We love Skipton! Our dog loves going there. The entire team is pleasant and clearly loves dog. They are really easy to communicate with and I love that they post updates about the dogs on Facebook. read more

Absolute wonderful experience for my dog and for me! They really know each dog individually. They know my boy's quirks and can get him to eat. He gets plenty of outdoor exercise about 5-6 times a day and lots of cuddles and petting. Pictures are posted daily online so we can check on our guy. He comes home properly exhausted and smelling nicely bathed. The family run business treats their staff and animals well. Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful staff. Rocky loved his stay. He smelled like a fresh flower coming out of there. Highly recommend

These folks are one of the best kennels in the area! Our dog comes home relaxed, and well cared for. I am so grateful for them!

I have recently moved back to the Boston area from NJ with my 13-year old standard dachshund mix after the death of my husband 2 years ago. In NJ We had an extraordinary vet hospital/boarding kennel (Morristown Animal Hospital) and now that I had moved home and am on my own it was essential to find a good boarding kennel for Kirby. Earlier this year I had to bring him to MSPCAs Angell Memorial Animal Behavior Clinic to consult with Dr Terri Bright who is in charge of the program. From time to time my dog will lunge while on his leash at random people and I wanted to learn how to manage this behavior on my own. I told Dr Bright that I needed to find a good boarding kennel for Kirby while I go on vacation next month. Without hesitation she recommended Skipton in Waltham. Kirby was there yesterday for a day care trial run. Before he could have his visit, Alyson, who runs the kennel, requested not only the usual vaccination and test records, but the results of his most recent fecal exam. She is very diligent on making sure all dogs in her care are protected with up to date vaccinations and test results before they come to board. Kirby's trial run went beautifully yesterday and I was not charged for the visit. All of this tells me that they put the health and welfare of the dogs they board way ahead of making money. I leave for my trip next week knowing that my elderly (but sprightly) dog will be in a safe and loving place while I am away. read more

We are so grateful for Skipton! Our shy, nervous pup has flourished so much over the past year. They treat her with so much care and patience and have helped build her confidence around other dogs, with new people and with her vet visits. Aly, Karen and the whole team are so kind, understanding and helped put our nerves at ease from day 1. I love the daily photos and know she's having tons of fun! The Booth Family LOVES Skipton! read more

It's always hard to leave our little furry family members when we go out of town, but Skipton makes it so much easier. Our oldest pup tolerates Skipton (and really anyone other than me) but our youngest pup absolutely LOVES Skipton! How do I know?! They post photos all of the time during their stay. It is so fun to be across the country and still see that our boys are happy, healthy and being cared for. The staff at Skipton all seem to really love dogs and that love is felt by the pups. The thing that really stands out for me is that our dogs come home healthy. I used another kennel before and my dog always came home with an eye infection. But at Skipton the boys are always a healthy weight and look just as good as when we dropped them off. read more

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Great experience. Caring for your dog is clearly their priority. The kennel we previously used closed when owners retired, so it is great to find Skipton. read more

I rarely write reviews about businesses, but my experience at Skipton Kennel was beyond amazing! I have 2 dogs one of which could be classified as "difficult" she is from the pound so sometimes she is unsure of new people. I made this known to the staff and owner Karen up front and they did not turn me away and instead was very patient with her and even let her stay the night as a trial so they could really get to know her and work with her. Karen called me throughout the day to give me updates on how both dogs were doing too! Service was above and beyond, Karen treated me like family and being new to the area was so welcomed! I highly recommend this kennel to anyone in the Boston area. I feel at ease knowing my pups will be well taken care of and loved when we are away! Thank you, Skipton:) read more

Skipton Kennel - KeWe and Cali :) - Pet Sitting Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

