I do still keep dogs in my home from time to time — but this is not an open-enrollment boarding service.
Boarding is available on a very limited basis for past and existing K9 Coach and Well Oiled K9 clients when I have space.
For those dogs, there is a real advantage to staying with someone who already knows them.
I may already know the dog's routine, training language, behavior quirks, food, supplements, medications, sensitivities or the things that can make being away from home harder.
And you already know how I handle dogs.
I am not operating a public boarding kennel, daycare or traditional board-and-train program. Availability is limited and must be arranged directly with me in advance.
Why I Keep Boarding Limited to Dogs I Know
Taking responsibility for somebody else's dog is a big deal.
Especially when that dog is:
- a senior,
- on medications or supplements,
- eating a specific diet,
- anxious away from home,
- working through behavior concerns,
- used to particular household rules,
- or simply happier with someone familiar.
Knowing the dog's normal behavior also makes it easier to notice when something is not normal.
That familiarity is one of the reasons I keep this service small instead of trying to become another boarding facility.
Your Dog's Existing Structure Doesn't Disappear Because You're Away
If we've already worked together, I don't need to reinvent your dog's entire routine when he arrives.
The language, boundaries and expectations he already understands can remain familiar.
That might include things such as:
- waiting at doors,
- Place,
- feeding routines,
- leash manners,
- crate or rest routines,
- appropriate interaction with other dogs,
- medication or supplement schedules, and
- the individual management your dog already needs.
Vacation should not mean every rule your dog knows disappears for a week.
This Is Not Board and Train
Boarding with me is care for dogs I already know.
It is not an opportunity to drop off a dog with a significant new behavior problem and expect him to return rehabilitated.
If you're looking for concentrated help with reactivity, aggression, anxiety, fear or another complicated behavior concern, my current intensive work is owner-involved.
You come with your dog so we can work together rather than removing you from the process.
Learn About the Behavior Immersion Alternative →
Planning for Your Dog's Stay
If I have availability, we'll review what I need to know before your dog's stay.
Depending on the dog, that may include:
- current food and feeding instructions,
- medications and supplements,
- current medical concerns,
- veterinary and emergency information,
- behavior or handling changes since I last saw the dog,
- sleep and crate routines,
- exercise limitations,
- and anything else that has changed.
Please don't assume I remember every detail from the last time your dog stayed with me.
Dogs change. Health changes. Medications change. Behavior changes. Tell me what's current.
Because this is limited in-home care rather than a staffed public kennel, arrival and departure times need to be coordinated with me ahead of time.
Boarding Somewhere Else?
If I don't have space — or you're not an existing client — choosing the right person or facility deserves more thought than finding whoever has an opening.
You want to know:
- who is actually caring for your dog,
- how dogs are supervised,
- how emergencies are handled,
- whether medications and special diets can be followed accurately,
- how behavior concerns are managed,
- what happens overnight, and
- what the backup plan is if something goes wrong.
Read: Boarding Your Dog for the First Time →
Read: How to Choose a Great Pet Sitter →
Already a Client and Need Boarding?
Ask me about your dates.
Boarding is offered only when I have appropriate space and the dog is a good fit for the household and dogs already here.
Please reach out as early as possible, especially around holidays and popular travel dates. Availability is never guaranteed.
If We Haven't Worked Together Yet
I don't take new clients simply for boarding.
But if you're here because your dog needs help with behavior, training, nutrition or whole-dog support, you can start with the appropriate K9 Coach or Well Oiled K9 services first.
Dogs Playing while boarding