AlphaDog Lodging

We have taken our two year old vizsla to this facility twice, once for a temperament test and once for daycare and I really didn’t have a good impression of it. First of all, when I was given a tour I wasn’t really able to see much of the facility, what I did see was a small turf grass area where the dogs were not playing. The biggest turn off for me was the space for «active dogs» it was just a small pen where they were isolated. I don’t understand why Alphadogs would put the most playful dogs in a small pen, it seems counterintuitive. We have taken our pup to many daycares, our favorite being Dogpile which unfortunately is in the city, and had never been to a place where they discourage playful dogs, until Alphadogs that is. When we picked up our pup from a half day daycare she had two welts on her back, we have no idea where they came from and we were able to see that our neighbor’s very playful dog was stuck in the «active dog» pen by herself. We won’t be bringing our pup back, it’s a shame because it’s very conveniently located.

Alpha Dog has been great to our dogs and family.
We’ve been bringing our 7 year old boxer here since she was a pup. She absolutely loves it. She gets excited even when we just drive by! She had a medical emergency on one occasion, and the staff did an excellent job getting her the care she needed and keeping us informed.
We lost our other dog unexpectedly last spring, and Alpha Dog generously sent us flowers and a personal card signed by all the staff members recalling fond memories of him. We now have a new puppy, and as always, Alpha Dog has been very helpful and accommodating.
We have comfort in knowing we can always count on Alpha Dog, namely Ashley and Victoria, for all of our boarding needs.

My two dogs (lab mix & cattle dog) love Alpha Dog. Victoria and the staff have always been helpful and friendly to me & my dogs. With my crazy work schedule, I love that they are open until 10 since I’m often flying back from a business trip in the evening and enjoy picking up my dogs before heading home. I wish they had a location closer to my home, but it’s worth the drive to Mill Valley to know my dogs are well taken care of:)

We’ve been using AlphaDog for the past few months occasionally, despite my gut feeling that this wasn’t the best place to bring him based on the fact that it smells funny when you walk in, and that you can’t really see what’s going on behind the scenes (unlike other places that offer remote video access). I try not to let myself be swayed by bad reviews, but I’ve noticed that AlphaDog had several one star ones — and since our initial experience with them had been great (he got an A on his evaluation!), I chose to ignore them. We brought our puppy here several times for boarding and day care, and I’ve been sort of sitting on this review hoping that our experience here would improve, but it did not, so here it is!
The first time, we left him for two nights. He came back with kennel cough. The second time we boarded him, he came back with conjunctivitis. We also received an email asking us to have his shot for DVPP/​parvo updated, so we scheduled a visit to the vet — who informed us that all of his shots were up to date (so essentially, we paid for an unnecessary visit to the vet). Turns out the administrative staff had misread his (photocopied) vaccine records. This last time that we took him for daycare for about 4 hours, and came back to find that he was inside the office — unusual, since they didn’t know what time we would be coming back to get him. He was not tired like he usually is at the end of daycare, so we ended up having to take him to the dog park and let him run around for about half an hour. He clearly had been cooped up for much of the time we’d left him at daycare.
Today, we received a call asking us not to bring him back because they felt that he was too «engaging» with the other dogs and wanting to play. He’s a 10 month old terrier mix who has been accepted to daycare and board at other facilities with no problem — in fact, they all call him «extremely well socialized and playful» and love having him. Even our vet enjoys his visits because he is such a good natured pup! It sounds like AlphaDog only wants old dogs who do nothing all day so that they don’t have to do much in the way of taking care of them. We’ve seen at least one other instance of another high-​energy dog who got put into a «time-​out» pen (aka dog solitary confinement) because they’re too «rowdy». Sounds like the opposite of what NEEDS to be done for a dog that needs playtime… who pens up a dog who has lots of energy to expend? If you read some of the other reviews, you’ll see that this is not an isolated incident. They simply don’t like active dogs.
It’s really too bad since AlphaDog is conveniently located, but they made the decision for us and we’re happy to move on to someone who cares for ALL dogs more than they do.

We just recently took our year old silver lab to alpha to get him in for his four hour evaluation. So they called before the four hours was up and said they had a problem with our dog and they put him in time out. He isn’t a child and putting a dog most likely in a kennel for time out is wrong a kennel isn’t a place for punishment for a dog. So we picked up our dog and they said all he wanted to play and wouldn’t just lay down like the other dogs were doing. Well DUH HE is a lab pup that’s what they do. I think this place just wants old and well trained dogs to board because they haven’t a Clue how to take care of a dog that has lots of energy. I wouldn’t take a dog here unless all the other boarding place were full. My wife said it kind of smelt there which means is not clean. We have boarded our pup and numerous places in California and we haven’t any trouble until we went here.

