My dog loves this place! He's starts crying when we get close. He can't wait to get out and go…read moreplay with the other doggies. The owners are wonderful, kind and very caring people. They want the best for your pet and treat them as if they were theirs.

Absolutely LOVE this place!! They take amazing care of our dog and he's always so excited when we…read morepull up so I know he loves it as much as we do!! They made special notes in his file, like how he gets anxious in thunderstorms, so they could take special care with his unique personality. When our trip was unexpectedly extended an extra day, they were more than accommodating. They truly went above and beyond to make sure he had everything he needed for the extra day. When our pup was too stubborn to get in the car, they gave me a hand and helped lift him safely into the back of my Jeep for the ride home. Couldn't speak more highly of this amazing place!!

leslie is the best!! Camp Happy Tails will treat your pup with the same love and compassion that d!read more

we brought our puppies here for their first grooming and they looked awesome!! will definitely be…read moreusing Camp happy tails from now on

An accommodating, caring, safe boarding for my Big guy. The…read morecondos are amazing , roomy enclosed " bedroom", a private fenced in patio, and fenced outdoor space. Huge play areas to run and play. Nature walks are also an option. Daily pictures and updates are provided. I've never been so at ease knowing my dog is in loving care. Thank you.

Sarah and her husband have built a remarkable home away home for dogs! The setup is the best we've…read moreever seen, and we really appreciate the TLC that went into the design and our dogs' stays there. They stay in doggie condos, not a kennel, and have tons of space to roam in a beautiful setting. We could not be happier to have found Sarah and the Cottages. They really make leaving our pups stress free!

Amazing is all I can think of after boarding my 2 dogs here. The owner was so nice and flexible i…read more100% recommend coming here. Our flight got canceled last min and she was so understanding and stayed in touch the whole time. I will bring my dogs back for sure. The place is so clean and open for the dogs to enough space to play. They had so much fun and i didnt have to worry at all.

From the owner: Applewood Boarding Kennels is a small family owned dog daycare that takes pride in providing clean…read moreday and night dog boarding with 18 climate controlled boarding rooms, all day access to outdoor runs, fenced in yard for outdoor play; all in a quiet country setting for your pets. Located just 15 minutes south of Culpeper, then only 3 miles off route 29 James Madison Hwy on Leon Rd to Waylands Mill Rd. Call today to learn more about our dog kennels and services!

Where do we begin with providing a proper client review of such a WONDERFUL and WELCOMING…read morehome-away-from-home for your beloved furry family members, and where you will be a returning client? Is it with the: 1) CARING and KNOWLEDGEABLE client/pet-oriented family Team; or, 2) WELCOMING and INDIVIDUAL luxury boarding suites and adjacent fenced exercise areas; or 3) CALMING and RELAXING clean air environment and walking trails set in the Blue Ridge Mountain region????? As "parents" of two shelter-rescue Rottweilers [Cola (f) and Moose (m)], in early 2024 we were in need of the "purrfect" boarding team and environment as we prepared for an March/April trip to Europe. Significant considerations included the facts that neither pet was very social, nor had ever been apart from us or away from home. To say we had anxiety about this issue is an understatement; but then, we found Miriam and her family-based team at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat in Amherst, VA. Our initial engagement was so successful we returned recently for 2 weeks in October when we attended a family wedding. Below is our attempt to inform accordingly so you may also experience such joy...... Firstly, the TEAM: No business can operate to its highest degree of precision absent having the highest caliber TEAM to execute flawlessly and achieve such performance. Factor into the pet-boarding business equation is the fact that our pets are beloved family members and we strive to entrust their training and care to the most qualified and caring professionals of integrity in the safest environment. Have no concerns on this front, as Miriam and her family are the highest caliber cohesive TEAM who exceed client (and furry guest) expectations. From the moment we engaged with Miriam, we knew we made the purrfect choice. Miriam listened to us and understood our concerns, and suggested an initial meet and greet with Cola and Moose. We eagerly made the 2-hour drive from Mineral, VA to meet Miriam, who is a well-accomplished author and expert in the field of animal behavior, training and care; and her clients and their pets are the direct beneficiaries. I stress the fact Miriam listened to our concerns and provided insightful information facilitating our collective best-informed decision to entrust Cola and Moose with her for a 1-month board and train period during our upcoming trip. I assure you that we did not have any guilt-based regrets as we departed on drop-off day of either of our two visits to date (March/April and then October). You can trust that Miriam sincerely wants you and your pet(s) to be happy, comfortable and free of any stress, emphasizing her positive reinforcement approach which serves as the corner stone of Shady Mountain Pet Retreat. You can even follow your pet's daily adventures through various updates Miriam posts thoughtfully on social media and her website: https://www.shadymountainpetretreat.net/ Secondly (but equally), the BOARDING SUITES/EXERCISE AREAS: Discard any concerns you may have that you will find institutional-style stress creating chain link fence-type boarding "cages" or rooms at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat. Rather, at Shady Mountain your family member will reside in a very comfortable, climate-controlled individualized roomy suite, separated by solid walls from neighboring guests. A raised off-the-floor style pet bed is a plus to afford more comfort while resting. The suite doors have a full length glass window (with drop blind as needed) so residents can watch the daily "office" activities, and a rear-exit pet door leading out to the fenced in exercise area. Each guest enjoys their own supply storage cubby which facilitates the management of feedings, etc. External fenced in exercise areas are divided into separate sections which permits greater staff flexibility for training, etc. See website for all the other possibilities for your pet's stay: https://www.shadymountainpetretreat.net/ Lastly (but equally), the clean air mountain ENVIRONMENT and WALKING TRAILS: As you ascend Shady Mountain to reach the Retreat, you will be filled with a calming and serene sense, taking in the peaceful natural Amherst, VA environment. Cola and Moose love taking in all the smells of nature as we drive up the mountain. Peaceful and calming are the words we would use to describe this environment. If pet appropriate, Miriam's team can take your loved-one on nature walks through trails in the surrounding landscape, with the potential to see deer and other varieties of wildlife. Cola and Moose told us they so enjoyed these nature walks on their most recent visit. We conclude our review by recommending, with the highest regards, the Shady Mountain Pet Retreat, Miriam and her team. At the Shady Mountain Pet Retreat all three elements of knowledgeable and caring people, well-apportioned boarding/training facilities and a serene environment combine to provide the most wonderful and trusting of experiences. Thank you!!

