I met Kristina while walking my Oggie Doggie around the lake. She was hanging out by the boat rental with the Ladies of the Lake just before they were about to get their row on. I used to row the lake with the boat club so I already had a soft spot for that aspect but I actually appreciated her asking about my dog and giving me her card for future reference. I had only adopted by a dog in January from Rocket Dog and had as-of-yet, not left him with anyone day or night. He had been loyally by my side for many months in my disability and unemployment. My family does an annual trip to Reno in July so as the date approached, I tore up my house looking for the card she gave me. Once I located it, I both text her and called her. She had just had a tooth pulled so she wasn't feeling 100%, the date I needed boarding was over a month away so I said let's touch base when she was feeling better. A couple of weeks go by and as I was thinking to myself, I should call, text, or email her again. No sooner had I had that thought, had I opened up my email to find correspondence from her saying just that! I have read a couple of negative reviews on here about her personality. I like to do that when I am getting to know a business to see what others have had issues with. Even after reading those, I still stand confident that for my older dog, who is half-blind due to coming out of a hoarding situation, she is a good fit for us. We initially did a meet and greet for about an hour with the dog, my 10-year-old daughter, and myself in her backyard to see how Oggie did with her other dogs, both resident dogs, and boarded dogs. He did great and neither Oggie nor my daughter wanted to leave. The next step was a day boarding so he could rest assured that his new adoptive mommy, me, was not passing him off permanently but temporarily and I would return after 8 hours and take him home. The final step in our Reno trip coming up on Saturday for a few days will be to take Oggie there the night before we leave and pick him up the morning after we return home. I am confident that Oggie and Kristina will do well together. If not, I will update this review to reflect such... To be continued... read more

We had a _terrible_ experience with Kristina, and I would advise anyone considering working with her to read this review in full first. She made several decisions that made us deeply uncomfortable, both in terms of how she related to our dog, other dogs and how she treated her financial agreements with us (i.e. not honoring her word and charging us for services not received). Shortly after moving to Oakland, we had to go away on short notice and had to establish a new boarding relationship. We contacted Kristina about a week before leaving. We agreed to one day of doggie daycare that we did not otherwise need to determine if this was a good fit. This was explicitly a "test". She required us to put down a deposit to hold the boarding spot. When I dropped my dog off, she began making derogatory comments about a very elderly dog she was boarding in a confiding way, as though it would be obvious to me that the dog was a problem (it wasn't). She said the dog was very old and needed to be put down, that the owners hadn't been up front with her about the dog's problems. I was amazed she would tell a new client that another client's dog should be put down. Mystified, I asked what the dog's problems were. She said that the dog was sometimes disoriented and bumped into walls, that it sometimes vocalized and cried for its owners (as it was doing then ) and it made her feel terrible to hear this. She said she would not work with this dog again. To me, nothing about the dog's behavior seemed problematic or out of the ordinary for an elderly dog while boarding and it was only stressful to me to hear a prospective dog boarding business owner talking about dogs this way. She also said she was possibly going camping for 2 of the 4 days we would be boarding our dog, but her roommate would be around to watch the dogs. This was also alarming, but we felt we had no time to find another arrangement, so we agreed. When we picked up our dog at the end of the day, we learned that our dog had been cowering under the furniture most of the day. We'd never seen our dog behave this way, though he has boarded with half a dozen other people. He usually sits in guests' laps the whole time they are visiting. We were alarmed, but Kristina asked us to bring our dog back a second day because she'd been out of the house much of the day and hadn't been available to make our dog comfortable. She could not remember our dog's name and referred to him as a "she" (he is male). We were reluctant not only because of the red flags already described, but because we did not need daycare, only boarding, and each additional "test" day of daycare was costly. It was concerning that we'd paid for a test day when Kristina was mostly out of the house. We felt she could have planned better. We were supposed to bring our dog at 7AM the second day. We ran late. Kristina called us at 7:01 or 7:02 AM and asked where we were and told us she needed us to arrive at the time scheduled. It was stressful for us that there was so little wiggle room. Kristina indicated that she was going to a doctor's appointment that morning and needed to leave promptly at 7AM. Yet the only point of this second unneeded day of daycare was to see if our dog would be more comfortable with her if she was home, instead of out of the house. Our dog was returning again to a frightening environment with nobody there to calm him. After drop off, my partner and I realized we were uncomfortable leaving our dog with Kristina. I contacted her and said I preferred not to go forward with the boarding arrangement based on the test daycare experience and would she be willing to refund for boarding. She texted, "of course." That afternoon, 8 hours later, with no further communication to the contrary, my partner picked up our dog. Kristina refused the refund because she said we hadn't given sufficient notice, even though our whole relationship had happened within such short notice that we could not possibly have given more notice, and even though she'd agreed to a refund based on the test days. She said her policy was to keep all the money, but that she would make an exception and give us a credit for daycare. We didn't trust her anymore, and so my partner argued for an hour before she agreed to refund 50%. She agreed only after my partner asked for a written policy, which stated she would keep 50%, not 100%, as she had been verbally claiming. Seeing the discrepancy, she said she's not much of a businessperson and can't keep track of her own policy. In the end, we paid Kristina ~$200 for 2 days of test daycare to determine that this was a person we did not trust with our dog. We happily made the 8-hour round-trip drive _twice_, on work nights, to drop off and pick up our dog from a family member rather than going forward with the boarding arrangement. read more

