Dog Boarding in Clayton

“Our senior dog, Maggie, loved her stay with Laura and her family. Laura sent us pictures and kept us informed on how Maggie was doing with her. I would definitely use Laura again! Maggie felt like she was on a vacation!”

Leigh B.

“Ms. Katherine was the perfect find for myself and my dog. She was able to accommodate my last minute request and enabled me to take along my trusty dog on a long weekend trip. The comfortable homey setting and her sensitive, devoted care put my mind at ease while we were apart. Her updates and photos confirmed my confidence that my 12 year old Aussie cattle dog was safe and happy. Katherine provides a real service with real love for her furry guests. I wholly recommend her and will call on her again next time in in the Smokies. Doug H.”

Home A.

“Mikaela was amazing! Flexible with our changing schedule. She sent us updates and photos multiple times throughout the day which made us feel more comfortable about leaving our fur baby behind. The kennels were spotless and the run area was large and well kept. We would definitely use her again.”

Terah E.

“Pamela was just what we needed for our senior lab. She provided wonderful care for over night boarding. We received frequent communication and the whole process was very smooth. Our pup enjoyed her stay and we would gladly use Pamela again”

Eric T.

“Licia and Pete are a sweet couple that you can feel comfortable leaving your dog with. They have a nice, small fenced area for my Mogey to roam, as many walks with Pete as he wants, and pettings galore from Licia but his favorite thing was to hang on their back deck. We have been looking for someone as a permanent sitter solution and will be using them again.”

Tina C.

About: I began my career in pet care over 27 years ago as a professional pet sitter, building a highly successful in-home service. As demand grew, I naturally transitioned into boarding select dogs in my home—an offering that quickly expanded beyond capacity. This growth led me to open and operate three pet hotels over a 25-year period. During that time, I furthered my expertise by becoming a Certified Canine Behavior Specialist and a Certified Fear Free Trainer, allowing me to better support dogs with a wide range of behavioral and emotional needs. In January 2024, I sold my final pet hotel and opened my current Training and Behavior Modification business in Clayton, GA. Over time, many of my training clients expressed interest in having their dogs stay in my home, and I found the experience both rewarding and impactful. As a result, I now offer exclusive in-home boarding as part of my services. My boarding program is intentionally different from traditional facilities. Dogs in my care are treated as members of the family, receiving daily enrichment, structure, and positive reinforcement of appropriate manners. I also offer training opportunities during their stay when appropriate. I specialize in working with anxious, fearful, and hyperexcitable dogs, providing a calm and supportive environment tailored to their needs. Because this is my home, I am selective about the dogs I accept to ensure a safe, harmonious environment for everyone. All dogs must be dog-friendly or neutral, with no history of aggression. Additionally, due to my 4-foot fencing, I am unable to accommodate dogs who are known fence jumpers. I am what you call, semi-retired. I sold my lasts pet hotel and moved to the mountains for a more relaxing lifestyle...which I have found! I make my own schedule and work as little or as much as I want to. My training business keeps me in our local community so I am never far from home. Mornings are always pretty much the same. I wake up around 7, make coffee, get the dogs out, feed the cats their wet food, and then spend some time catching up on training reports. While I'm doing this, I take breaks to let the dogs inside, take the cats remaining food to their feeding station, scoop their boxes and snuggle with them for a bit. Once the cats are taken care of, I prepare my dog's enrichment feeding puzzles and they get some enrichment time. Back to reports. When they are done eating, they get to digest for 30 minutes or so and then we head out for a walk down our beautiful mountain road. I am a strong believer in letting the dogs sniff. We go as far as we can in 30 minutes and then turn around and come back. Some days we make it a mile and a half, others, we only go a half mile. It is totally up to their sniffers. When we come home, everyone is usually beat and ready for a nap. If I have scheduled clients, I get ready and head out to see them. I am generally only gone for a couple hours before returning to let my dogs out for another potty break. This is the time we play outside. My dogs love to run and play with each other but they also love to play fetch. My yard is very large so there is plenty of space to throw a toy to let them run. When we come back in, it is time for cookie games. I like to play a game where as soon as a dog sits, they get a cookie. Mine already know this game and are fast sitters so when dogs visit, they learn how much fun this is too. Once cookies are handed out, we either hang out on the couch for snuggle time while I play games on my phone or if I have an afternoon client, I head out for another couple hours. My evening routine is pretty consistent as well as I am a home body. I love our mountain home and evenings are the best time to go out on the deck, grill up some dinner while the pups run around and then watch the beautiful sunset. I feed the dogs in the same manner as in the a.m. only in bowls this time. After 30 minutes, it back out to potty. My cats always find a way to fit into our daily routine by finding my lap or sitting on my table for head scratches while I do reports. After dinner and sunset, we either continue to hang out on the porch or head inside to relax on the couch until bedtime. Bedtime is around 10 p.m. and the dogs go outside one final time and then get their final cookie of the day. My dogs all sleep in bed with me and once the lights are out, the snoring begins. We have a 2 level home on 4 acres (1 acre fenced in) on the side of a mountain outside of Clayton, GA. Our closest neighbor is hidden up our long driveway behind a thick area of trees and then there is one down the mountain, off to the side. We live on a mountain, gravel road...you can't even see our house from this road due to the thick trees and distance from the road. We live with dogs and cats and our house shows this. Our leather couches are covered with blankets and cat claws have marred all the corners and edges. We have a custom-built cat activity center on our living room walls so the cats can get up high and look out over the mountains. The only carpets in the house are 1. by my bed so I don't step on a cold floor in the morning and 2. in each of the bathrooms for the same reason. We understand that puppies and dogs can have accidents so this house was built with that in mind. Our yard is fenced with 4 foot tall goat fencing which we had professionally installed to assure it is tight with no holes at ground level and at the gates. Dogs are always introduced to our yard by first taking a leashed walk around the perimeter to see how they behave around the fence. Once this is done, we allow the dogs to freely walk around the yard, dragging a long line. We are looking to see if your dog shows any interest in escape through either digging, climbing on the fence, or pushing at the gates. If your dog (new dogs) is only boarding for a few days, they will only go out with the long line on for safety. If they are boarding longer, we will remove the line if they are showing no interest in escape and let them run freely with our dogs. If your dog enjoys walks, they will receive one daily as long as they walk nicely on a leash. If they are hard pullers, I offer training services to help them learn better leash manners so they can be walked with the group. In my home, dogs are allowed as much freedom as possible. I have crates and pens and am happy to use these for management (especially if a puppy isn't house trained yet) as well as when I leave and for sleeping. Each dog is unique so there is no standard rule. All dogs are fed separately. My goal is that your dog feels at home in my home. I want them to have fun and feel safe while you are away so that you can enjoy your time away and not worry about them. My partner is a Veterinarian and so are several of my friends. I hope to never have to use their services but if I do, they are always ready and willing with advice and care. However, if something does happen that requires Vet care, your Vet will be contacted and used if possible. Of course, you will be notified immediately as well. Safety is always my first priority, followed very closely by fun and meeting all daily requirements.