We just started sending our pup to Skipton for daycare during the past few weeks and have had a great experience thus far. When I initially called to inquire about pricing, requirements, etc, the woman who helped me was super friendly and accommodating. Skipton is associated with our vet (Kindness Animal Hospital, which is AWESOME btw), so it was easy to have our dog's records transferred over. May has so far been to camp three times and has come home exhausted every time - always a good sign in pups! I especially love that Skipton uploads pics of the dogs playing during the day so I can see how much fun May is having while I am stuck working. Dropoff/pickup hours are great (7-7!) and price is right around average. read more

Both my dog and I love this place! Staffs are amazing and professional, my baby loves to place with people and he can get enough attention here! Also there is a vet clinic next door, so my dog can be treated very soon if he is sick during boarding. read more

I drive 30-40 mins just to bring my Lily here! She's normally a very nervous pup, but as soon as I park to drop her off and she sees where she is she gets so excited and runs right to the door. If you follow their facebook they post pictures of the dogs that are currently there playing outside. read more

This place is amazing. I never have any qualms leaving my pup here! The staff is so wonderful and friendly. They make me and Poppy feel like a part of the family. They also post pictures of daycare groups on Facebook all the time, so you can see how your dog is doing! Love love love it here, you won't be disappointed. read more

Skipton Kennel - Poppy showing how much she loves the staff! - Pet Sitting Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

My giant moosebaby, Baxter, starts whining in excitement once he realizing we're going to CAMP SKIPTON. This 100-pound pupper is super friendly/gentle, but he's also an anxious rescue prone to minor bouts of panic in weird situations (and from his perspective, a strange pillow on the floor is weird). They are the ONLY place able to groom him (haircut, nails, etc.) and I think it's because they let him take some of the lead, such as letting him stay on the ground rather than forcing him on the (terrifying!) stainless table. They post pics during the day during outside play times. They also spend considerable time getting to know your pup, then pair him/her with dogs they think will complement their temperment/size/activity level. Baxter is so much more socially capable now. As a huge plus, they are in the same building as the best vets in the area, meaning if something were to happen they have very quick access to assistance (many of the employees work parttime at both places as well, I think). read more

Skipton is a lifesaver for me and my creatures. Over the years I have taken 5 dogs (mine and foster dogs) and my cats to Skipton. I always know that they will be completely safe, well cared for and their needs met, and come home happy and balanced. And it does not matter if I take them for daycare, or leave them for weeks while I travel. They are always in great shape and happy when I pick them up. And being associated with Kindness Animal Hospital - that if the staff find anything of concern with my creatures they can be checked and treated by the vets. They have caught infections, hotspots and lumps that I was not aware of - which is helpful. I am so blessed to have found Karen and her crew. I highly recommend if you want your dogs pampered but not spoiled this is the place. They will thank you for the love. read more

We were out of town for 12 days, and I couldn't sneak both of my pups along for the whirlwind ride. I found Skipton Kennels on Yelp, and went, previewed it, felt really comfortable. Halfway through our trip, we got a voicemail from Karen, telling us how precious our dogs were, and how she was most likely going to kidnap them. That made us laugh when we got the message, and definitely put us at ease. When I went to pick them up, the dogs were happy, goofy, and seemed very relaxed. They were excited to see me, and I've noticed one of my dogs has completely stopped his submissive urination problem. Don't know if that has anything to do with Skipton, but I'll go ahead and assume they worked their canine magic! read more

I love Skipton. It's the only place where we have brought our dog for boarding where the next time we bring him in he's actually wagging his tail and happy to see everyone who works there (and comes back to us wagging his tail). They exercise the dogs according to their needs to make them happy dogs. What a wonderful philosophy. On top of that, I've found them completely professional in every respect. Kyla, if you happen to read this, don't get defensive about personal attacks when you make personal attacks, i.e. your statement that "all the great reviews are misleading" [note: aside from Kyla's review, all but one review gives five stars... the other gives four stars], or that "(the owner) is kind of crazy." And if you're actually freaked that your dogs were fed bull penises, then (1) why not ask your dogs whether they enjoyed them, and (2) take a visit to the factory where they make your dogs' food and then get back to us. Sorry for the personal attacks, everyone, but really--this is a great kennel. read more

