Dog Sitters in San Rafael, CA

The only place my dog likes being boarded at. He's typically shy and reserved and doesn't like strangers but when we walk into Tail Haven he runs up to the staff and gives them licks. I can't recommend them enough, they really seem to care for your furry friend. I board here with 100% confidence knowing that my dog is in the best hands.

A friend recommended TH to me for some last minute daycare while visiting the Bay. What a gem. I wish there was something on par with this in LA. Staff is so caring, warm, friendly, clearly love the dogs and offering a great gift to the community. The owner Matt and staff member Steven took loving care of my girl Remi. This is the place to entrust your four legged family members.

We've dropped our cattle dog Pete for day care & weekend boarding at Tail Haven and been very happy with the care he gets. I like that it's a very secure facility since I know he managed to sneak out when I boarded him at a dog walker's home a few years ago and I was so worried. Thanks, team Tail Haven! Update 11/22/18 - Pete the pup is also trimming down a little, which will make our vet happy! It's been such a blessing to be able to take him for a couple days of fairly indoor playtime during all the bad air days from the Camp Fire. We were all getting a bit of cabin fever at home. Update 6/2019 - Pete's gotten a lot more confident with the staff at Tail Haven petting him, and we got compliments from the vet on how much better he is about his annual exam there. So glad we have a great place for him to spend some days while we're at work or away.

I have a Great Pyrenees, who is a total love, but a lot of work. The staff at Tail Haven always treats him with such patience and love. Julia, Brian and the rest of the staff make me feel so at ease when I’m at work or traveling and he is in their care. I couldn’t recommend Tail Haven more!

The staff at The Tail Haven Hotel & Day Lounge are so helpful and kind. Both Lili and Mat offered such great customer care when I was looking for daycare for my dog. Lili took the time to get me set up in the system when I called and had a daycare request to make with short notice for the next day. Mat was also very helpful in sharing about my dog's time during the in-take/observation appointment. Thanks, Tail Haven!

Our dog loves it. He's small and defensive of his owners, but is at ease in this place. He plays with the other small dogs and is friendly with the workers. They say he is well behaved when there, just as he is at home. Plays all day and sleeps when tired, but you wouldn't know it when he's home.,. Passed out.

Our canelo bear had the best time . Love how they take photos of the dogs everyday to show families ❤️

***Update 3/27 *** Pictures are being uploaded again! :) _______________________________________ Wish the San Rafeal site uploaded pictures again... We where told we'd have pics during the holidays, but we didn't receive any. But other than that, this place is amazing, my pup is always so happy! Not like WAG Hotels where he looked so sad and super ready to dash out of there! The tail Haven is a great place with great staff for your pup! This is definitely our permanent boarding place :)

I just can't say enough good about this place. My dogs were well taken care of but just as important my worry wort partner was so afraid that one of our three Keeshounds was not doing well that he actually booked a flight from Montana so he could check on her. Nuts right? Well the staff here stepped up to the plate and made sure that we got a few extra pics of Rosie smiling and having fun and allowed him to relax and trust the staff to do their jobs. No place is perfect but I trust The Tail Haven to care for and protect our dogs they were happy and healthy when we picked them up and that's good enough for us.

I have no doubt that my dog was well-cared for on his recent stay but I was distressed that when I picked him up he stank of dog urine so badly that I needed to take him immediately for a $17 bath. My dog is 7 and has boarded since he was a pup. There was only one other time that I had this experience in Baltimore and was told that other dogs were peeing on him. I hope this wasn't the case here but I don't have another explanation.

If I could give Don ten stars I would!! He has been taking my two dogs out twice a week for almost three years. I have two rescue dogs and one of them came to me with tons of anxiety, fear of men, and reactivity. It is an amazing transformation with my one dogs. Don is now Dylan's best buddy and he anxiously awaits his arrival. Now I added another day because I work three days and want them to be out and having fun. Don always communicates time pick up every time and sends pictures on all the walks. Honestly, I am so happy with Don and the dogs are always pooped out and calm when they arrive home. Thank you!!!

