centered around our primary goal: safety and comfort for all dogs (and humans). It takes a dedicated team to create the environment we strive for every day, and I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside people who care as deeply as I do. We all work together to keep the Dog’s Day dream going. When I’m not at the farm, you’ll usually find me reading, traveling, spending time with my own dogs (who, ironically, aren’t a great fit at Dog’s Day!), or simply enjoying life one day at a time.

What started as a part-time job while I was finishing school became not just a career, but genuinely my favorite part of life.

Natalie K.

MANAGER –with us since 2017

Vinny B.

FARM TRIP SERVICE COORDINATOR/DRIVER –with us since 2017

Jenna S.

ASSISTANT MANAGER –with us since 2020

Jess K.

ASSISTANT MANAGER –with us since 2021

Hi, I’m Jess! I’ve been part of the farm family for the past five years and am a certified dog trainer. Getting to know each dog’s unique personality is one of my favorite parts of the job, and I truly care for every dog as if they were my own. I’m grateful to be part of a team that gets to love and care for so many incredible pups every day.