Our Team
Our Team
At Playful Pups Retreat, exceptional pet care begins with exceptional people.
Led by owner Laurie Yost, our caring and highly trained team is dedicated to providing dogs with a safe, enriching, and personalized experience while giving pet parents genuine peace of mind.
When Laurie moved to Central Pennsylvania, she saw a need for a higher standard of professional pet care...a place where dogs could feel safe, loved, and emotionally fulfilled while pet parents felt confident their companions were receiving the same level of care she would want for her own dogs. That vision became Playful Pups Retreat.
Today, our team is made up of compassionate pet care professionals who are carefully selected for their commitment to safety, learning, teamwork, and excellence in care. Every team member receives extensive training in canine body language, dog behavior, pet safety, cleaning and sanitation protocols, Pet First Aid, and CPR.
We proudly invest in continuing education and maintain high industry standards, including Fear Free Certified professionals and ongoing training led by respected industry experts. Laurie is one of only a few individuals in Pennsylvania to earn the internationally recognized Professional Animal Care Operator Certification (CPACO).
Most importantly, we believe caring for your dog is a partnership built on trust, communication, compassion, and exceptional care.
“One of the greatest joys of what we do is watching dogs feel safe, confident, loved, and genuinely excited to be here. We are incredibly proud of the team we have built and the level of care we provide every day.”
— Laurie Yost, Owner of Playful Pups Retreat
In addition to leading Playful Pups Retreat, Laurie is also the founder of Pitties Love Peace, a local nonprofit rescue dedicated to helping dogs in need find loving homes.
Give us a call to schedule a reservation
Features: Boarding, Day Boarding & Bathing
Features: Daycare, Training & Grooming
Management Team
Nykole Gran
General Manager
I love working at Playful Pups Retreat because everyone here shares the same passion...the dogs always come first. My coworkers are caring, knowledgeable people who are always willing to help one another grow. Between our two locations, I love the variety of services we provide and the positive impact we make on both our guests and their families. Watching dogs thrive, gain confidence, and truly enjoy their experience with us makes this work incredibly rewarding.
Brenna Koehler
Asst. General Manager
I love that Playful Pups truly feels like a home away from home for our furry friends and our team. I love coming to work and spending time with all the awesome personalities - the dogs, the team, and the dog parents! The pups always come first, and everyone loves and cares for them like their own. The atmosphere is positive, fun and welcoming, which makes it an amazing place to be every day.
Calli Holmes
Facility Manager
Milton Grove Road
I love working at Playful Pups Retreat because I have always had a passion for animals, especially dogs, and I love that all of the team here shares in that passion! Before working here I brought my dogs, knowing that it is a place filled with dedicated people who care for each and every dog. The best part is getting to know all of the dogs and their pawrents!
Jenny Slatt
Lodging Supervisor
Milton Grove Road
What I love most about working at Playful Pups is building meaningful relationships with each dog that comes through our doors. Every pup has their own personality, needs, and comfort level, and I truly enjoy taking the time to help them feel safe, loved, and understood. I have a special place in my heart for the dogs who may need a little extra patience, reassurance, or care to come out of their shell. Watching them grow more confident and comfortable over time is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
Holly Boyer
Facility Manager
Hershey Road
Coming Soon
Kyra Wright
Asst. Manager
Hershey Road
I love working at Playful Pups Retreat. It has always felt like a second home to me. Knowing I work with an awesome team of people that love dogs as much as I do, and providing them a safe environment, really warms my heart. Coming in and seeing the dogs and talking to our amazing clients, always makes my day and puts a smile on my face. I knew I made the right decision when I applied and got the job in 2018. You could say I found my forever family.
Facility Manager
Hershey Road
Client & Team Relations
Jackie Nauman
Guest Services & Reservation Specialist
Coming Soon
Kat Burnette
Reservation Specialist
I adore working for Playful Pups Retreat! It's been such a rewarding experience working for and helping this business, and family, grow. It's wonderful to see and work with all the pups, to be able to watch them grow over time and in their experiences. Our dogs come in excited to be here, thrilled to see us and their friends. Being here brings me joy and a sense of accomplishment.
Scotty Shipley
Team Training Coordinator
What I love about working at Playful Pups are, of course, the dogs and my team! Playful Pups Retreat has had such a big impact and influence on my growing love for the dog world. I love getting to work with all kinds of dogs and ensuring they have the best stay with us because of my team's efforts. It makes me so happy to see our staff grow and I am so proud to be the person to guide them! I am very grateful to have the opportunity to build a strong team and take care of such amazing dogs.
Dog Training Team
Matt Davies
Dog Trainer, KPA CTP
Watching our clients grow in confidence and abilities is my favorite part of training at PPR. I enjoy meeting the families and helping their pups flourish in their households.
MaKenna Keener
Dog Trainer, CCDT
I love working at Playful Pups and having the opportunity to work with so many amazing dogs. Forming relationships with the pups and their parents, as well as helping them learn and grow through training, is truly the highlight of my days!
Nick Rossi
Dog Training Team
I have always had a passion for dogs! What I enjoy most is helping new owners adapt to life with a dog in the home. Bother humans and dogs need support during transitions, and establishing good foundations right from the beginning makes success much easier to achieve!
James Riley
Dog Training Team
I’ve been with Playful Pups for over three years, and one of my favorite parts of the job is watching puppies grow and gain confidence throughout our programs. I love the opportunities that Playful Pups provides for both staff and dogs, and I’m proud to work alongside such a hardworking team that always puts the dogs first. Helping build strong relationships between dogs and their families makes every day rewarding.
What Matters Most to Us
At Playful Pups Retreat, we believe exceptional pet care begins with safety, compassion, education, and trust.
Our team is made up of caring, highly trained pet care professionals who are passionate about creating safe, enriching, and positive experiences for every dog in our care.
Every team member undergoes extensive training in canine body language, dog behavior, safe group play, pet safety, cleaning and sanitation protocols, Pet First Aid, and CPR. We proudly utilize industry-leading education programs, including comprehensive Pack Pro Training Program, to help our team better understand and care for dogs as individuals.
Because the pet care industry is constantly evolving, we also invest heavily in continuing education and professional development to ensure our team stays informed on current best practices in dog behavior, enrichment, health, and safety.
Most importantly, we believe dogs deserve more than supervision...they deserve thoughtful care, meaningful enrichment, positive interactions, and a team that genuinely understands and values them.
At both of our locations, our team is committed to creating a fun, clean, safe, and welcoming environment where dogs can thrive and pet parents can enjoy genuine peace of mind.