Don David has helped me tremendously with my aging cat, Spencer. He has provided excellent cat care and always makes helpful and useful suggestions. He helped me bring him to the vet and he treats my cat with gentle love and care. Don David always has a great attitude and he is friendly, caring and thoughtful. I highly recommend his services for high quality pet care.

Very competent, caring dogwalker. Has walked my dogs for several years. They love him & he gives them the best of care.🐾🐾 …

Don is wonderful with dogs. He took our Jack-Chi in for a five day stay as well as several group walks before we left and was awesome! I highly recommend Don and Dog Trotters!

Don is the best. Notes and daily photos. Our dog lives for his daily Don constitutional. Don boards our dog and we reccomend him to everyone. No brainer.

My cats (now sadly just one now) are regulary boarded at Cats Cradle. If I could give more than five stars, I would. This is the purrrrfect place if you are as fussy as a cat and want your feline loved and pampered. I should be so lucky.

We’ve been repeat customers of Cat’s Cradle several times for longer trips. They take great care of our cat and give her lots of attention in our absence. Best option for cat boarding in the SF area!

Excellent. Our sweet George loved being there. Extremely clean, social rooms for the cats to explore, and superb service. Very happy with our cat's experience.

Cat’s Cradle takes really good care of our two cats. They have been very understanding about the needs of our older cat who has both cancer and diabetes. During his stays, they administer his insulin twice daily and also give him his oral chemotherapy. Whenever he has had any issues they alert us promptly and have provided the necessary care. We’re extremely grateful for them!

I first got Luna groomed here. They are so nice, friendly and it looks awesome for the cats too. I just boarded her for four days and I think she had a great time.

These folks are amazing. I got three kitties and needed a last minute flea bath in combination with bringing over an exterminator to my place. The folks here understood and took my kitties in and gave them excellent service (flea bath + grooming + nail trim) for a very affordable price. My typically anxious cats were at ease, and so was I knowing these folks have a compassionate and service oriented staff.

I have nothing but great things to say about Cat’s Cradle. My two cats stayed there during my trip to Europe, and they had an amazing time! The staff was extremely accommodating when I had to extend their stay and made the process a breeze. When I got back, my cats were happy and healthy and definitely having a great time. I will keep bringing my cats here any time I can’t travel with them. They loved their stay and loved the staff at Cat’s Cradle.

I boarded my cat here the first time based on a recommendation from my sister and now I recommend Cat's Cradle to my friends. They are very accommodating, attentive, and responsive. In addition to boarding, I've had my cats claws trimmed, which he hates, and they always do a good job. I find their pricing to be to be very fair for the high quality of care they provide.

We love cats cradle! We board our cats here when we travel and one of our cats, who’s a polydactyl (has extra toes), gets his claws clipped here as well, and they always do a great job! 😊🐾 …

Fantastic! I was able to get updates daily while we were on vacation and our cat loved it! They even trimmed his nails without him fussing a bit. I felt totally at ease on vacation (well as much as possible since it was our first time leaving him). He was clean when we picked him up and a had even gained a couple ounces despite all those cats to play with. The staff are all so sincere and I knew our boy was getting plenty of attention and love. We will use them for boarding and grooming in the future and would suggest anyone to do the same.

Thank you, Baykal!

Beth is the most caring and considerate person I have ever hired to take care of my furry/fishy brood. I have four senior dogs, two guinea pigs, and two tanks of fish. Each of my dogs is over eight years old, and I was very concerned when I had to hire someone to take care of them. My husband and I were taking our first vacation, in years, and I was scrambling to find someone who was dependable and sympathetic to my separation anxiety. I interviewed multiple pet sitters, and no one seemed to be good enough to care for my babies. Finding Beth, was an absolute gift from the gods. Not only did she clean my guinea pig’s cages, she also took them outside for some fun in the sun. She made sure all of my dogs got their medicine on time, and even sent multiple pictures of them, so I knew that they were doing well. She even made sure she was available so I could facetime all of my furbabies. When my husband and I got home, it was as if we had never left. The house was cleaned. The guinea pig cages, and fish tanks were cleaned. Beth even left us a framed picture of the dogs and the guinea pigs together! She’s a fabulous photographer. Even though my husband and I moved out of Mill Valley a few months ago, I just had to let everyone know what a gem Beth is. If you need a person to take care of your four legged/gilled family members, the way you would, Beth is the best !