“Ann is a very, friendly, warm and accommodating person. A perfect dog sitter. My lab Marcy had a wonderful stay at her lovely home. We received numerous updates, photos and videos of Marcy during her stay. I highly recommend her!”

Jeanne J.

“My fur babies loved their stay with Jennifer. They were well cared for the entire time. Jennifer kept me informed via video and text on the status of my boys so I did not have to worry how they were doing. I would highly recommend Jennifer for your next booking. I will use her again when I return to Highlands as she was less than 10 minutes from the home we stayed at and Jennifer gave us the opportunity to come and visit our fur babies whenever but when I realize how much fun they were having, we chose not to interfere with their vacation as well. Thanks to Jennifer our vacation was stress free and we did not have to worry about our dogs!”

Anmarie A.

“Darby was an excellent host for our German shepherd for the day while we went whitewater rafting in north Georgia. She kept us updated and was very accommodating. I highly recommend Darby for for pet sitting needs. When we’re back in north Georgia we will be working with Darby again.”

Hayden B.

“Sylvie was amazing! We were in town for a Clemson game and boarded our 12yo lab with her and her husband, Tommy. Both were so friendly, and Sylvie sent pictures & updates through the night. We were running late the morning of pickup, and they were very understanding and accommodating. Would 100% be a repeat customer if we lived in this area!”

Kimberly B.

“Tara was great with Trapper. She was super flexible and easy to work with and sent several pics so we knew he was having fun and being well taken care of. We weren’t sure if he’d be ok playing with her dogs, but they were super sweet and immediately accepted him as part of the group. He had a blast while we were away.”

Leslie R.