I brought my dog here a few times when we needed to travel. I'm attached to my dog and I'm not going to lie, it broke my heart a little to have to leave her somewhere. I sorted through reviews and even asked people on Yelp about their experiences here. We decided on Skipton and made arrangements to bring her. They offer a free play day to test it out, and we did that and she seemed fine. Phew. Shortly after that came the four night stay. I didn't want to do it, I can't lie. We had no choice though. The day came (finally) for me to pick her up. I was all excited thinking she would run and jump at my voice. Nothing. Nothing at all. That's how much she likes it here. read more

I've been taking my dog here since he was a puppy, and have only wonderful things to say about them. They're always great to bear and to me and genuinely love the dogs they take care of. What sticks in my mind most was the very first visit when one of the guys was just handing Bear (my dog) treats while we talked. I said something to the effect of "he's trained, make him do something. he doesn't get freebies at home" and they said "oh, yeah, i'll get around to that. right now i'm just making sure he likes this place. i don't want him to learn to be anxious about it". By the time I came to pick him up, They were telling me about his quirks (all stuff you'd need to hang out with him to know). To this day, they know his name when I call even if I haven't been there in a year. I've been living in Cambridge for seven years, and make the drive past who knows how many kennels to get to Skipton whenever Bear needs a place to stay. read more

Skipton is an awesome place. Karen, David and everyone absolutely adore the dogs in their care. Priot to taking our spaniel there, we went to "interview." When Karen, almost immediately, leaned down to talk more to our dog than to us, I knew we were in the right place. Whenever we take our dog there, she is in a great mood when we pick her up. They have even helped us find a better food to use for our allergy prone and somewhat overweight dog; she has been itch-free and skinnier since! As I've told others, she's a Jewish-mother-dog-nut. What more could you want? read more

Being a business owner and dog owner - there are times that he needs some alternative care when he cannot attend work with me. I am extremely careful and persnickety when leaving a family member with someone else. I did a lot of research, interviewed several places and I wanted to share about my experience Skipton Kennel and their doggie daycare program. This is my first experience with needed a service like this because we recently got a new puppy. He has gone a few times at the Waltham location and in my opinion it is FANTASTIC and the staff is AWESOME. I was so impressed with the care and concern of the owner Karen for my new puppy. She asked all the right questions and quickly responded to my questions. The staff is also so attentive to my needs and more importantly my puppy's needs. He has gone several times now and each time he has received the best care possible from all of them. He is active and gets to socialize, run, and play with other dogs/puppies with his same temperament. When I have picked him up he is calm, very relaxed and tired. He is never stressed but always happy to come home. This makes me feel very at ease leaving him in such a wonderful place. I am happy to recommend Skiption to anyone who would need a daycare service for their dog. read more

If not for Skipton Kennel in Waltham and Karen & David, I would never be able to go anywhere including work! I have two Italian Greyhounds who are hmmmm HIGH MAINTENANCE and Skipton still likes them! I too them to another kennel once and they both came back sick with paw infections. One lost 3 lbs in a week which is a lot of weight loss for a 17 lb dog. They come back happy, and healthy after a stay with Karen & David (who live there!). The animals are not kept in dark, small crates or left out in cement dog runs for hours. The kennel is NOT your typical kennel. It is a large, clean, well lit home but don't take my word for it - get the grand tour! Dogs are treated according to their needs and personalities. My dogs are older and one has Cushings disease and the other is seizure prone and this is another reason I would never leave my dogs anywhere else. Every animal is treated like "family" and my dogs enjoy their stay. I can actually go away and know that my dogs are being taken care of the same way they would if it was me. I am very very happy that I found Skipton. I would NEVER take my pets anywhere else. read more