My cat stayed here for nearly 2 weeks whilst we found at apartment. She had flown in from the UK and the staff were fantastic at making her and us feel welcome.

Tails of Terra Linda is just the best. It is abundantly clear that each staff member loves animals. Every time we drop off our doggie I know I can trust the staff to take excellent care of our fur baby. It fills me with joy to know that he is having fun with his friends. I feel so much gratitude for Tails of Terra Linda! Thank you!

I have taken my dog BB here for boarding several times over the past few years. She also gets her nails clipped, and glands done monthly. The staff is friendly and the facility is welcoming.

We brought my family's cats here when we were gone a couple days. They took good care of them. We asked if they'd do nails and a wash too but for some reason they didn't do it. My guess is that it's because when we met the groomer he told us he'd try but if the cat isn't going for it they would not force it. So I think they felt they weren't into it? Im not sure. He wasn't there when we picked the cats up so I couldn't ask. Other than that it's a safe affordable option to keep your pet in a space like its own little hotel room.

My dog loves it here and I love the people!! Thank you for watching Dolly when I can’t!

I boarded my Samoyed at “Tails of Terra Linda” for 10 days in July. I was anxious about leaving her there because I had never left her in a commercial facility before and thought she might have a difficult time adapting. The kennels and group play spaces appear very clean and the staff are quite friendly and happy to answers lots of questions. When I picked her up she had clearly bonded with the dog handlers, she looked great and seemed happy. Now when i bring Juno there for day care, she pulls me with her tail wagging to the front door .

This place is beyond the best! I cannot begin to tell you what great care they give to my dog. He cannot wait to go there and play each day. The "hotel" boarding is wonderful and I have so much trust that he is in the best hands when I'm traveling. Oh- and their groomer is AMAZING!

Our dogs enjoy Tails. They have been going here for four years. The facility is clean, staff is super responsive and our dogs always come home happy. I would highly recommend this kennel.

Love this pet resort. Rates are good, staff are friendly and the facilities are extremely clean. It's owned/ run by the vet clinic next door, so if anything happens, I have the peace of mind by knowing there are vets nextdoor to help.

Horrible experience . I was out of town and my 80 year old mom and 81 year old aunt had to join me. They where manipulated, no written estimate nothing. Bill first started at $1800 . I contacted the owner, his immediate response was his business was with my mom not me. My dog got kennel cough, a severe eye infection even though they supposedly gave Jackson the vaccine for kennel cough. Then they almost gave my mom the wrong dog upon her return.

The folks at Park-a-Pup truly love and care for my dog. I’ve had a few experiences where I dropped her off for daycare/boarding and didn’t recognize the employee at the desk. The employees, however, all recognized Bambi and eagerly tell me how much they love her. They know so many details about her personality that they could only know from spending time with her. It’s comforting to know that she’s being taken care of so well.

Our favorite place in Marin for dog boarding and day care! They have a great system for making reservations, friendly staff and grooming services. Our 2 y.o Amstaffy always comes home exhausted which tells us he's actually playing and engaging in activities. They also provide report cards upon request which is so helpful when leaving for a longer trip. Love them so far!

This place has great people who love my dog, and she loves them. She gets sooo excited coming here. We do daycare and boarding during some weekends and most holidays at Park a Pup. The included bath for daycare is amazing and makes this an even better deal. Novato facility is nice and new but SR facility still does the trick! Dogs love it either way 😉

My dog, Panda, had her trial day today and I knew going in she was very anxious. The staff was aware and attentive to her needs and kept me updated throughout the day. By the time I picked her up, I could tell she was happy to be going home but also know she did have a good time and was taken well care off. Thank you to everyone for the experience!