Kristina is great. Our puppy stayed with Kristina for 3 days and 1 night. Everyday, puppy wagged her tail and couldn't wait to see Kristina. When puppy got picked up, she was actually reluctant to leave! That says quite a bit about Kristina and the care she gives each dog. We were also thrilled that puppy got to socialize with other dogs and people. She especially loved her outings at the park! We had one happy and tired dog by the end of the day. Thanks Kristina! read more

I cannot express how amazing Home Away from Home is. . .I bring my little Jelly Bean to Kris and Pepper 3-5 times a week and she could not be happier! Beanie is a rescue and is a very nervous pup - she has severe separation anxiety, and for some reason, she loves Kris- I think this is due to her warm spirit and soft manner. Beanie and Pepper have also become the best of friends, which is always a plus for a dog who had no socialization growing up. Kris is very kind and patient with all dogs - she really knows her stuff! She even sends me emails telling me how Beanie is doing - helps me get through the day :) For anyone who loves his/her dog like a child, this is the place for you - could not recommend it more! read more

Kristina is awesome, affordable, and I feel like I am get a two for one - training and boarding in one affordable package! Separation Anxiety Reduced - My dog has separation anxiety (think hunger strikes) and usually when we leave, it seems like it takes a week to get her back to her old self. When I picked up my precious little beagle this morning after a weekend away, it seemed like she had barely even noticed I left (my ego was a bit hurt, but overall I was pleasantly surprised). The structure of being in a home with a fun backyard is much easier on her fragile emotional complex then a boarding facility where she has to stay in a kennel and/or play with big dogs in an run. Boarding includes Socialization/Training - My dog grew up in Utah, so she has not spent as much time being social as city dogs. Leaving her with Kristina is great because she can spend time around other dogs that are not so big that she is overwhelmed. Kristina keeps her and the other dogs in check (watches for inappropriate behavior and separates them). This type of environment is a unique opportunity for Roxy to learn social skills with other small dogs while being in a safe and supervised environment. A Note on the Neighborhood - Kristina's house is in a diverse section of Oakland. Kristina has a careful professional process, where she arranges pick-up and drop-off times so that she can give individual attention at the drop-off and pick-up without too much fuss or waiting. Parking is easy in front of the house, so you don't have to haul your dog and toys from too far away. read more

My little shih tzu has health problems, so when we needed daycare for her during our vacation, I had no idea where to turn. The big doggie hotels in the area seemed loud, impersonal and expensive for what you get. I learned about Kristina's business from a friend, and toured her place soon after. Her home is so comfortable and dog-friendly. The other dogs there were small and sweet, just like mine. Kristina agreed to give my dog her meds each day, and said the routine was less complicated than other dogs she's had there. That was a surprising relief. We've taken our dog back to Home Away from Home several times, and she is always excited to see Kristina and the other dogs. That's a sure sign it's a good place. read more

I visited for reasons other thing bringing a dog, but found five happy small dogs doing dog things. It's home based care, there's a back yard and then the house where dogs have run of all but one room. This is no loud concrete "doggie hotel". It's a house. All seemed well. read more

Perfect spot to have your pups stay if your staying in any of the hotels in Emeryville. Although a lot of hotels welcome pets for an additional fee ($100+ per night), you might as well let your pups run around happy in a home with other dogs so that they can have their own mini vacation (especially if it is raining). Then while they have their fun, you can roam around the city trying all kinds of foods and not worrying about leaving them in the car or sitting in the cold/rain read more