“Megan is such a wonderful dog sitter. Her love for dogs shines through and when we picked up Penny, Megan gave us feedback on the stay and how everything went. Penny was obviously comfortable with her and now I know we have a knowledgeable, trustworthy person we can count on to care for our dog when we are out of town.”

Amanda K.

“I was in a pinch to find someone at the last minute to care for my puppy for a few days, and am so glad that Stefanie accepted the request. She was wonderful! A definite animal lover, she knows dogs and their behavior well. She was very accommodating (drop off had to be late in the evening) and went above and beyond to make sure my puppy and I felt comfortable before I left. Tucker had a blast during his "vacay" and did not want to leave his new buddies behind when it was time to go home. Detailed text messages with updates and pictures every day were terrific. And when I picked Tucker up, Stefanie had even washed his bed and given him a bath (well, at least tried to!) I would definitely use Stefanie's services again.”

Mary S.

About: Being an animal lover all my years and having at times, two 90+ lb. furbabies of my own from puppy to senior age, I am experienced in dog care. You can rest assured no matter where you are, near or far, you can count on me providing a loving environment, whether in your home or mine. Your furbaby(ies) will get lots of love and attention. Whether you're here or traveling abroad your furbabies are safe and well provided for. Personally, knowing from experience how hard it is to leave a pet in kennel style boarding with barking dogs all day. I'm a stay at home family, looking forward to making extra money while having a nice time together in a kind and loving home. I like to abide by routines to make your pups stay a fun experience that they will look forward to a return stay. Currently, my home has one sweet female dog who is looking for someone to enjoy watching the birds with from out screen porch. Playing in the yard or taking walks for exercise.

“My pup came home super happy!! Thank you!!”

Kristen E.

“Kate was excellent in caring for my little Khloe while I was away on a business trip. She is very friendly and even arranged a meet and greet before the drop off day. Kate was excellent with communication and sent me daily updates and pictures of my pup. Overall it was an excellent experience and Kate made me feel comfortable about having to leave my pup for a few days. I already rebooked Kate for my next business trip!”

Matt O.

“What a great stay for my Sami. She fit in with the pack and the house was very dog-friendly. The hosts were conscious of Sami’s needs and adapted to her wanting to “cling” around people. Great stay!”

Robert P.

“Taylor was great! Our dog seemed right at home and even got to go for a hike and a swim! She sent several updates and we will definitely rebook with her!”

Erin C.

About: I have been passionate about pet care since I was very young. I take care of all kinds of animals! From ferrets and rabbits, fish, cats, and of course dogs. I worked at a vet clinic for some years and learned a great deal and acquired valuable experience! I also went to school and got certified as a professional dog trainer and have been doing that off and on for the past 5 years. I fostered shelter dogs and puppies for a long time. Even raising litters of foster puppies and kittens at times! Dogs are my true passion and I have a lot of knowledge on the subject. I will handle reactive or difficult dogs and breeds with confidence and ease. My first dog was quite reactive towards other dogs so I am very familiar and comfortable with the attention and management that requires. Don’t worry about it! If you have had trouble with sitters due to your pets behavior and/or difficulties, I am your person! I will watch any animal with any temperament or any difficulty. I have most recently been working at dog grooming salon for the last 1.5 years so I am able to provide grooming services as well! My whole life revolves around taking care of animals so your schedule will fit right in! Just let me know what works best for your animals! Crating or keeping dogs or different animals separate is no issue for me, I can give medication, do routine walks or make sure they are exercised in their own yard if needed. Just let me know your expectations and I will make it happen.

About: As a lifelong dog lover and current online college student, I offer a highly flexible, work-from-home schedule that ensures your pet will have constant supervision, regular bathroom breaks, and company throughout the day. What sets me apart is my ability to adapt to your pet's specific stage of life; I am fully equipped to handle the high-energy demands, potty training, and crate routines of young puppies, but I'm equally patient and observant when it comes to the quiet environments and precise medication schedules required by senior dogs. Ultimately, I focus on routine consistency, molding my daily schedule entirely around your dog’s normal habits to keep their anxiety low and make them feel right at home. I work from home and stay around town, so caring for your fur-babies is no trouble at all! If they do well with car rides, I am more than happy to bring them along to run any errands or to the ball fields! I have a large yard, plenty of room inside, two sweet and playful dogs to keep them company, and a 6 year old boy who loves puppy cuddles and all the play time he can get!