Sara H.
Sara H.
Contact for Boarding
from $75 per night
Highlights
Pet care experience
Premium Care, Tailored to Your Dog
Trainer-Led, In-Home Care for Dogs Who Need More I’m the founder and CEO of a professional dog-training company that employee's several trainers, but more importantly, I’m still a hands-on trainer who genuinely enjoys getting to know each dog as an individual. I provide calm, structured, in-home boarding for dogs who may not thrive in a traditional kennel or busy daycare. I intentionally keep my numbers low—typically five dogs or fewer per trainer—so every dog receives personalized attention, consistent handling, and plenty of time to rest and decompress. I have experience caring for and training: • Anxious, sensitive, or easily overwhelmed dogs • Reactive or misunderstood dogs • High-energy and working breeds • Rescue dogs adjusting to new environments • Dogs who benefit from structure and consistency My background includes canine behavior, advanced obedience, confidence building, and real-life manners. I focus on helping dogs feel safe and understood while maintaining clear, fair boundaries. Socialization is always based on the individual dog and is never forced. Every dog has a private space for rest and sleep. Depending on your dog’s needs and preferences, their stay may also include: • Orthopedic bedding or a raised cot • Calming music and pheromone support • Structured activity balanced with downtime • Enrichment suited to their energy level • Individualized care and consistent routines My goal is to maintain the routines and expectations your dog understands at home—not simply supervise them. I follow practical, family-focused training standards that encourage confidence, emotional regulation, and reliable everyday behavior. Customized training can also be added to your dog’s stay. Options include Board and Train, Day School, private lessons, and follow-up support. I’ll always discuss training goals and recommendations with you before beginning any additional work. I’m also deeply involved in rescue work, which has given me extensive experience with dogs who need patience, predictability, and a thoughtful introduction to unfamiliar people or environments. Before confirming a stay, I like to have a conversation about your dog’s routine, health, behavior, handling needs, and preferences. This allows me to determine whether my home and care approach are the right fit—and gives you the opportunity to feel confident about who will be caring for your dog. If you’re looking for intentional care, experienced handling, honest communication, and peace of mind while you’re away, I would love to learn more about your dog.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
Sara’s awesome! Dudley always comes home exhausted (in the best way possible), because of all of the enrichment, exercise, and fun he has staying with Sara. It’s always nice knowing how knowledgeable Sara and her team are with reactive / anxious dogs, so I never have to worry about anything. Will always highly recommend!
We’ve left our babies with Sarah multiple times. Our one dog has anxiety and Sarah and her team have been the only ones we trust her with. Now when the dogs see us packing their bag to go to Sarah’s, they’re actually excited!
Sarah was very helpful and accommodating when I mistakenly set the wrong drop off date. Sadi was very well cared for. Thank you Sarah!
Sara made dropping off my dog, Sadie, easy as can be. She looped me in with some of her trainers too so they could send me some pictures, which I appreciated very much. We look forward to boarding with her again! Thank you.
Sara is amazing. Words can’t begin to describe how grateful we are to have found a sitter like her. She has taken excellent care of our doggy which can be a handful when he decides to. We 100% recommend her! She will be our permanent sitter for as long as we live in Az.
Super easy drop off/pick up and I knew my dogs were taken care of!