I'm copying this verbatim from another reviewer because I can't say it any better myself: "I've been debating whether to post this review or not, as Kristina was a very warm, friendly woman..." But after sitting with this for a few weeks, I have to speak out. Summary Version: I caught a weird vibe from Kristina from the beginning and I wasn't 100% comfortable leaving my dog in her care, especially after seeing the facility. I was in a desperate situation and I (and my puppy) are paying the price now, lesson learned on my part. Home Away From Home does not verify if dogs are vaccinated, has poor hygiene overall, and Kristina has a schedule that seems hardly conducive to being a dog boarder, even in spite of the "help" she hires. NEVER, EVER, BOARD YOUR ANIMAL HERE! WARNING! FOR YOUR DOG'S HEALTH AND WELL BEING, STAY AWAY! Long Version: My puppy (9 weeks at the time) was with Kristina over a weekend; when she arrived, she was in perfect health. Kristina called me on the day I was set to return to let me know that my dog had contracted Kennel cough while in her care. She then proceeded to make this out to be my fault, ASKED ME TO PAY FOR ANOTHER OWNER'S DOG'S CARE (who she said got kennel cough from my dog), and made me feel guilty when I refused such a preposterous offer by telling me that the owner of the other dog is sick and poor and that she, "guesses she will just have to pay for the vet bill because they can't afford to". I came home to a hacking dog and in my case, my dog is short snouted dog so kennel cough isn't a minor thing for them. It required a vet visit, antibiotics, and will require a follow up appointment once she finally stops coughing. As if a sick puppy wasn't enough, I was then harassed DAILY (sometimes multiple times) about the status of my dog via text and phone. Quite frankly, it's none of Kristina's business and a typical person in tune with social cues would have just left me alone and gotten the hint. But no, when multiple texts/calls didn't work, she proceeded to email me with the other owner in CC (exposing my email to them) asking how our dogs were doing. HOW DO YOU THINK MY DOG IS DOING KRISTINA? SHE IS SICK BECAUSE YOUR BOARDING FACILITY IS DIRTY, UNREGULATED, AND YOU DON'T VERIFY IF PEOPLE VACCINATE THEIR DOGS. I finally had to block her number. A few days go by and I get an email from Wag Hotel here in Oakland. The email states that they are "sorry to here that [your puppy] got sick with Kennel cough" and that I will have to suspend bringing her to puppy social class (I had let Kristina know I was taking my puppy to Wag for this service) until the vet clears that she is better. I thought to myself, "this is strange, I didn't inform Wag of this and I haven't brought my dog in since she got sick so how do they know she's sick? Did the vet tell them?" So I replied asking how they know my puppy has kennel cough and couldn't believe what I was reading when they replied. "A local boarding facility called us to let us know". I replied back shocked that they (Wag) would take a random stranger's word as truth over the phone like that without contacting me first. The guy at Wag apologized and I made it clear that no one except me should be involved in anyway with my dog. I am HORRIFIED that this woman would be this insane, that she would be this vindictive, and that she can't just mind her own business. read more

Overall, ok. Likes: Kristina's warm and relaxed personality, her dog-friendly home environment where dogs may sleep on the bed, the enclosed backyard where dogs can run around, the small dog-only requirement, and the presence of another person in the house in case of emergency. Dislikes: The requirement that dogs wear diapers in house (so they don't mark), Kristina's seemingly liberal use of the squirt gun on dogs, initial non-disclosure regarding the cat in house, the sense (perhaps wrong) that my dog was just a number, being encouraged to hand out or post her business card, her cash-only policy, and the unsafe West Oakland neighborhood. She seems like a very kind person and I wish her the best, but I feel the need to provide a balanced picture. read more

I've been debating whether to post this review or not, as Kristina was a very warm, friendly woman, and she even kept my husband and I updated during our vacation about how our two doggies were doing (I think she could tell I was nervous about leaving them!) However, when we picked up the dogs, she had them locked in their crates, and they were both crying loudly, scratching at their crates to get out. My one dog actually shook the entire car ride home. My dogs have a lot of energy (admittedly, they can be a handful) so I was very upset that they were crated - and suspect that this was the situation for the majority of their stay. I've recently moved to the area and this was my first time boarding my dogs here. However, I frequently boarded them at the last place I lived and they've NEVER been upset when I pick them up. The only explanation I can think of is that they spent too much time in their crates, and didn't go for walks, which makes them stir-crazy. I would recommend Kristina for dogs that are low-maintenance and don't need a lot of exercise. However, I don't think this was the right place for my pups. read more