Recommend AD to a friend a few weeks ago so she eventually checked out the reviews and sent me a message this morning asking about AD pick up/​drop complaints so I checked them out myself and can’t say I’m surprised at the level of entitlement of some of the reviews, this is Marin after all. I’ve lived all over the country including NY and West LA and yet Marin definitely takes the entitlement prize. To believe you’re the special person that should be made the exception to the rules simply because you called ahead is quite silly. And to complain about not being granted an exception, I guess to hurt someone’s business, is even worse. It’s just little.
Hopefully that attitude is only being passed down to a dog and not actual children who will one day also become old enough to type.
We found ADs initial trial process quite annoying and their hours of operation a little annoying as well but overall we have much more positive to report than anything else. Businesses have rules in place for a reason, in this case probably for the safety of the employee (s) working the overnight shift, and if someone is too good to respect them then just take that energy somewhere else. Our dog loves it there partly because of the happy atmosphere provided and we appreciate it very much.
Thanks Alpha Dog.
And pray for Marin

Very disappointed in Alpha Dog!
We picked up our two year old golden retriever and when we got home we noticed he was wearing a bark collar. The collar was set on vibrate and HIGH. We called to hear them out and we were told that this is common practice and that they also put our dog in a kennel for the night. This is interesting because when we picked him up they told us that «he did great last night».
For a place that boasts, «your dog will play with friends on 5,000 square feet of pet turf… a tired dog is a happy dog» — tough to be happy with a bark collar on and tough to get tired in a kennel.
This is extremely frustrating. We have lost all trust in Alpha Dog.

The woman who was there on the night of August 28^th 2015 at 9:50 pm got a call from us saying we were on our way but her tone of voice was rude and disregarding. We showed up a minute late (10:02pm), all the lights turned off. We were worried because in the past when we drive by we see some lights on. We called a second time and left a message at 10:04 pm. No one responded. We were left with the impression that the dogs were UNATTENDED. We continued to call to confirm to see if anyone was there. It would be neglectful, if the dogs were alone. We knocked within the first five minutes. We called more than a few times to see if we could get anyone on the phone.
After waiting outside for 30 minutes to see if anyone would return in their car/​break, we called one last time and finally got a response. What was said was that she was «cleaning». The place was completely dark and if she wasn’t able to hear the phone, then I am left feeling uneasy if anything occurred, she would not have been there to help the dogs.
We have been going here for more than a year and a half, through the price increase and extra fines. Very loyal but this experience has left us questioning Alpha Dog.
Giving two stars since this is nothing compared to the tragic one star review.
Very disappointed.

Jamison loves it here. She comes home tired, exercised well, and clearly well cared for. Their selection process is a tough love look at the behavior of each pooch, in order to make a happy, healthy and safe environment for those of us to whom that is important. No one wants their dog coming home from daycare having learned bad habits from an unsocialized or poorly behaved pup.
Their constant attention and their expertise at controlling unexpected behavior by using multiple spaces, and moving pups around speaks to their expertise in creating a positive environment all day for all dogs.
We are so grateful to have found a place for Jamison to play and socialize when we’re both busy bees. Thank you AlphaDog!
The assessment is tough, and your dog may not pass, but rest assured, the team at AlphaDog has ALL the right intentions and partake in best practices in every regard to make this a healthy and safe environment, and we’re happy to be part of the family.

Alpha Dog has been there for Jack and I for 3 years full time now.
He is happy there. In addition he has never been injured in any way!
I attribute this to Victoria who evaluates dogs and works with the staff
to match the right dog to the right yard. She is committed to safety and
lets people know what works and what doesn’t in a relatively small space.
She is honest with dog owners. Ashley manages the front. The two senior
staff members really stabilize this wonderful daycare.
Believe me, I am picky as I worked at a well known dog training center
for 5 years. I wouldn’t take Jack to anywhere else in Marin County.
I am grateful to Alpha Dog every day when I go to work!