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
Pet care is the center of my daily routine. As the founder and CEO of a dog-training company, I work with dogs full-time and follow a structured schedule that balances exercise, enrichment, rest, and individualized attention. A typical day begins around 6:00 AM with quiet potty breaks. Dogs go out individually or with members of their own household so everyone can wake up and settle into the day peacefully. Breakfast is served between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, followed by at least 90 minutes of rest to support comfortable digestion, especially for large, deep-chested breeds. From approximately 7:30 AM to noon, I rotate dogs through activities selected for their personalities, energy levels, and abilities. These may include: • Individual or carefully matched group play • Fetch, agility, or treadmill conditioning • Walks and structured physical exercise • Food puzzles, Kongs, snuffle mats, or lick mats • Basic obedience and real-life manners • One-on-one attention and confidence-building activities From 12:00PM to 3:00 PM, dogs enjoy quiet time in their private rest spaces. Calming music, comfortable bedding, and a peaceful environment help prevent overstimulation and give everyone time to recover. Afternoon enrichment generally runs from 3:00 to 6:30 PM, with another rotation of activities based on each dog’s needs. Evenings include dinner, potty breaks, individual attention, and a calm wind-down routine before bedtime. Most dogs receive at least six outings each day. My goal is not simply to tire them out, it is to provide a healthy balance of intentional movement, mental stimulation, personal attention, and quality rest. To protect this routine and maintain a calm environment, my standard drop-off and pick-up windows are: • 7:00 AM– 9:00 AM • 4:00 PM– 6:00 PM If you need a different time, please let me know in advance. I’ll accommodate special arrangements when possible without disrupting the dogs already in my care. Each dog is different, so I adjust the schedule around age, health, mobility, behavior, feeding requirements, and comfort level. Puppies, senior dogs, anxious dogs, and dogs with established home routines receive care tailored to their individual needs.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Compassion Comes Standard I believe every dog—regardless of age, personality, or special needs—deserves patient, individualized care. My philosophy is simple: caring shouldn’t cost extra. I care for each dog with the same love, respect, and attention I would want for my own. I take time to understand their routines, comfort level, behavior, and preferences so I can help them feel safe while they are away from home. My property offers more than 4,000 square feet of outdoor play space across two secure yards. Our main home features K9 Grass, a dog-specific turf designed for comfort and cleanliness, and are enclosed by six-and seven-foot block walls for added safety and privacy. Our 2nd yard has real grass that is irrigated 2x per month in the summer. For rest and sleep, each dog receives a private 5-by-5-foot space with a Kuranda raised bed. Impact crates with supportive Kong orthopedic mats are available for dogs who are anxious, prone to escaping, or most comfortable in an enclosed space. Traditional wire crates are also available for dogs accustomed to them. I use the setup that best supports each individual dog rather than expecting every guest to adapt to the same environment. To create a calm, low-stress atmosphere, I also provide: • Adaptil pheromone diffusers • Sound machines designed for canine relaxation • Calming bed spray • Natural calming treats, but only with your prior approval • Structured activity balanced with quiet decompression time Dogs are introduced thoughtfully, and group activities are based on ATT temperament testing, play style, size, and comfort level. Socialization is never forced. Dogs who prefer people, need personal space, or are not appropriate for group play can receive individual activities and attention instead. Well-mannered guests may also enjoy supervised house privileges. These quiet, one-on-one or same-household sessions provide additional comfort and connection in a true home setting. For dogs who would be most comfortable in a bedroom environment, I offer an optional private guest-room boarding experience. This option provides a more familiar, home-like arrangement and includes professional cleaning between guests. This room is an additional fee. Before every stay, I ask detailed questions about health, behavior, feeding, medications, escape tendencies, handling sensitivities, and established routines. Honest communication helps me prepare the safest and most comfortable experience possible. I don’t charge extra for empathy, patience, or the basic comforts dogs need to feel secure. Clean surroundings, calming support, private rest spaces, and personalized care are part of every stay—because that is what responsible care should look like.
A typical day
No two dogs have the same idea of fun, so I tailor each day to the dog in front of me. Some guests love an active game of fetch or a carefully matched playgroup, while others are happiest exploring with their nose, solving a food puzzle, or enjoying relaxed one-on-one time. Depending on your dog’s age, energy level, mobility, temperament, and preferences, activities may include: • Agility and confidence-building exercises • Structured fetch or individual play • Treadmill conditioning • Scent work and exploratory activities • Food puzzles, Kongs, snuffle mats, and lick mats • Basic obedience and real-life manners • Carefully matched small-group play • One-on-one affection and supervised house time Before participating in group activities, dogs are evaluated for temperament, play style, size, and comfort level. Socialization is never forced, and dogs who prefer personal space receive individual enrichment instead. I balance active periods with quiet breaks in each dog’s private rest space. This gives them time to decompress, process the day, and avoid becoming overstimulated. Well-mannered guests may also enjoy supervised house privileges for additional connection and the comfort of relaxing in a home environment. My goal is not simply to keep your dog busy or exhaust them. I want them to enjoy meaningful activities that leave them feeling fulfilled, comfortable, and cared for. Whether your dog is a playful social butterfly, a focused working breed, a sensitive rescue, or a senior who prefers a gentler pace, I’ll create a day that feels right for them.