It's been over a year since my last review but just today I read this review from Caroline who says that she was a roommate of Kristina: http://www.yelp.com/biz/home-away-from-home-oakland?hrid=sCAkQssm8S_0GMttxEodNA After reading this, it only makes me want to report Kristina to the State of California or ASPCA. Even if Caroline's assessment is half true, what a sham of a pet care business Kristina is trying to pull off. She really needs to stop abusing the dogs entrusted to her care!! I also read many of the 5-star reviews to see if perhaps I am over reacting but it seems that nearly all of them are based on basic trust people normally bestow on care givers. After all, how often does one meet a really terrible dog boarding place owner? read more

Kristina saved my life! I was vacationing in another state when I got a call from my dogsitters telling me they couldn't take care of my dogs any longer. Frantic, I was given Kristina's number by the director of an animal rescue. She agreed to take my dogs, asked a ton of excellent questions about their personalities and their care, and was even willing to let them sleep in her bed! She checked in a few times to let me know that the dogs were doing well, putting my mind to ease on multiple occasions. My dogs have never boarded well, but when I picked them up they were happy and healthy. Her prices are completely reasonable for the extreme level of care she gives. After a harrowing experience, the four days my babies spent with Kristina were a blessing. I'll absolutely call her the next time I go out of town. Thanks Kristina! read more

Don't go to the Humane Society unless you are really ready to adopt a dog THAT DAY. Because inevitably, you will end up falling in love with a dog, fear that someone else will adopt her while you're out of town for the next 5 days (Christmas Eve/Day included), and take her home in a scramble to find someone to take care of her before your 6am flight the next morning! Without Kristina, we really wouldn't have been able to adopt the cute little munchkin pup who is now the highlight of our day. My husband and I are SO thankful that Kristina was available and willing to take an animal shelter dog on such short notice. It was also a comfort to me that Kristina has fostered lots of dogs before. Thank you to Kristina for being such a lifesaver for us! read more

I am really glad I found Kristina. I needed a place to board my dog at about 10pm on the night before I left for vacation. I had just found out that my dog was sick and didn't know for sure what was wrong with her. Kristina agreed to take my dog late at night and didn't mind that she had to giver her medication several times a day. I don't know what I would have done without her. read more

Home Away From Home was a life-saver. After searching high and low for boarding in Eastbay, we came across Kristina. First off the prices are great, but more importantly I genuinely felt comfortable leaving my dog TJ there over the New Years Holiday. Her home is completely dedicated to the dogs and feels like you are leaving your dog with family. She is a very nice lady and you can instantly tell she loves the dogs she watches. I was very happy with every aspect of Home Away From Home and will definitely use her in the future. If you are looking for boarding in the Bay area, this is the place. Like the name implies, it is a home for your dog, not some kennel or boarding location. read more

We've left our dog with Kristina numerous times, and have always had a good experience. She has been accomodating to our sometimes unpredictable schedule and provides great service at very affordable rates. It's especially reassuring knowing that at 20lbs our dog is on the larger side of the dogs you'll see at Home Away From Home. Our dog always looks forward to his visits with Krisitna and is always happy when we pick him up. I would strongly recommend anyone looking to board their small dog to consider Kristina at Home Away From Home. read more

Kris is simply wonderful! She watched my two dogs while I was away on a business trip last week and while it was the first time boarding them ever, she made me feel like they were in good hands, and they surely were. Since it was after her "holiday rush", the only other dog there was her own, and the three of them got on just fine. She really does provide a "home away from home" and I felt very good about leaving them with her. She is very patient with the dogs and also was with me--I am a first-time dog owner and she had a lot of good advice for me about various things. I am going away again next month for a longer period of time and will not hesitate to leave them with Kris again. I cannot recommend her highly enough! If you're considering your options, just skip it and go with Kris; you won't be disappointed! read more

I've been boarding my cocker spaniel with Kristine and Home Away From Home for the past 5 years and wouldn't dream of taking him anywhere else! I love my little buddy as if he were my kid (guilty!!), and can't stomach the idea of him being pent up in a crate for days at a time. Traveling often, I can be assured my dog is in good hands when he's with Kristine, and have piece of mind. Would HIGHLY recommend Home Away From Home for any fellow dog parent who loves his/her "baby"!! read more

Kristina is the best and I highly recommend boarding your small dog here. She's been very flexible to work with me on drop off and pick up times. Moreover, my dog is the love of my life and she's the only one I would trust (besides my friends) to watch my dog. I know Roxanne (my dog) is well taken care of and Kristina provides a lovely environment to make my dog as comfortable as possible while I'm gone. Thank you Kristina for all that you do! read more

Kristina is an excellent choice for boarding your pet. She always has the cutest array of dogs at her home, and they all seem very happy and well taken care of. She is very communicative while pet owners are on travel, which made me feel better about leaving my life partners behind! In all, i am very particular about who cares for my dogs, and I found Kristina to be a great option. I highly recommend her. read more