We tried Alpha Dog after Canine Cove moved to Sausalito and were no longer taking large dogs/​puppies, which we were really bummed because our english lab puppy LOVED going there and always came home exhausted. Initially we were very impressed with the cleanliness of the facilities and the staff seemed knowledgable and friendly.
After our puppy, he started around 10.5÷11 months old, who is an English lab (needs exercise and stimulation, he is also very big 85lbs) was accepted and we were told he was a good fit.
Then we started hearing feedback about him wanting to play excessively… When asked if he was being aggressive or unsafe it was always a «no no, just a puppy and he wants to play more than the other dogs». We heard this a lot, then it progressed to WE needed to provide or reimburse them for some chew toys because when he was given a time out from the pack he would start chewing or digging.
After growing up in farm country around animals my entire life and this being the 3^rd dog I’ve raised from 8 weeks on, I asked if it was maybe because he was segregated away and it was anxiety? Or he was distressed that he was not with the other dogs, and clearly needed to be, that he’s used to being social and around people and other pets… I got a lot of «dog/​pack psychology» that also as a someone who works in mental health, was a little condescending. I don’t expect them to know what I do, but it was definitely being «told» to me. I was asking a lot of questions, I finally asked if this wasn’t a good place for him, for my particular dog, or for any large puppies and she said «no, not really.» She also asked me if we «ran him» and I said of course we do, he’s a dog, he needs to have exercise. She told me that this must be the reason, that we got him used to running and playing at parks, so that’s why when he goes there he wants to play… As if a dog coming into a group of dogs doesn’t want to play?! Then to act like we were creating a monster by taking our lab to swim and play at local off leash parks? What? That’s when I knew we were not going back.
Bottom line, I do think they will make sure your dog is fed, poops, pees and is alive, but I do not feel they truly understand puppies, nor in my experience do they keep your dogs best interests at heart. I would have rather been told months ago that my dog was being segregated not for being aggressive, but just being a puppy, and he was going crazy there. He was coming home from being there and running rampant around our home, tearing around the yard, like he had been sitting all day. This also really bothered me. This was NOT like him at all. He’s never been a spaz. Moments, yes, but few and far between.
He has been going to work in an OFFICE with us and has never chewed anything but his stuff. He listens to all commands and everyone we know can’t believe how young he is because he is so well behaved. At the off leash parks everyone knows him and he plays, wrestles, but he also stops when dogs tell him to, and he regulates himself as well, he stops often and takes a break.
I feel like we wasted hundreds of dollars and also feel we were leaving our sweet puppy to be kept away from the other dogs, which I’m sure was torturous for him as he is such a friendly loving dog. I felt like everything they would ever tell us about our dog was nothing we ever saw, heard from previous kennel, dog walkers, or pet sitters.
I wouldn’t recommend this for a puppy or young active dog.

Feeling obligated to leave this review — Caught off guard and patronized after being «let go» from Alpha Dog.
We adopted a 10 month old mutt from the Milo Foundation in April and with an unexpected change in schedule, decided it would be best to find a place to send him to doggie daycare for the school day, I am a local elementary school teacher. Alpha Dog seemed like the best fit for our needs, and although we heard mixed reviews from friends and co-​workers, we decided to bring our dog in for an interview. For about 2 months, he has been going to to Alpha Dog 3 to 4 days a week. Of course, being a new dog mommy, I would ask how he is doing each day I picked him up. We were interested in the his progress and wanted to make sure we were enforcing good habits at home and dog park. I was told multiple times, he is a high energy puppy. Sometimes, «ha-​ha, you know puppies, they do what they want when the want to…» Etc. None of the feedback indicated we needed to take steps at home, or should be worried about him.
Recently we needed to board him for a few nights due to a multi-​night field trip. On my way over to pick him up, I noticed a missed phone call from Alpha Dog and soon after heard a very cryptic voicemail from Victoria. I went right over and was pulled outside, then back in, for a private (but not really) conversation. At this point, I had not even been told if my dog was safe, or if something was wrong with him.
I was told that my dog is chewing on things in an unsafe manor. He chewed through a new kennel (which I am sure was annoying to staff and the company wallet), so badly that there was a potential that he could have «cut himself open and bled out». He was chewing on wood (in the yard), he would not go where anyone was telling him to go, he could only be paired with certain dogs on the yard etc. I was a little embarrassed and worried both for my pup and concerned about any interaction with other dogs, so my immediate goal was to get him out of there as fast as possible.
I listened diligently and silently, as I would expect someone receiving feedback to (I am an elementary school teacher after all, and see both ends of the spectrum regarding negative feedback!). I did not feel that I was being spoken to as a customer, but like a teenager, who had broken a rule. I did not argue with what he was doing, or question Victoria’s honesty. I did express some distress and confusion. I had been bringing him since April and I have never heard anything like this. Victoria told me that all happened in the last few hours– So my dog became the epitome of an unwanted client in the last hour? Why was he in a kennel in a cage-​free boarding facility? Was he not being watched?
I felt extremely caught off guard and ill-​informed by people who I trusted with a member of my family. I was not shown the kennel and I did not ask to see it– or deny that he might have chewed it. He is a puppy, after all. I am extremely disappointed with the voicemail I received, the face-​to-​face conversation and the overall communication regarding my pup. Victoria concluded our conversation, had another staff member reimburse me for the remainder of the our package and then retreated to the back to get my dog. She did not come back to speak to me.
One day later, after calling, my husband was able to touch base with Joan (a co-​owner). He did say she was friendly and apologetic, but our dog is too rambunctious for their facility. She hopes we will come back at a later date. She also said that this was an eye-​opening situation for how things are handled in the realm of customer service.
Bottom line, they gave no warning and I ended up having to take a day off work because we had no contingency plan on a Thursday evening. If you have a young dog or a dog with energy, this may not be the place for you. Kicking myself for recommending them, I already have a friend using their services now. In the end, despite the ultimate conversation with Joan, it seems very apparent that the decision regarding your dog may be very subjective with very little oversight. With a lot of dogs and few employees, even the most reasonable managers must trust the word of a single person. Just like with young children in school, I would expect a little leeway, a little warning, and perhaps some accountability on the lack of dog control technique by people who are paid to interact with dogs as their profession.