I have held off writing this review for five years, but after another incident with this kennel today, I feel compelled to provide a review. And I HATE leaving one star reviews, I really really do. I give companies the benefit of the doubt and if there is ever an issue I will always call them first to sort it out. Almost all companies try their best and I don't want to hurt their reputation. That said, here goes... Our dog died at this kennel in 2019. Perfectly healthy 10 year old dog that had not a hint of disease, issues, sickness, nothing, nada. On the second day of his visit the owner called and just said they found our dog dead in the morning in his bed surrounded by other dogs and don't know what happened. They had him cremated before we got home so we weren't able to see his body and learn what may have happened. This was beyond traumatic, still gives me chills to write about it all these years later. It breaks my heart that our sweet pup whom we spent ten years with day in and day out, died alone and we never got to say goodbye. Heart breaking. The owner was very nice about his death (whatever that means), comped our stay and paid for the cremation. We didn't retaliate, weren't angry with him, we were just in total shock. He said it seemed like a natural death, and maybe it was, we will never know. Again, we were very nice about it and just cried, no mean words and no aggression. Assumed sometimes unfortunate events happen. Fast forward to 2024, we have a new four year old dog and were again looking for a kennel to house him while we travel. For the past few years we have been at Bridewell Kennel in Novato, it has been great and we've no complaints. Only reason we are considering a new kennel is because Bridewell is the last exit in Novato before Sonoma County and we live in Southern Marin, it is just a bit of a haul to drive there. We interviewed a few kennels in Southern Marin and for some stupid reason, contacted Park-A-Pup to discuss what had happened with our previous dog and asked about possibly brining our new one. They assured us it would be okay and they would be a safe place for him, would be supportive etc etc. Yes, I am sure all of you reading this think we are idiots for even considering this place again. Today was our dog's test playdate, which is required before you can leave for overnight kenneling. Only three hours into it the front desk called us and said that our dog will not settle and is upset there, barking, scared and peeing. They said he doesn't seem like he can handle being kenneled and is over stimulated by all the other dogs. They said he is not a good fit and to come pick him up. Super strange because at Bridewell the staff not only says he is a favorite amongst the other dogs, but the staff actually gets excited when we call to book and when we drop him they always welcome him by name with a treat and a thorough petting. He also does great with other dogs. This seriously doesn't make sense. Ok Park-A-Pup... one perfectly healthy dog died at your kennel and our second is so scared he can't settle. Both dogs whom thrived and loved Bridewell. What the heck is going on? Hard pass.

I've been bringing my shih-tzu/poodle to the SR location for 7+ years, usually 3x/week (also some weekends and long holidays ) - can you tell we both love this place? He gets to play outside with other doggies for hours and are supervised by caring and attentive staff (often the owner Paul, a super great, experienced guy is also present). Paul and the staff have become like family to us - I'm grateful for everything about Park-A-Pup.

My dogs have boarded quite a lot this month and I always know they are well taken care of. They come home tired and happy 🥰 …

Park a pup is a fantastic place to leave your pups. Friendly staff and my pup is always so excited to go

I really had a great experience because my new Pup Tbow means the world to me I could tell he had fun !! I love the attention they give to the dogs I love Park a Pup!!!

Our two mastiff mutt rescues love Park a Pup - and we do too! Everything is great - been sending our dogs here for day camp and sleepaway camp for a few years. Only great things to say about the staff and how happy (& tired) our dogs are on every visit! Six stars out of five.

Very responsive and kind staff. We used Planet Canine for 2 days while traveling and working in Bay Area. Our dog was comfortable and had good time.

Our dogs love Planet Canine!! The owner and staff show incredible kindness and care towards all their canine companions! After trying a few kennels in the area, we are so glad our neighbors recommended this gem! It’s hard for us to leave my furry family members when we go out of town, but we know that they are well taken care of at Planet Canine and get plenty of time to socialize and run around.

