For years, Rafael Montelongo helped students reach their potential. Today, he helps dogs do the same at Barklandia, Beaverton, Oregon’s beloved pet-care center.
“I served in public education for almost 20 years," Rafael said. "During those years I was a Special Education teacher, an Assistant Principal, and Principal. While I loved my career in public education, I wanted to follow my long-term dream of building a career in the pet industry."
He said he grew up with the mindset that a person has to follow the path they originally set out for, going to school to study a particular field and then seeing that goal through to a lifelong career. Then, he felt a shift.
"Once it dawned on me that people change careers all the time, and that I could too, I took a leap of faith and left my career to build something of my own," he said.
That leap led to Barklandia, which opened in March 2019. Today, the full-service doggie daycare, grooming, training, and pet hotel has over 3,500 clients and more 5-star reviews on Google than any other pet care facility in the Portland Metro area.
Barklandia’s philosophy is simple: Offer pets the care, play, and enrichment they deserve while giving pet parents peace of mind. Their doggie daycare lets pups make friends, celebrate special occasions, and enjoy mentally stimulating games, all while owners can check in via live-streaming cameras.
Their climate-controlled pet hotel offers cozy, private suites with raised beds, blankets, and the option to add a peanut butter-filled Kong® as a special treat. And for pups who like to look their best, Barklandia’s professional groomer, Jessica, brings years of experience, ensuring every grooming session is gentle, personalized, and stress-free.
For dogs who need a little extra guidance, Barklandia also offers professional training programs built on positive, rewards-based reinforcement. From puppy socialization to reactivity training, their programs are designed to help dogs build confidence, strengthen the bond with their humans, and lead happier, more balanced lives.
As Barklandia grew, Rafael realized their original software wasn’t keeping pace.
“We had used PetExec since we opened in 2019," he said. "PetExec being acquired by Gingr prompted the change... We looked at other platforms and felt Gingr was the best choice for us."
Ultimately, the pet-care business software's combination of flexibility, reporting, and customer support sealed the deal. “Deciding to use Gingr came down to the fact that the platform is intuitive, flexible, and provides a more robust experience for our team and our clients," Rafael said. "The support behind the scenes has been invaluable!”
While still in the early stages of using Gingr, Rafael is already seeing results.
“The reports offered are already giving us insight into areas for growth and improvement. I would like to add that the level of customer support has been amazing,” he said.
Behind the scenes, Gingr has become an indispensable part of Barklandia’s daily operations. The transition from PetExec gave Rafael’s team newfound versatility, allowing them to adapt the software to fit their business, rather than the other way around.
“The flexibility to create systems that streamline our work is my favorite feature,” Rafael said.
With Gingr, the Barklandia team can tailor workflows across their various services, from daycare and boarding to training and and grooming, simplifying everything from check-ins to payment processing. Client self-service tools have been a standout benefit.
“Having the ability to have clients enter their own information in several areas has lightened our workload,” he said. “It frees up our staff to spend more time focusing on the pets in our care instead of managing paperwork.”
Pet parents are empowered to book when and where they want to and submit their pet's information on their own time through the Gingr for Pet Parents app and customer portal. Likewise, they can save time during check-in by pre-checking for their appointments, similar to checking in for a flight, which also frees up the Barklandia team to focus on the pups instead of paperwork.
Gingr’s reporting and business analytics capabilities have been particularly helpful for the busy business owner.
“As the owner, I find the ability to run reports for every aspect of my business to be invaluable," Rafael said. "The depth of the reports offered have already given me insight in areas for growth and improvement.”
With Gingr, Rafael can easily track trends in bookings, revenue, and client behavior, helping him make informed decisions about staffing, scheduling, and services.
“We are just in the beginning stages of using Gingr, but as mentioned, the reports offered are already giving us insight into areas for growth and improvement. I would like to add that the level of customer support has been amazing,” he said.
And with new features continuing to roll out regularly, Rafael is eager to leverage even more tools to make Barklandia’s operations seamless.
“I understand we can use Gingr to email vets directly to request vaccinations — that will be amazing!”
This functionality will help keep records up to date and reduce administrative back-and-forth between staff, clients, and veterinary partners.
In just a short time, Barklandia’s team has discovered how Gingr not only organizes their business, it empowers it. From automating tasks to providing data-driven insights, Gingr helps Rafael and his team focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care and connection for every pet that walks through their doors.
At the heart of Barklandia’s success is a deep commitment to people and pets alike.
“By far the best part of being in this industry is the ability to earn the trust and respect of our clients and our employees,” Rafael said. “Building relationships with our community through charitable donations and supporting local events is something that I find rewarding!”
From a heartfelt career pivot to becoming one of Portland’s most loved pet-care destinations, Barklandia’s success is contributed to a passionate team dedicated to building loyalty with pet parents. With Gingr by their side, they’re continuing to build a thriving business where every dog feels right at home.