At Camp Carrie we provide dog-park style boarding…and we let the dogs be dogs… so, whether it’s sniffing and cruising the yard or running full speed, and romping with the other dogs, we can meet all your dog’s desires. We don’t interrupt play as long as everyone is playing nice. If a dog has undesirable behaviors, and is not responsive to verbal correction, that dog will go in a little early to ensure everyone’s safety, including their own.
Small dogs, and those with medical needs, stay inside the house with access to the small dog yard that is one quarter-acre. Larger dogs enjoy the detached office with its own large dog yard that is one third of an acre. Each dog is kept safe and comfortable, resting in their own crate when not being supervised by humans. All housemates are kept together, being side by side. Both spaces in which the dogs stay are temperature controlled year round.
What truly sets Camp Carrie apart is the personal touch. It’s a family-run business, with Carrie’s husband John and daughter Lira actively involved. This makes for a warm, inviting environment where each dog is well cared for. Whether it’s a puppy enjoying their first time away from home or a seasoned traveler, every dog gets the care they need.
Camp Carrie offers 3 play sessions per day of 30-45 minutes depending on the dogs’ energy and needs. Play session times are adjusted for rain or heat. With the added flexibility for different needs and a safe space for each individual pup, Camp Carrie provides a boarding experience that goes beyond the typical boarding experience.
Sample Schedule:
Morning
7:00 - Outside for potty break
7:15 - Breakfast is served
9:00 - Play session
9:45 - In for morning nap
Afternoon
1:00 - Play session
1:45 - In for afternoon nap
4:30 - Play session
Evening
5:15 - Dinner is served
9:30 - Final potty break
We value your referrals and want to bonus your for them. We offer you 2 nights of boarding when your referral books and completes a stay.
To ask questions or to start a boarding request, please fill out this form. Carrie will respond within 6-12 hrs.
How long will my dog be in the crate?
There is no set time for this. The dogs are in and out of the crates all day. Our goal is for the dogs to be in the crates no more than 4 hours at a time. We offer 3 longer play sessions per day of 30-45 minutes with several short potty breaks throughout the day as well.
Where will my dog stay?
All dogs stay in one of two locations: small dogs, or those with medical needs, stay in our TV room in the house. Large dogs stay in our detached office. The small dogs have direct access to the small dog yard that is approximately 1/4 acre. Large dogs have direct access to the large dog yard that is approximately 1/3 acre. Both indoor spaces aretemperature controlled year round.
Are your yards completely fenced?
Yes! Our yards are fenced with 4 ft fences all around. With that said, if a dog wants to get out they will usually find a way. If a dog exhibits behaviors seeking to find a way out we will secure that dog on a 40 ft. chain to ensure their safety.
My dog gets nervous when it’s not with me. What happens if it’s nervous?
This is very common for dogs and it’s called Separation Anxiety. This happens when a dog has not learned to be comfortable being away from their home or their human pack. Separation Anxiety can lead to a list of altered behaviors. Some of the most common ones are: barking/whining, decreased appetite, altered bathroom behaviors including going in their crate, trying to bury their food (which can result in a rub mark on their nose), pawing at the crate, pacing, chewing on things they don’t usually chew on (like their bowl), and many more. Separation Anxiety increases a dog’s cortisol levels, the stress hormone. With elevated levels that stay elevated the dog can also develop diarrhea, vomiting, and even bloody diarrhea. We are used to dogs having Separation Anxiety and we do our best to quell that anxiety through play and running, getting tired, and then hopefully napping hard. During your Meet & Greet we can discuss how we can help your dog if this happens.
Will my dog play with other dogs?
Yes, we provide dog-park style boarding. When it’s time for the dogs to go out it’s all dogs out. We monitor the dogs’ play closely and don’t allow doggie bullying.
My dog is a loner dog and doesn’t really like to play with other dogs. Can my dog still come to you?
Yes! We call these dogs the cruise and sniff dogs. They aren’t interested in running and romping, they just want to cruise and sniff. This is fine as long as they are ok with the other dogs in the yard running around them.
My dog can be “annoying”. Can they still come to you?
We evaluate each dog individually and watch closely for undesirable behaviors. We call these behaviors “bullying’ behaviors because they create an unpleasant experience for other dogs. These behaviors can manifest in a few ways. One of the primary ones we see is a dog that is instigating play but not backing off when another dog communicates they are not interested, Dominating behaviors are also undesirable behaviors. These can include putting their head over the nape of another dog and sometimes includes growling, reprimanding another dog when it is not warranted, mounting another dog and not stopping when the other dog communicates for them to stop. It is important to manage these behaviors as these behaviors are what lead to strife between the dogs and can, and will, lead to a fight. No one would ever send 2 or 3 year old humans onto a playground and say, “We’ll just let the kids figure it out”, and it’s not appropriate to do that with dogs either. We take behavior management seriously to ensure everyone’s safety.
Can’t my dog just stay in the yard all day?
No, this is not safe. Dogs from different households are not safe being together without human oversight. Additionally, a dog in a new environment behaves differently. At home they may be fine being in your yard all day, but in our yard we run the risk of them attempting to leave the space they are not familiar with.
Can you brush my dog while it’s with you?
I am not a groomer and do not offer grooming services. I do offer a clean up bath, for a small fee, that is to remove the dirt from your dog after they have played hard in our dog yard. This does not include fur management and is simply to remove the dirt so you don’t have to deal with it after your vacation.
Carrie has had a deep connection with animals from an early age. Growing up in a tract house in Southern California, her parents still managed to have a variety of animals—dogs, rabbits, chickens, birds, turtles, hamsters, ducks, and geese—that she and her siblings helped care for. It was through these experiences that Carrie developed her empathy for other creatures. At just 10 years old, her grandmother adopted a 4-month-old wild mustang, which became Carrie’s first animal to train. Her grandmother told her to make friends with the horse, so with a handful of hay, Carrie coaxed the foal with a gentle, “Here, horsey, horsey.” Carrie spent her summers at the ranch in Utah, tending to her mustang and a variety of other animals.
Carrie holds an Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology and spent 10 years working in veterinary hospitals. She also has a degree in Animal Training, Zoo Keeping, and Wildlife Education. Throughout her career, she has worked with both domestic and exotic species, including several years at a dog training facility. She worked for 10 years as a wildlife educator. In that time she was the director of a daycamp at a zoo and also founded a non-profit providing hands-on animal education programs for children. Additionally, Carrie worked at the Los Angeles Zoo, where she had the privilege of assisting with the California Condors. Her work included incubating eggs, feeding the breeding birds, and caring for injured condors brought in from the wild before they were released after treatment.
With her knowledge, she offers a safe space for your fur baby while you are away.