Allow me to begin by saying that I am extremely protective of my 3 1/2 year old Sheepadoodle, Elio. I don't have children, so my dogs become in a sense my "children". I think some of you can relate to that. I have been bringing him to Planet Canine since he was a young puppy 4-5 days every single week for daycare. I would not be such a dedicated and loyal customer of Planet Canine if I didn't trust the staff and facility implicitly. I pulled him out of a nearby competitor before coming to Planet Canine because of a mishap that occurred between Elio and another aggressive dog, so I wouldn't hesitate to do the same if Planet Canine weren't a top level business. Every member of the staff care deeply and genuinely about every dog they welcome to daycare and boarding. They don't accept just any dog, but put each through a behavioral analysis before accepting them. They even have an outdoor space, unique to doggie daycare facilities that are in the heart of a city (as opposed to in the country). So what if you have to make an appointment to tour the facility? That way they can plan around their daily routines for caring and overseeing the dogs. It gives me tremendous comfort to know that my dog is their top priority when under their supervision and responsibility. He can't wait to get out of the car every morning to run into Planet Canine which says everything I need to know about what goes on behind the scenes. And imagine how may day is lifted when I'm at work and I receive a video of Elio having the time of his life playing in the courtyard! I would not write this review if I didn't stand by every word I've written. Thank you Steve, Jordan, James, Ian, and the rest of the amazing staff at Planet Canine for loving Elio.

Planet Canine is my dog’s home away from home . Sully was lonely and was experiencing separation anxiety . I interviewed numerous places and I feel fortunate we found Planet Canine . He attends daycare Monday through Friday . Steve, James and Jordan are amazing people . I have no doubt they love Sully and have become part of our family . Sully’s anxiety has decreased and he adjusted well .How do I know ? As soon as I turn into the driveway he is so excited . He can’t go inside fast enough . Thank you so much for helping us . You are our hero’s .

Great experience! Staff was so nice and easy to communicate with. My 2 dogs stayed for 10 days. They came home healthy, happy and tired.

I have left my dog in their care several times here during the past year! He always comes back fairly clean and on a relaxed mood. They separate bigger dogs from smaller ones, but also separate high energy dogs from more chill/ lower energy ones. They constantly will send video updates of my dog every 2-3 days overall I would recommend it!

Friendly staff. That’s their blessing. Update: They are very disorganized. You speak to one person & get an answer. And a day later you get a completely different answer from a different person. They were completely unaware of each time I dropped off my pups. They also leave your dogs unattended for extended periods of time. How do I know this? My pup, now 1 years old is apparently not allowed back to their facility because she dug up their turf. Really? The only times she ever does this is when she is left alone for more than a couple of hours. I have an older dog that wasn’t really a fan of staying there. Not sure what kind of care they truly provide behind closed doors. Btw, when we picked up our pup we were told everything was great until the next time we tried to book & were told no because the owners couldn’t allow her back to rip up their turf more… thank you.

Had to find a new kennel for the 4th of July holiday after my regular one closed unexpectedly, and chose Planet Canine based on reviews I read online. I am beyond satisfied with the facilities, the staff, and how much my pup enjoyed his stay. I liked that the application was detailed, the facility tour was thorough, and the staff experienced. Will definitely board my dogs here again.

Hands down the best doggie daycare in Marin County. The ONLY place my dog is excited about going to. She used to go to other doggie day care places in Marin County. She was always unhappy to go to them--we often had to bribe her with treats to even get out of the car--and incredibly happy when we came to pick her up. At Planet Canine, she is actually EXCITED to go there! It's the best feeling to know your pet is not only being taken care of, but LOVED. Highly, highly recommended.

Our dog absolutely loves it here, great people!

My dog almost died after boarding at the Marin facility last week. I am afraid the SF and Marin locations are owned and operated by the same people. As a responsible pet owner and for the safely of all of our beloved dogs in SF Bay Area, this needs to be said. She contracted bacterial pneumonia at the facility per the radiologist’s report. When I picked her up I could feel all the bones down her back and her eye was so crusted shut I thought she had lost an eyeball. She hadn’t been eating for days and no one bothered to call me and alert me to this. I could have picked her up four days earlier but instead spent $8k on a weekend stay at the vet. This facility is completely negligent.

