I only accept dogs who exhibit zero aggression towards kids or other dogs. My clients trust me to keep their little pups absolutely safe in a free range environment, so if your furry friend struggles with behavioral issues that could potentially put others at risk, I'm afraid my home won't be a good fit. Most of the dogs who stay with us these days are lapdogs who love hanging out and adventuring with people and other dogs all day. To ensure everyone's safety, I require all dogs to be fully vaccinated and current on all core vaccines--the only exceptions to this are young puppies and dogs with rare health conditions which preclude certain vaccines. I don't require the leptospirosis vaccine, but highly encourage it, as I do take the pups hiking daily. Please message me a photo or screenshot of your pup's vaccine history prior to dropping them off (this makes things go much more smoothly than just trying to remember to bring a copy at drop off). We play in rivers and streams often (when the current isn't too strong), so please let me know if you don't want your pet to come into contact with open water for any reason. High-drive hunting and working-line breeds and mixes (pointers, boxers, shepherds, etc) must already be socialized to cats, and be very gentle with small dogs to stay here. We cater to little dogs and usually only accept dogs under 30 lbs or so, but occasionally make exceptions for extremely well-mannered bigger dogs who are very gentle with little dogs and already socialized to cats. Does your dog do better off leash on hikes but you're worried they might not stick with a new person the same way they do with you? Let me know! I have multiple options to ensure they stay absolutely safe--from keeping them on my 30 ft long line, to letting them wear one of my professional-grade GPS tracker collars, which I always have on hand because Coco has been known to follow her nose after wild turkey from time to time. Safety is always my top priority, but big adventures followed by pup snuggles make for a very close second and third. Other than that, please let me know of any special needs your dog might have and I'll do my best to accommodate them. If you are planning on boarding and your dog is crate trained, please bring their crate along with them. I do have an extra crate available if needed, but in my experience, dogs feel much more comfortable in their own crate. If your pet always sleeps great without a crate, they're welcome to sleep in our bedroom with us or one of our kids' rooms. Feel free to bring their favorite bed or blanket too! Pick up/drop off hours are between 7am and 9pm.

I am home full time and whenever I run occasional errands like grocery pickups or taking my kids to activities, I usually just bring the dogs along. In the rare cases where that's not possible, I will do my best to simulate what you do with your dog when you have to leave them home for short periods. Whenever we have a dog who's staying for the first time, the first thing I always do is take them out for a hike, both to help them burn off any anxiety they feel being with new people and pets (in a new place, without their beloved owners too--this all adds up to a lot of stress for our furry friends), and I've found traveling as a pack to be the best way to introduce new dogs to each other. When we go out as a little pack together, the dogs are allowed to sniff each other in a relaxed, laid back way, where everybody's moving forward and nobody feels the pressure of "all eyes and noses" moving in on them at once (anyone who's ever brought their dog to a dog park knows just how uncomfortable this feeling can be for them). By the time we get back home an hour or two later, the dogs all feel like old friends and can feel free to sniff around and explore the house without worrying about meeting new dogs at the same time. Bed time in the crate always includes a frozen Kong stuffed with dog food at no extra charge (I'm also happy to soak some of your pup's food and stuff/freeze the kong with it if there are worries of an upset stomach). If your dog prefers to sleep without a crate, they are welcome to sleep in our bedroom in one of our dog beds next to our own bed (if they have a preferred dog bed or blanket, please bring that with them so we can make them feel at home). I have a large, fully fenced back yard and if I have doggy visitors who are fully potty trained and past the puppy oral stage of picking things up in their mouths, I usually let them have free roam of the house. Younger dogs (age two and under), I make sure to keep in the same room with me, both to prevent any accidents and to make sure they stay 100% safe. During the warmer months, I typically leave the back door open for pups to take potty breaks as they please. If you feel your pet needs a bit more direct supervision, even if they are older, please let me know and I'll make sure they're in the room with me at all times. Either way, your dog will have regular access to our big, shady backyard and the chance to go out on a big adventure every morning.