As someone who's worked in canine behavior and training for years, finding a place I will entrust…read morewith my dogs is no easy feat. Now that I've found Shady Mountain I may never leave Virginia. Miriam is the real deal. Besides l the numerous books she's published on dog behavior and training the facility is perfect. It's set up impeccably, has appropriately strict health screening for entry and the services on site are too notch. I left my dogs for their first stay and walked away with ease and comfort knowing they are in the best of hands. It's worth every penny and then some.

Julia was absolutely incredible with our hyper anxious dog. I can't recommend her and her partner…read moreenough! We did 3 sessions with them and it made a huge difference in our doodle.

Dawg Boss is extremely knowledgeable in what they do. They can train any type of dog and really…read morelove what they do. Your dog is safe with them and exceptionally cared for. They have helped me many times with my dogs and I know if I have a question I can always turn to them. Definitely recommend!!!

Best boarding kennel in VA! DC prices are way out of my price range and I don't trust the kennels…read morearound here after looking at them. They were all small! After seeing the HUGE kennels at Acres of Fun, I knew that would be the best place to leave my dog for a week. They have in/out runs, too - that are really cool. We left our cat in the 3 story cat condo. Pretty sweet! Our dog has eating issues and has to have special meals, it wasn't a problem here. The kennel is beautiful and it sits on a gorgeous piece of land out in the country- where else would you want to leave your pets?! For us, it worth the drive.

Our puppy is 1 year old and just stayed at Acres of Fun over the holidays. He had a great time and…read morehardly wanted to leave! The great staff let me know how he was doing over his first stay in a Kennel! Great experience!

Brandi & Perry were amazing! Highly recommend working with them…read more We adopted a one year old mixed breed, Tuck, a few months ago. He's very sweet but started to get rambunctious to the point that my remote work felt challenging. He also started jumping or freezing when he saw other dogs on walks, and he occasionally barked or growled and men. We weren't sure if it was the start of aggressive behavior or just the result of a shelter dog that hasn't been exposed. After doing our research, we decided to do the 3 week behavior modification board and train program. We were really impressed from beginning to end. They shared a ton of information upfront, walked us through their facility (we opted to drop him off) and sent pictures and updates every evening. It became clear right away that they both have a very deep understanding of dogs, as well as a real respect and love for them. Tuck loved them! The best part was the "transition" day when Perry brought Tuck back and spent the day teaching us everything they've worked on together. We are first time dog owners so generally going in pretty blind. Perry gave us a 101 on dogs and the importance of clear and consistent communication. He talked through all of the layers of training and how/why it is effective. We felt this part was SO helpful for us to understand how to be better owners. Then we walked Tuck around the neighborhood with Perry guiding us and then spent time addressing indoor behaviors too. He was flexible and stayed until we felt comfortable with everything. This is a long review so the TLDR: finding a trainer is a big decision and investment so we wanted to get it right. Brandi & Perry were really incredible and beyond our expectations!! Truly worth every penny! Tuck has been doing really great at home and outside since being home. I've been able to work full days with him holding "place" on his cot, which would have been unheard of before!

We couldn't be more thrilled with our experience at Ridgeside K9 in Winchester, VA! We signed up…read moreour Labradoodle, Theo, with Ridgeside K9 with high hopes that they could get us back on track, and Kenny and Sarah Foster absolutely delivered beyond our expectations. From the very first interaction, Kenny and Sarah were professional, warm, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They took the time to understand the pain points that we were experiencing with our new puppy, Theo's personality and tailored their approach to fit him perfectly. I was overseas on vacation, but they shared the progress and transformation pictures and updates every day. Theo is more confident, focused, and responsive than ever. What really impressed me with Ridgeside K9 apart is the care and dedication that Kenny and Sarah brought to the 3-week transformation and the dedicated work with him. It was easy to tell this isn't just a job for them -- they truly love working with dogs and it shows in the results. Theo came home happy, well-behaved, and I could tell during the 2 hour turnover session that Theo had clearly bonded with his trainers. If you're in the Winchester and surrounding area and looking for exceptional dog training, look no further than Ridgeside K9. Ask for Kenny and Sarah -- you and your pup won't be disappointed!

Josh was so attentive and reassured us with pictures and texts that our pups and mini donkeys were…read moredoing great! The house was immaculate and he was responsive to our concerns - of which we had non upon our return. I don't think they missed us at all!

From the owner: Your pet deserves the best care — even when you’re away! Fluvanna PawPals offers trustworthy pet…read moresitting for all pet parents in Fluvanna County. Whether you need an overnight stay or just a quick check-in, will treat your pet like family.