I was staying in the area for a week at a neaby RV park and I was able to take my dog, Luna, here on a couple of different days so that I could go into San Francisco to do some activities that weren't as dog friendly. They were very thorough in making sure Luna had her vaccinations and had a good temperament, which helped me feel comfortable leaving her there with other dogs who had gone through the same process. I was really happy that they got us set up so quickly given that we were only in town a short while. And on both of the days I took Luna in, she was all smiles when I picked her up and then out like a light once we got home to the RV, so I know she had a good time. Great little place!

Our dog, Waylon, LOVES The Grateful Dog in Greenbrae. He gets very excited as we drive toward it each day. We, his parents, love it too. All the people who work there seem to really love dogs and it is reasonably priced. They even send me pictures!

Very accommodating. We came in from out of town and needed our dogs in daycare for the day. We were able to get all of our paperwork processed/verified the night before with a quick meet and greet in the morning. Our leashes did come home smelling/saturated with urine which was odd but nothing a good wash vouldnt help with. The pups were exhauselted from a full day of playing and went to sleep right after we got back and finished our night routine.

Our pup absolutely loves this place. They handle the dogs brilliantly Since it’s mainly an indoor facility, the pups do come home bearing a bit of pee odor, but it’s nothing a quick wipe down with doggy wipes can’t fix. (We keep them in our car) The staff is super kind and always greets our pup by name

We had an amazing experience here! Every Labor Day weekend our family treks from Sacramento to Bodega Bay. We always beat the heat and have a great time surrounded by family and fun! the only bummer is, the house we rent doesn't allow our four legged friends. In the past, we have always hired a house sitter (an 80 year old gentleman) who hangs with our boxer and makes sure he gets his food. But he doesn't get his two walks a day, nor does he get to just be his high- energy self. This year, we decided to look in to boarding him and we are so glad we did!! He went in excited and came out zonked!! He slept the whole drive home and has been just relaxing the last 18 hours! Which is great since we came home to 113 degree heat! Nothing is better for a naturally hyper pup than socializing with other pups! He had a great vacation alongside of us! Thank you to the Grateful Dog!!! What a stellar team!!!

I have two dogs that we take to The Grateful Dog for overnight boarding. I feel confident that my dogs are well-cared for there. The staff are friendly, professional, and seem really invested in the dogs. I appreciate that the facility is clean, open, and well lit. And the price is reasonable -- especially with the multi-day packages and multi-dog discount.

My dog Bella loves the Grateful Dog! They have been awesome with accommodating my last minute reservations when I have to travel for work, or out of State. I highly recommend them for boarding in Marin!

I've been a long-time, six-ish year, Grateful Dog client. As a puppy, my little min-pin, Izzy "Squirrel Dust," started going to the SF location. She pretty much grew up there, and I am so thankful to everyone (humans and dogs alike) that became part of her "pack." A couple of years ago, I changed jobs, and because I could work from home, Izzy stayed home with me. While at a dog park last fall, Izzy was attacked by a much larger, aggressive dog and her stomach was ripped apart. It was a very, long road to recovery for Izzy, the trauma she underwent was not only physical, but her temperament changed drastically. It got to a point where I couldn't bring her around certain people or most dogs. I was at my wit's end and then saw that Ernie, the owner of The Grateful Dog, was opening up a 2nd location in Marin. I gave him a call, and he developed a plan with me to re-socialize Izzy to get her back to how she was pre-accident. It was incredibly remarkable. After a couple of weeks with Ernie and his team at the new location, Izzy became her old friendly and flirty self again. I can't thank The Grateful Dog enough. From the very beginning, they have gone beyond my expectations and have brought Izzy and me closer, in many ways, I feel like they brought my dog back to life. Their new location is clean, spacious, and well run. I wish I could give them a 10 Star rating.

I think the dogs enjoyed it. They didn't say much, but they were fully exhausted... Lots of running and sniffing and whatnot, I'm sure. Special shout out to the Tennessee Jed lyrics on the door... Very cool, especially if that was really Bob. The employee didn't know (which was odd).