Our Frenchie Lenny started at Alpha Dog when he was 7 months old. He did fine with the evaluation process, so he attended daycare regularly. We had several trips planned over the summer so we were thrilled to have found this amazing daycare and boarding facility.
While we were away on one of our last trips last summer, we got a call that Lenny was having impulse issues. He was barking and jumping at other dogs and creating an uncomfortable situation. Victoria was very kind letting me know that he was young and would probably grow out of this behavior, but for now we would need to make other arrangements.
Tails between our legs, we headed off to find a trainer and a dog walker. After several months of both, we asked for a re-​evaluation. Thankfully Victoria was right, he just needed to grow up a little bit, I’m sure the training and dog walking with a smaller group helped as well.
We have been back at Alpha Dog since March, Lenny is doing great! He LOVES this place!!! The staff is amazing! I have not had one bad experience. They truly care about the wellbeing of each dog. They treat them like their own.
The other day when I was dropping Lenny off I was asked to wait by the door as there was a man picking up his dog after what I can only guess was a bad evaluation. As he began to leave the enclosed area his dog became very agitated at the site of Lenny and wanted to get to him. We both held on tight and he was able to get him outside without an issue. At that moment I was so completely grateful to this amazing staff, and those awful evaluations. I understand it feels horrible to be on that side of it, but on the other side of it, it feels great to know my pet is safe and happy.
Not all dogs are going to be a fit for this environment, I’ve had a couple of those (a Lab and Wheaton Terrier) and it is a very stressful situation. If your pet is happy to be around a large group of dogs, and play hard, until they fall, this is the place for you!!!
Love you guys!!!
Lenny’s mom :-)

Our dog gets so excited when we turn into the Alpha Dog parking lot. .. absolute proof that she loves it there and that she is well taken care of. It is the ONLY place we will leave her. The best!

