This is so much better than a regular kennel. In fact, I started dogsitting four years ago after a housesitter lost my dog, a little Pekingese who made it all the way to the airport somehow. (We think he was trying to get to Italy where I'd gone.) We got him back. I did not travel again for a few years because I couldn't entrust my dogs to a kennel. I tried Bow Wow and was horrified by the video stream of 40 dogs walking back and forth in a cinderblock cell. The "outdoor" area was tiny and again they walked back and forth. Truly a circle in hell if Dante had been a dog. Dogs need more than that. I've looked at Happy Tails as well. Though much better than Bow Wow, the thought of some dogs having "luxury" crates for an added fee, as well as the charge for cuddles made me sad. I view dogsitting very differently. You might say I view it from the dog's eye view. If you were a dog and your humans were travelling, you would want to be somewhere that somewhat matches your home environment. You'd like to maintain your home rhythm, be a morning dog or not a morning dog (most dogs are very morning dogs) and play when you want to play because otherwise it's work, right? You'd want to be in a space where you can show off what a good dog you are, a space where you don't worry about doing something wrong because you can't read the rules. This is hard to do in kennel settings. You're a dog. You want couches and rugs. You want a great big bed where you can dream alongside eight other pups while also knowing you are protecting this "new" human when she is asleep, where you can know when she gets up to gather the food like a good human. If you're used to sleeping in a crate, you can also sleep in a crate with a clean orthopedic bed made up just for you. You want a Hyatt but for dogs. Think about your dog. I'll use the name "Sweetie." Sweetie lives to be your best friend. It's the intensity of instinct that binds Sweetie to you. It's a very real and purposeful love. When you go away, Sweetie's world goes away. When you're home, Sweetie binds to you and your family. Sweetie knows whom to protect and slather with love and support. I imagine Sweetie must feel like Sweetie's been dropped off a cliff. Because we do have to leave our pups at times, our pups need an incredibly supportive environment, on that surrounds Sweetie with love, play, and friendship. What Sweetie needs is friends. If the focus is on a several strange humans (the case with kennels) then Sweetie can't know whom to care for or whom to trust. It's a serious problem in pup world. They're bred to love. We need to support that love. We know how it feels to miss someone. For dogs, it is probably ten times that feeling. This is where pack-sitting comes in. Dogs support each other with the same fervor as they support us. It's so beautiful. I know that TV personalities have made a ton of money off of ill-behaved dogs. These programs lead us to believe that dogs are aggressive, anxious, over-bearing, and other traits. I am often asked, "Don't they fight?" I completely understand where these questions come from. When we take our pups to dog parks, we see them interact with other pups. They are also "on duty" and watching out for their humans, and that's why tiffs and attacks happen in dog parks. It's similar to the Bow Wow setting in terms of stress--lots of grown-ups who are strangers and lots of dogs who are also strangers. I would freak out, too. Our dogs are different when we're not around. They go off-duty from having to protect you or another human. They can enjoy their dog-ness with other dogs. The pack is not a number of dogs. It's a type of consciousness, a wavelength all dogs can tune into. It's something ancient and primordial--a need and a gift at once. After the initial 15 minutes (often shorter) the pack sets. Each dog has a place in it. I finesse that part, recognizing the fur at the back of a dog's neck go up and recognizing a young pup too eager to play. I say the dogs' names in a calm voice, assuring each one that everything is good. I back off once they have introduced themselves, and they take care of the rest. Even the most un-doggy dog connects. The already-here dogs tell the newly arrived dogs that I'm okay and that I will provide food and water. I have and know my place in the pack as well. Sweetie resets their nervous system and starts to play. Aggression can surface under three conditions: -pick-up and drop-off times bring the dogs back to on-duty mode. This is why I ask humans to send a text when you're 15 or so minutes away. I'll corral the pups away from either the front door or the dog-park-style gate. My role is to gather food, leash, and any medications and isolate Sweetie at an exit. Once you have Sweetie in your vehicle, I ask that you drive away (no checking texts and socials on cell). This allows the pack to reset and relax into more play or rest. -meals are a pack event in the wilds. I feed pups separately and in shifts so no one notices meals are happening. -toys and blankets. It's best not to bring precious things from home. Only a deeply organized pack can handle sharing of toys. Also, it's natural for dogs to tear things apart. Any toys you bring will be destroyed. Any blankets will be peed on because it's natural for boy dogs to mark stuff that smells like another member of the group. I think it serves a helping purpose, one of protecting pack's treasures. All dogs love their time here. Owners frequently tell me this experience built their dog’s confidence and brought out even more of their loving personality than they expected. Even the “anxious” and “does better with one other dog” dogs find their joy in the pack setting under our careful supervision with more than 2500 square feet of peaceful space and extremely kind and dog-minded humans. When you go away, your dog will find support from friends their own species as well as from me and my family. Something magical happens when even the most human-oriented dog connects with the pack. They grow and develop through dog-oriented play. I have seen shy dogs discover their ability to lead play and how to invite other new pups into the group. I have seen rambunctious pups adjust their play level to that of the group, developing self-regulation. Air tags, love, a reinforced fence, several photos each day, separate crates and rooms only at meals or per owner request. I provide a peaceful, happy setting that supports your own peace of mind. I have a group setting upstairs and a quiet, private setting for elder and/or anxious pups. You will enjoy the