I absolutely love everyone at Skipton!!! My dog can be...well...challenging. She is dog-aggressive, which is not ideal at a daycare/boarder, but they are fantastic with her and make sure she still gets lots of love. Huge plus that they are attached to Kindness Animal Hospital as well. 15/10 would recommend. Seriously so lucky that we found Skipton! read more

The amazing people at Skipton have been lifesavers ever since I adopted Josie in April. She is incredibly anxious and it would have been easy for them to turn her down, but instead they devoted time, energy, and all their love to help her acclimate. They have watched her for a two-week period and she goes once a week for daycare. No trainer I met with was able to make her feel as comfortable as Skipton. Between Aly, Kim (Josie's chosen bff), mama Goose, and all the other amazing staff, I know that I am leaving Josie in the best hands. They truly care about each dog that comes through the door and they took a chance on my nervous/reactive dog that MANY people would have refused. I am forever grateful for their kindness and compassion! read more

I am a 2 year veteran of Skipton Kennel. Well, i should say the my dog Belle is the veteran. Belle is a spoiled and precocious 3 yr old cockapoo. Skipton runs the best kennel that we have seen. Belle has stayed there for a grand total of 75 nights in the past 2.5 years. Belle is comfortable, happy and very well taken care of. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They love and care for the dogs as if they were their own. I highly recommend SKIPTON read more

The people at Skipton are so caring. My dog loves going there and I love knowing he's in good hands!

We bring our hyper Dalmatian Bella to Skipton 2-3 times per week for doggie daycare. We are so lucky to have found such an amazing place filled with such amazing people! Karen and her staff care for the dogs like they're their own. Bella is always so excited to go to Skipton, and always happily tired out when she comes home. It's such a relief to know we can count on Skipton to look after and play with our dog while we're working or away. We wouldn't go anywhere else! They're the best! read more

I just LOVE Skipton Kennel! I happened across them when my regular vet decided not to be conveinent with their medical boarding! It is a drive for me - but worth it! They have taken such great car of my old, diabetic cat - like she was one of their own! And let me tell you, Nala is a pain in the butt at times too! Thank you David & Karen! read more

There's no one I trust more with my dogs than Karen and the kind-hearted people at Skipton. My younger dog is a regular for camp twice a week. They have him matched with a playgroup of dogs his size and energy-level. I love seeing the facebook pictures they post of them all frolicking together. He was under-socialized when I adopted him from the pound and Camp Skipton has played an important role in helping him evolve into the wonderful pup I know today. My older dog is more than a bit feeble. They dote on her like the princess I think she is and take care of her many special needs. They ensure that every day there is amazing for her. Both dogs [and my previous one that has since passed] have boarded there many times. I know that when I can't take them on a trip, that Skipton will keep them so safe, busy, and loved that they won't even miss me. read more

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Seven-plus years later, and I am still singing Skipton's praises. They are my favorite local business, hands (paws) down. Karen and her team understand canine behavior, socialization, wellness, etc. like nobody I've ever met before. The care they show to the dogs--and the thoughtful way they socialize them with one another (once they've gotten to know their personalities)--gives us pet parents great peace of mind. I've learned so much from Karen and her team. They will all regularly go out of their way to share their knowledge with you. It is a rare combination to be equally caring and intelligent with pets, as well as with people. The team at Skipton has mastered that balance. Truly, I'd be remiss to move away from the Waltham area. Skipton is an indispensable part of my--and my dogs'--lives. read more