If you can get your dog «into» Alpha Dog, this is a dream daycare and boarding facility. The grass is green, it’s quiet and it’s never overcrowded. I was so excited when I found this place as I was tired of traditional boarding facilities and our dog walker has a habit of canceling last minute, so we really needed a place to take our one year old Samoyed.
It’s been months since our first evaluation, where they told me Homer barked too much and couldn’t stay for more than a few hours at a time. I thought it was a little strange, but I figured they maintained their heavenly atmosphere by being a little selective. It is Marin after all, what else did I expect?
Well, since that moderately patronizing conversation with one of their dog managers, I’ve tried about half a dozen times to get Homer into regular daycare. The second time I tried to get him in, they were flooded. The third time, they were booked. The fourth time, they said yes, but only on a weekend for a second trial run where I’d pay for a full day of daycare. When I picked him up, the woman behind the counter regaled me with a litany of Homer’s grievances, from «pacing» to «barking while playing».
Now, before you say I just have an asshole dog, hear me out. He’s a year old, trained at SF Puppy Prep and through private one-​on-​one training. He’s stayed at a few different daycare facilities and not once, ever, has someone said he was a jerk. Other trainers and walkers and daycare providers have, more than once, called him «the perfect dog». I’ll be the first to admit he can be bossy and loud when he wants to play, but he’s sweet and not even close to being a bully. But at Alpha Dog, I guess they want to keep out the riff raff so they string you and your pup along, giving you hoops to jump through and awkward conversations in front of other customers about why your dog isn’t good enough to be there. It’s ridiculous. He’s a dog for God’s sake.
So. Enter this morning. Our dog walker cancelled last minute, again, so I called Alpha Dog as a last-​ditch effort to give my pup somewhere to go for the day. The woman I spoke to had no record of Homer being there more than once and told me, «According to your file Homer has a bit of a barking problem. I think he’ll do best if he’s only here for a few hours but I’ll have to ask my manager to confirm.» To which I replied, «I work in the city, I can’t just leave my job in the middle of the day to go pick up my dog.» Apparently, that was too bad. They won’t take him.
I don’t know why I keep bending over backwards to try and make Homer fit in with their weird culture. I guess it’s because there’s really nowhere else to go. I guess I need a better dog walker.
The lesson for you is this: If you can get in, Alpha Dog is great. The staff is a little awkward and patronizing, but you shouldn’t have that problem if your dog is the perfect, most quiet, zero-​personality type canine. But if your pup likes to play, hates playing, hasn’t been groomed in the last week, was groomed too recently, barks when he’s excited, gets excited, shows affection, eats, doesn’t eat, likes to nap in private, likes to nap curled up to someone, or any other range of personality afflictions, you’d be best trying to find somewhere else.

Our dog boarded here for seven nights and she has also been a day visitor. The staff is friendly, professional and attentive. The facility is well designed and clean. Our dog seems to really enjoy being at Alpha Dog.
I like that your dog must attend a «trial /​test» visit before being approved for day or overnight boarding. I can highly recommend Alpha Dog! Your dog will be happy!

After moving to Marin, we were looking for a new place to board our pup. I’m basing this review solely on my dogs reaction to the place.
We did the trial run and a few days of daycare before boarding overnight. The folks were really nice here and making reservations was fine. The prices were competitive as well. So I really wanted to like this place.
However, my pup who’s pretty chill and laid back hated coming here for some reason. He would pull away like crazy when we pulled up and would always leave nervous. I think it might’ve been some mismatched groupings or something of the sort. Or maybe just the all day outside and with all the other dogs.
There was always a lot of barking too whenever we are outside picking up or even just at the coffee place next door. So that might’ve spooked him since he’s quiet but for some reason he just never got used to this place and hated coming here.
We recently tried another boarding place in Marin and he’s back to his happy self.

I’m so disappointed with Alpha Dog lodging. I was thrilled to have a place that I could use close to home for quick getaways. We usually bring our golden all the way to Tappen Hill in Sebastopol when we go away, but it’s a long way from Mill Valley. I brought our golden in for the 4 hour «trial» which she passed with flying colors. My first red flag when I dropped her off was that they didn’t ask me if she was on any flea treatment (which she is and has never had an infestation).
Well, she was covered in fleas that night, the next morning after I had completely combed her out, and even now after I gave her a flea bath at Woodlands!
I called Alpha Dog immediately upon discovering the fleas and asked about their flea treatment policy and the gal said they always ask if the dogs are on flea medicine. Well, they hadn’t with me! She said she would tell the manager and they’d give me a call right away. No call. I know dogs get fleas, but they are obviously not vigilant about it.
Needless to say, I’m canceling my reservation and taking our girl back to Tappen.

Highly recommend Alpha Dog for day care and over night. If you love your pooch as much as I do. Have no fear of this place. When I have to drop Sanaya off I know she is in good hands and safe. Peace of mind is so key for your lovable little ones. Sanaya absolutely loves it!
When she’s a happy girl, I’m happy!

We have been coming to AlphaDog for two years now, with our dog Isabella a Maltese all 9.5 lbs of white fluff;) she’s excited to see her friends every time we drop her off. On the days that she stays for full day daycare. she’s fed 3 times by the staff and let her play until she’s all tired! Same as when it’s only a half day stay she’s still cared for and played out! Isabella loves it here so it’s just fair to say that as her doggie parents we love it too!
PS.they have a $ 20 Sundays daycare which are Awesome Sauce!!!