SMALL DOG HOTEL

If you've ever dropped your dog off at a regular kennel and picked them back up like a totally stressed-out, anxious mess, you already know why traditional boarding can backfire. Loud noises, cages, and crowds often cause sensitive or reactive dogs to totally fall apart—sometimes completely wiping out all the hard work and money you've put into training. That’s exactly why we created our Behavioral Residency. Instead of a noisy, high-stress facility, this is a quiet, home-based sanctuary run by a real behavior specialist. We only take one dog at a time, meaning your pup gets 100% undivided attention, custom-tailored decompression, and careful management to make sure they stay calm, happy, and completely under threshold the whole time you're away. an answer to this item.

This is a great fit if your small dog struggles with fear, anxiety, reactivity toward people or other dogs, separation distress, hyperarousal, or noise sensitivity, or if they simply can't handle the overwhelm of traditional group boarding. (Note: Every dog completes a quick Residency Prep Assessment beforehand to ensure it's a safe match!)

Because this isn't just regular warehousing or basic dog-sitting—it’s specialized behavioral care. It takes a lot of active management behind the scenes, like controlling the environment, constantly watching for triggers, keeping your dog under threshold, and applying real behavioral expertise. Instead of managing a whole room full of dogs, we're giving your pup dedicated, 1-on-1 attention the entire time.

If your pup is reactive, the last thing they need is a forced group play situation that stresses them out. Instead, we keep a safe, controlled distance and focus on "Active Neutrality"—helping your dog learn how to exist calmly and safely around others without the pressure of having to interact, unless socialization is personally handled and carefully approved by our behavior specialist.

Yes, when appropriate. We maintain established boundaries, leash skills, stationing, crate or rest protocols, and other behavior foundations that are safe and appropriate for your dog. The goal is to avoid unnecessarily disrupting the structure your dog already understands.

We keep a really close eye on them for any little sign that they're feeling overwhelmed—like pacing, panting, shaking, whining, having trouble settling down, or any weird tummy changes. Instead of waiting for a full-blown meltdown or a big reaction, we catch it early and change things up in the environment right away to help them decompress.

For sure, we can definitely stick to whatever separation routines your dog already knows—using slow desensitization, stationing, predictable daily schedules, and gentle alone time when it makes sense for them. Just keep in mind, though, that a boarding stay isn't a magic fix or a complete replacement for a full separation-anxiety training program.

We know that keeping things predictable is a huge deal for anxious dogs. Before your pup stays with us, we'll ask you all about their usual schedule—feeding, sleeping, potty breaks, exercise, meds, and calming habits—and weave those right into their daily routine here.

Honestly, no—and that's purely because safety and suitability have to come first.

Before we can accept any dog, they go through a Residency Prep Assessment. That way, we can make sure our home environment, resources, and level of care are actually the right fit for your specific dog.

No. We’re here to provide supportive, comfortable in-home care right alongside your vet's instructions. We aren't a vet clinic, though, so we don't handle veterinary diagnoses, medical treatments, or emergency care. 

Depending on what your vet ordered and what your pup needs, we can help out with things like:

• Giving pills, supplements, or following a special diet to the letter
• Keeping an eye on their appetite and potty habits
• Doing basic checks on bandages or wounds
• Managing recovery suits or e-collars (cones)
• Taking them out for slow, controlled potty breaks
• Helping them stick to strict crate rest or restricted movement
• Helping them get around if their mobility is limited
• Keeping things super clean and comfy
• Watching closely for any shifts in their comfort or mood

(Just keep in mind: if something calls for actual veterinary-level medical decisions or treatments, that’s stuff a licensed vet has to take care of!)

Yes. As long as you or your vet give us clear instructions, we'll take care of it safely. We keep a detailed written schedule of everything they're supposed to take and log each dose every single time so nothing ever gets missed.

No. Medication doses and treatment plans must come from your veterinarian. We will not independently change, increase, decrease, discontinue, or substitute medications. If we observe a concerning change, we contact you and, when appropriate, your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital remains responsible for medical diagnosis and emergency treatment. We will contact you and follow the emergency instructions established during intake. Depending on the situation, immediate veterinary evaluation may be required.

We keep a close eye on all the important details of your dog's healing process, including:

• How well they're eating and drinking
• Their bathroom habits
• Their movement and mobility
• How much they're resting versus moving around
• Their overall comfort and mood
• Their incisions or healing areas (when applicable)
• Making sure meds are given right on time
• Any noticeable shifts from how they normally act

If we notice any significant changes or anything that looks off, we’ll reach out and let you know right away.

Potentially, yes! It just depends on the type of surgery, your vet's specific instructions, any movement limits, the medication schedule, and how much hands-on care they need. To make sure we're a good fit, we do require a Medical Intake Consultation beforehand, and we’ll need your vet's official discharge instructions ready before your pup's stay starts.

It is a 90-minute intake appointment designed to review your dog's recovery requirements before residency begins.

We review:

• Veterinary instructions
• Medication schedules
• Feeding requirements
• Activity restrictions
• Handling requirements
• Mobility limitations
• Recovery equipment
• Warning signs
• Emergency contacts

When appropriate, we also practice handling or mobility procedures before your dog's stay.

• $225 per night plus applicable sales tax
• $1,500 per week plus applicable sales tax — Recovery Stay
• $150 plus applicable sales tax Medical Intake Consultation — required

The weekly Recovery Stay includes a Daily Medical & Activity Log and video updates.

Medical recovery requires significantly more individualized attention, documentation, monitoring, sanitation, and schedule management then conventional boarding. This is a specialized one-on-one service rather than standard overnight boarding.

No. We accept one medical boarder at a time so the dog's recovery can remain our primary focus.

Yes, when necessary and with the appropriate owner authorization. Our goal is to follow the veterinarian's established recovery instructions as accurately as possible and communicate relevant changes promptly.