We just left our newly adopted senior dachshund, Daphne, with Kristina for two full weeks and couldn't be more pleased with her services. Daphne suffers from pretty severe separation anxiety and really doesn't like other dogs when we're out on walks, so we were nervous about leaving her in a boarding situation. Because Kristina works exclusively with small (not to mention senior) dogs, we decided to give it a try. Kristina and her assistant, Nichola, kept us updated on Daphne via occasional emails while we were away, so we always felt assured that Daphne was doing well. In fact, it sounded like she was having such a good time, I worried a little that she might forget about us and not want to come home! Fortunately, she was happy to see us and made the transition back home with complete ease, which indicates to me that she must have had a pretty calm and stress-free couple of weeks in Kristina's care. Thanks, Kristina! We'll be bringing Daphne back again! read more

Our two mini-long hair dachshunds LOVE saying at Kristina's. Where else do they get on demand belly rubs and laps - and get to snuggle under the covers in the people bed? Besides Right at Home, of course :) Kristina is so flexible and wonderful to do business with, I can't imagine putting our "kids" in a kennel, no matter how plushly furnished. Thank you, Kristina!! read more

Home Away from Home ROCKS! Our little malti-poo, Jambalaya, is delighted to see her old friend Kristina every time and it is such a relief to know she will not only be safe and cared for, but cuddled as well. (Jamba is Super affectionate, and luckily Kristina is too). I am so grateful that Home Away from Home exists... read more

An excellent option for dog care when one's little one must stay behind. Due to her advanced age, as well as separation anxiety issues, my little girl needs special care and a fairly constant human presence. I feel very safe and comforted leaving her with Kristina at Home Away From Home. read more

My mini poodle wasn't very social when she first started staying with Kris, but now she's completely socialized and loves to play with other small dogs. This is a big deal for me; she used to be a snarling bitch with other small dogs! Another big plus, she wags her tail and can't wait to get into Kris's front door when I drop her off -- I travel a lot on business. Mini has found her home away from home. A home with a handful of small dogs to be friends with. Perfect. read more

Kristina is a super lady with the perfect house - lots of attention and a big backyard to play in. I left my dog with her for 10 days while in Europe and he was in great spirits when I returned. Kristina was very responsive to my email check-ins and won't think about leaving my little buddy anywhere else when I travel! read more

Kristina is wonderful to leave my dog with every day while I work. It's a very affordable alternative to other daycare, and the setting is much more personal and loving. My doggie, Emma, gets to sleep on a million different bed options, including Kristina's bed, and has a doggie door to go outside whenever she wants to. It's such a relief to me that she is having a great time instead of being left alone all day! read more

I had to make a quick trip back east to see my ailing Dad. Kristina took in my little boy at a moments notice and eased my troubled mind. She sent me messages and pictures to reassure me that my dog was OK. While I was nervous at leaving him, my dog had a great time. It was like doggie camp where he got to play with other little dogs, sniff and roll to his hearts content in the backyard and snuggle with Kristina at the end of his day. It was great! I would take my dog back there any time! read more

We are so happy we found Kristina, who really does make her home a "Home away from Home" for our dog. We've boarded our puppy with Kristina 4 times, once for as long as week. She is always very nice, flexible, and reasonable. We've only had our puppy for 8 months and I called and/or visited about 10 places before I found Kristina. I love that we found a place where our dog is boarded in a real home with a nice big back yard, with trees & grass to run around in. There is even a doggy door so the dogs have freedom to enjoy the inside or outside of the house as they please, and other smaller dogs (our dog is 20lbs) to play with. The pricing and the accommodations offered are much better than the other places we checked - some were almost double the price with not as much space, flexibility, or TLC provided as Kristina's. I really appreciate how nice and accommodating she is in regards to her flexibility. On one instance she let us pick our puppy up on the way home from the airport after our red-eye flight at 6:30am in the morning - she said it was no problem and even answered the door with a big smile. On other occasions she's been very understanding when I've had to change the pick up or drop off time - multiple times. Most larger dog boarding business have strict morning and evening hours and it's great to have the flexibility Kristina offers. Our dog is happy to see Kristina when we drop her off and when we pick her up she's in good spirits looks like she's been well cared for - she is usually a little dirtier than when we left her but no more than if she'd been in our backyard - and personally I don't mind because it means that's she's been outside playing and not cooped up in a cage, or on concrete, like some of the other dog boarding facilities we visited. We would definitely recommend Kristina for her kindness, home environment, and great care (to the pets and pet owners!) read more