Skipton is really as good as it gets. In my dogs' 5 years of life I have tried 5 different kennels/day cares. I may be an over protective mom, but I didn't like any of those places (due to repeated injuries and neglect) until I found Skipton. Karen knows as much about dogs as Cesar Milan. Every time my two boys visit Karen, they come home well behaved and so happy. It's a great sign when they are happy to walk into her home. I also love that our vet is right next door. If anything were to happen, I feel safe that their doctor can be there in a flash. I know unfortunate things could happen anywhere. Lightening also strikes. However, if something were to happen, I know Karen would do everything in her power to help my boys. I moved 40 minutes away from Skipton 8 months ago and haven't even wasted my time searching for a new kennel. I rather make the drive knowing my boys are taken care of. Karen and her son treat my dogs the same way I would. They're not there to make money, they are there because they LOVE animals and know what's best for them more than most owners. It feels like I'm leaving my dogs with family when I leave them with Skipton Kennel. read more

I too was surprised to read the negative comments about Skipton, because I have been using their services for over 5 years and I would trust them over anyone. Karen is PASSIONATE about dogs and if this makes her seem a bit kooky to some, then so be it. A couple of hard facts that are important to know: 1. They are meticulous about cleanliness, and Skipton is cleaner than most peoples houses. 2. They do crate the dogs, but take them out many times a day. At first I wasn't crazy about the crating idea, but after negative experiences with some alternate approaches, I think it is ultimately in the best interest of the animals. 3. Kindness Animal Hospital is on the property and thus access to 3 full time vets and numerous techs. 4. Last but not least, the animals love David, Karen and the crew. The overnight boarding is now in the vet clinic only because the town of Waltham requires it as a condition of their staying in business. Unfortunately, a couple of years ago a neighbor decided they didn't like Skipton in its current location..then the town of Waltham got in on the action and Karen has been buried in lawyers for the last few years just to try and stay open. The legal bills this poor woman has incurred to stay in business are astounding, and the only reason she continues to fight is because yes as hard as it might be to believe, she loves working a 16 hour day doing everything from scooping poop, to dealing with misbehaving mutts (thinking of mine in particular here). read more

The dogs are in crates most of the day and dont get any interaction with other dogs. if you are going to leave your dog in a crate, why pay for it! read more

"It's all about the dogs!" This is not an ordinary kennel. Thiss is this ladies HOME, with her son, who is fabulous, their two dogs, three or four cats, and birds. I toured the Toureen kennels before coming here (animals kept downstairs in animal shelter setting, cement dog run). At Skipton, I rang a doorbell and was greeted by a largehome, picture Martha Stewartish with a flair for dog portraits, with the happiest, calmest, and largest amount of dogs I have ever seen together. This place was huge! I was shown through the entire house, with at least 5 large room, each with a dog or two inside. Some rooms had two dogs. Some had one. Each dog is treated according to his/her personality. And they have lots of rooms/different settings to accomdate that. The dog I saw alone needed some quiet time. He got his space and looked very happy. Each dog was inside this families' real,actual house, in his/her kennel, and looking calm and not freaked out. It is clean and smells like fresh laundry in the house, if you can believe it. The backyard was grassy and had a separated area for the dog run (also grass), it looked very well kept and a great place for the dogs to spend their time. The dogs are brought outside separately (they don't take chances with your dog), but if the dogs want to, there is a playroom inside that they can make friends and play in. There is another person here, who takes the dog out 5 times a day. For $40 a day, your dog gets 5x a day one on one playtime for up to an hour. For $15 it's three times a day for dog runs. THIS IS AN AMAZING DEAL! Also, what I love is David lives on the same floor that some dogs stay in (different rooms, of course!). ALSO, there are cats here, lots of them. The owners have the warmest vibe ever and have two dogs of their own... I met their very handsome French Bulldog. I would NEVER put my Buster in a kennel... but this is a home, a real home, with warm animal lovers, that is happy and smells good and I feel totally OK with sending Buster there while I am out of town. read more