generous photos and videos of your pup enjoying their holiday as much as you’re enjoying yours, and you won’t feel guilty or worried that they are locked up in some kennel where the humans go home at night. The dogs have fun being dogs. They wrestle and chase each other then laze as a pack in the sunshine. They sleep in a circle like wolves in a wolf den. Old and young, small and big pups all enjoy this time together. The sugar-faced elder pups get a lot of joy from this experience, just as the young and middle ones learn from each other and reconnect with a beautiful joy. Frequent questions and concerns: What if my dog is new at being among others? How do you keep them safe when they’re all playing together? On busier weekends, I often create Group 1 and Group 2 after assessing energy and play levels. Group 1 will be tearing around outside while Group 2 play gently in the living room. Much of the time, though, the pack finds a safe level of play and doesn’t require this. We take zero risks, though, and we observe carefully. How do you feed many dogs? Separately and in shifts. I have a row of crates near the kitchen. These allow pups to eat their own diet without being bothered. I am very award of "bloat" and ensure calm after meals. How do you keep their food straight? I place and label food in 12x8 containers with labels bearing each dog’s name. Why don't you accept small dogs (aside from established clients) The little pups have such a wide array of needs. Some think they are big and can hang with the large pups while others need to be kept separate. Also, some young pups What happens if they fight? Toys, food, protection, and disproportionate play levels are all potential causes of aggression. This is why we disallow toys, feed dogs individually, snd assess play levels. The protection instinct requires that we do not place ourselves in the midst of play wherein one pup might decide they need to protect one of us. We stay at the sidelines or coach from deck looking over the play yard. What do you do if a dog "claims" you or pair-bonds? We also disallow pair-bonding between ourselves and the pups. Yes, they get cuddles, but one pup doesn’t get more than another so none can say “Mine.” We also have a strict “no teeth” policy. Wrestling is fine, but the first growl and show of teeth gets a pup immediately placed in dreaded Group 3, which is time out for pups. Before a Group 3 pup can rejoin the pack (if at all) they get escorted pee breaks and time solitary time in the yard. This usually resets their nervous system. Again, we take no chances and observe closely. Can I stay for a while while my dog gets used to being here? No, it is like dropping your child at kindergarten—do it and leave. The dog will be protective of you otherwise. When you leave, they go "off the clock" and can relax with the other pups. I think all instances of aggression at dog parks and other settings are rooted in protecting the owner. My dog has separation anxiety. Will he or shee be overwhelmed by being with a pack? Remember that dogs are pack animals. They have separation anxiety because you are your dog’s pack-mate. Here, they have other pack-mates so do not feel the same anxiety. Being with other dogs relieves the stress of solitude. As for being overwhelmed, I 99,9% of the time see dogs discovering one another and making friends. I have many returning pups who spent their first day hiding or isolating but who now instigate play and nap with the pack. All the barking when I arrive frightens me and my dog. This is what dogs do. It settles down in a few minutes if you are calm. Ten minutes of bark and sniff and then all is well. It can be disconcerting. I understand! Will my dog want to come home after having such a great time? Out of hundreds of dogs in my care, only one did not want to go home. He was a poodle named Dave. All the others are joyful here and even more joyful when you come to take them home! Can I bring Fluffy’s toy bear and blankie? Please do not send anything but food and a leash. Nothing else. Not even a “scoop.” Not only will teddy bear and blankie get peed on and destroyed, they will become objects of contention. Dogs are only aggressive when they are either protecting us or guarding a resource. Cuddly Fluffy the bear could lead to aggression. I also think the Teddy or other security item might be a substitute for other dogs so is not needed here where pups connect with other pups. My dog can be reactive and sometimes growls. Can he/she stay with you? No. A reactive dog would benefit from much more training to feel safe and secure in the world. I recommend crate training and a basket muzzle. I do not train dogs. While all dogs have done very well here, it only takes one reactive dog to cause a terrible event. If you must board your reactive dog before you have a chance to really work with them deeply, I truly believe the less imaginative and more constraining facilities would be better. Being without you will be hard so your dog will need to feel contained in order to maintain regulation. This setting works for pups who are pro-social and capable of self-regulation. I just adopted/found my dog and have a trip planned. Can you take care of her even though I don’t really know much about her? You probably should cancel your trip. Really. That’s a lot to put on a pup. If you can’t cancel, then I recommend a facility that will crate her. She will feel contained and know what is expected. This is for well-adjusted pups with experience with doggy daycare. Do you accept puppies? I do, and we are good with them. We will crate them to support potty training and let them roam the yard and house and to play supervised. We have “raised” puppies that board with us regularly. We do fall in love with them and promise to give them back. If your pup is female, be 100% she is not in heat. Talk with your vet and be certain as you do not want more puppies! I know I don’t! Should I bring a crate? We have four XL crates in a room with a massive wall of window where pups feel safe and also enjoy a lovely view. We have a small crate as well. Our Labradors have two other crates they share with guests who need a parent figure. Should I bring bowls? No. We have that covered. Just the ziploc bags with meal portions and a leash. Anything else will get lost/chewed. Thank you for reading all of this. I know what an important decision you are making. We take care of the humans as well as the dogs with plenty of photos and assurance that we know what we are doing: caring for a very important member of your world.