Meet Mark, DJ, Leo, and Sophie

Welcome to At The Barkyard!

Where doggies play, stay, and feel at home.

We are Mark and DJ—lifelong animal lovers, proud pet parents, and founders of At The Barkyard, LLC, a cozy, safe, and joyful retreat for your furry companions in Palmyra, VA. Our journey began in 2025 when we moved into our first home with Leo (a Beagle-Lab mix, age 6) and Sophie (a Silver Lab, age 1). Their playful barks in the backyard inspired our name and our mission: to create a space where pets are cared for like family.

🐶 Why Choose Us?

  • 🏡 Home-Based Comfort: Our clutter-free, hygienic home is designed with pet safety in mind. Pets enjoy a fenced-in backyard free of debris and harmful chemicals, monitored by security cameras for added peace of mind.

  • ✅Quality Care: We take meticulous notes during meet and greets to meet your pet's standards of care. We adhere to standards and best practices recognized by NAPPS, and we apply our knowledge and experience to meet and to go above and beyond our customers' expectations.

  • 🩺 Prepared & Proactive: We maintain a dedicated pet first-aid kit, an emergency handbook, and a quick-reference guide for nutrition and care.

  • 🎓 Experienced & Educated: With over 30 years of combined pet care experience—from dogs and cats to chickens and rabbits—we know what it takes to keep animals happy and healthy. Mark also volunteered at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter in Northern Virginia, where he learned proper care for shelter dogs.

  • 🛡️ Licensed & Insured for Your Peace of Mind: Our business is registered to operate in Fluvanna County, the Commonwealth of Virginia, through an LLC, and fully insured—because your trust and your pet’s safety matter. Our credentials ensure accountability, transparency, and protection for every visit.

  • 🔐 Background Checked: We have a pet sitter account with Rover, a nationwide network of pet sitters. All pet sitters with Rover are background checked.

  • 📚 Committed to Growth: We’re proud Pet Parent members of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and are actively pursuing certifications in pet sitting, first aid, CPR, and general animal care. Our long-term goal? To become Certified Professional Animal Care Providers through the PACCC and grow our business space in Fluvanna County.

🐕 Pet Services We Offer

Whether you're heading out for the day or planning a trip, we’ve got you covered:

  • Dog walking 🐕🚶‍♂️

  • Dog sitting 🐾

  • Weekend daycare 🌞

  • Overnight stays 🌙

We welcome pets into our home as if they were our own—because they deserve nothing less.

💬 Let’s Connect

Ready to book or have questions? Reach out to us anytime—we’d love to meet you and your pet!

📧 Contact Us

📍 Serving Fluvanna, VA, and the surrounding areas of Charlottesville.

From Our Clients 🐾🦴🐕

Mark and Daniel were incredible! They were very attentive and flexible when we were looking for a last-minute sitter. While we were gone, they sent us updates and pictures multiple times a day, and our dogs absolutely loved the time they spent there and came home exhausted from all the playing they had done. They took such great care of our pups and we will definitely be using them again.

— Daniel H., Former Customer

My husband and I travel most places with our fur babies, and finding local Rovers when they can’t check in with us. While we have had good success finding trusting and loving sitters, we were really blessed to meet Mark and Daniel. Their attention to detail prior to our pet’s arrival, their ability to be flexible when my scheduling mistake was uncovered, but most importantly, the level of care my pups received was top-notch. The home is clean, fenced in large yard and they really love what they do. I don’t know if we will be back in that area, but if we are I will re-book with Mark and Daniel. 

— Louise B., Former Customer

Mark and Daniel were INCREDIBLE! They took excellent care of our dog and communicated daily with sweet updates. They went above and beyond when our travel plans were impacted by weather and stayed flexible and communicative throughout. And pick up and drop off were easy and smooth. We will definitely be booking with them for future dog sitting needs!

— Lena B., Former Customer