To the crazy lady yelling about BULL PENISES, Skipton Kennel is a top notch boarding facility. Karen is one of the most caring and knowledgeable people I have EVER met when it comes to caring for animals! The fact that you would take the time out of your day to write such a nasty and immature review says a great deal about who you are and you should find a new home for your dog! As far as (fid o) being put on a run, they dont have runs hunny. They have a great fenced in area in the back yard where the dogs play for hours at a time! Not only do they play but someone is there to play with them. Where else can you get that? I think that it is great that Karen took the time out of her busy day to call you and to let you know about your dog! There had to be more of a reason for her to call you and tell you (not yell) that ''fid o'' pooped. I would recommend Skipton Kennel to anyone who has animals and wants top of the line care for them! Maybe you are the one eating bull penises?? UPDATE: There was no personal attacking. There are ways to write a review with class and I was showing you that your review was classless. Hope your animals are well! read more

This place is fabulous. My brother and I left our dogs there over the last holidays (thanksgiving and xmas). When we brought them back for the Christmas stay, my dog jumped on the staff like he saw an old friend. That sealed it for me. They also gave discount for multiple dogs, even though technically it was separate (my brother and I each had one) I will be using them this holiday season and every other time I need to board my dog. read more

I hesitated to write this review because I believe that everyone I met at Skipton was kind, caring, and genuinely loves animals. Many people have had positive experiences with them, but I feel the need to share mine. After a trial day, I brought my 2 pups in for what ended up being a 3 night stay the following week. After 3 nights, I scoured their facebook page and only discovered one photo of one of my two dogs out in the play area on a single occasion, seemingly alone. For all I know, they spent the vast majority of their time in fairly small cages in a room that can get quite loud at times. With one outdoor area and a house full of dogs, it seems like they spend very little time playing or socializing outside if many of the dogs here are rotated outside individually. I ended up having a friend pick them up early. To me, the overall boarding experience for my beloved pups was pretty cruel. I'll never return to a similar facility. I'm glad that I learned from the experience, but disappointed that I put my own desire for a fun vacation over the care of my pup family. Perhaps they would have had more play time if they stayed at the kennel longer, but I just couldn't bear the thought of them spending another day in a cage at Skipton. For those that find Skipton Kennels to be a positive place for your dogs, I'm glad you found a place that works for you. It certainly doesn't work for my family, however. read more

We have been bringing our beagle Blake to Skipton since the start of the year and could not be happier! He wags his tail the whole way up the driveway and Karen and her team are always happy to see him. He's very energetic and seems to get along great with the other dogs he plays with. They have very accommodating hours and provide feedback on Blake's behavior, etc. They even post pictures of the dogs on their Facebook page so we can see Blake and all his friends! Best part is we can be flexible in what days we bring him and don't have to commit to anything. Reasonable rates, close to home, great staff, great experience. read more

My dog, Scout, has gone there twice, but I think we're done. They're nice enough, and they keep the dogs safe, but I don't get the impression they do much else. Both times I've picked Scout up, she's had scrapes on her nose from rubbing her face on the crate. (She doesn't usually experience separation anxiety like that) Also, she's very dog friendly and it would relax her to spend time in the yard, but based on their facebook pictures this last time- it looks like she only went in the yard by herself. I get the impression that the dogs are crated most of the time they're there, and from what I've seen of the cage area, the crates aren't very big. There may be bigger runs in another area of the building, but it wouldn't be where the dogs stay all the time. I'll be looking for a boarding facility with bigger runs where she can be turned out in playgroup for most of the day, or engaging a private pet sitter from now on. One plus: They do bathe your dog before you pick them up, which is a nice service. read more

I LOVE Skipton. My ex-boyfriend and I used to take his dog, Riley, there when we went away overnight or for weeks at a time. Karen and her team were phenominal. Riley was always happy to be there and was always in great shape when we came back for him. They loved him there! Always excited to see him and play with him. He was epileptic so they made an exception and kept them in house with them at night time. They'd handle his seizure episodes if, unfortunately, he had one while there, with professionalism and skill. If needed, they'd take him to the vet and keep in constant communication with us. Riley no longer visits his friends at Skipton since he has since moved out of state but I can say with certainty that he misses them. read more