Some people say the city is no place to raise a dog. That they should be in the suburbs, running around yards, enjoying the great outdoors. But some metropolitan apartment complexes are making urban life all the more welcoming for four-legged residents.

Abington House in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood has just launched its own Dog City, a full-service daycare and spa amenity created by Related Companies in partnership with canine expert Leya Ogihara. This is the second NYC location of the national chain and is intended to serve a whopping one-third of building residents, all who are dog owners.

Alex DiLeonardo has lived at Abington House for a year and welcomed a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy named Winston into his home about two months ago. While the 800-square-foot Dog City facilities were being constructed in his building, Alex’s pup used the services at another Related Companies’ luxury rental, MiMA.

Because Alex typically works 14-hour days and travels a lot for business, he relies on Dog City for everything from grooming to daycare to leash walks. The dog concierge also offers complimentary pick-up and drop-off, veterinary care with an onsite AAHA-certified practitioner, doggy manicures, pedicures, and ear cleanings, and full use of a self-serve wash-and-dry facility, plus special events such as seminars on training and wellness.

“I’m very happy,” Alex says of his experience with Dog City thus far. “I sent them a thank-you note a few weeks ago.” The concierge is even helping him figure out the best overall care for his pet, and suggested a private obedience school. “They really think about how to raise Winston in a good manner,” he says.

Alex has been especially impressed with how responsive the staff has been, especially during all the snow days last winter. He was relieved to consistently receive speedy replies confirming that Dog City staff would still be picking up Winston from his Abington House apartment on inclement weather days when he was in daycare at the MiMA building.

Even though he hadn’t originally been searching for pet-friendly housing before Winston came along, Alex has found Dog City to be a boon. “It added to the appeal,” he says. “The fact that it was dog-friendly building, it was probably friendly in other ways, and a warm place to live.”

Other lavish options for pups throughout the country

City Market at O, Washington, DC

Aside from being convenient, in-building dog services and facilities help to create a more social atmosphere and are just plain fun. City Market at O has a 200-foot-long outdoor dog run on the rooftop with a water fountain, plus dog grooming and walking services.

The Spot Experience, multiple locations

With three locations in the bottom of luxury apartments buildings in the northeast and plans to expand, The Spot Experience offers residents upscale cage-free daycare, personalized walking, grooming, and training services, and retail products. Special features include flooring that protects dogs’ joints and Spot’s 24/7 webcam access in the facility’s daycare.

500 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL

500 Lake Shore Drive has its own Dog City with off-site care, 24-hour walking services, dog sitting, grooming, training, and even customized home-cooked meals for your pup upon request.

One Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City

These apartments are home to The Wag Club, which is a daycare and spa for furry friends. The waterfront facility offers daycare, boarding, grooming, and training, in addition to special in-home care and after-hours walks. Wag Club staff will pick up or drop off your pup at no extra cost, and they also organize classes like Wine N Puppies, Basic Obedience, and Intro to Agility.

K2 Apartments, Chicago, IL

Other buildings, like K2 Apartments, take a simpler approach with an outdoor dog run and indoor washing facility.

Blue Apartments in Minneapolis, MN

Similarly, Blue Apartments provides amenities like outdoor areas and dog-washing stations.

Third North Apartments, Minneapolis

These apartments have an outdoor dog run and dedicated dog-washing room with a stainless steel tub and table for drying and grooming. The building hosts parties for pet people and always has treats in the office. What’s more, the neighborhood itself is incredibly welcoming for dogs, with restaurant happy hours and open shopping days that accommodate pets.

The Austonian, Austin, TX

The Austonian has a 600-square-foot dog park with synthetic grass and its own draining system. A dedicated dog grooming room is right next to the park.

The Olivian, Seattle, WA

Downtown Seattle’s The Olivian has a 6,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space called Citydog Club that offers daycare, boarding, grooming, and five indoor pet play spaces.

Meanwhile, Facebook is rumored to be constructing a new housing complex in Menlo Park, CA, that will offer doggy daycare. If it’s anything like the social network’s dedicated spaces for humans, we’re already jealous.

Read more about living with a dog in the city: 

• Is Your Dog a Candidate for Doggie Daycare? 
• How I Found a Pit Bull-Friendly Apartment in New York City
• Despite What Strangers Assume, My Massive Dog Does Great in My Little Apartment
• 5 Tips for Finding the Best Dog-Friendly Rental Properties 

About the author: Whitney C. Harris is a New York-based freelance writer for websites including StrollerTraffic, Birchbox and WhattoExpect.com. A former book and magazine editor, she enjoys running (with Finley), watching movies (also with Finley), and cooking meatless meals (usually with Finley watching close by).