Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play-and-Stay

As like other reviews here, I have been bringing my Yorkie to Pawderosa for the last 9 years and was very satisfied with them until now. Yes, they have really hike the prices and are giving less care. My concern though, is for the animals. Within the last couple of years I noticed my dog was always coming back sick. I brought her there in Feb. for a week. When I returned, My dog had lost 5 pounds! She only weighed 14 to begin with. I can understand that she probably doesn’t eat very well while Im gone, but they returned her food back to me frozen! She also was limping pretty badly on her back leg. I didn’t want to bring her back, but felt compelled, because of her familiarity with the facility. I called to talk to the manager, who was not there. It took her two days to return my call. I told her the situation, and she assured me that if I bought her back, She would personally see to it, that she would be well taken care of. She also told me she would put notes in her file, that she would be watching, to make sure everyone took good care. When I pick her up this time after a week, I notice her eyes looked very bad. Took her to Vet. next day. Found out she has a scratched cornea that has ulcered, infections in both eyes that moved into sinuses. I am treating her for this right now, but looks like it will be a trip to the animal opthamologist, which is extremely expensive. Hopefully she will not go blind. She has also lost a lot of weight again. The fact, that this could not have happened over night, is that they had to know about it and did nothing about it. They also did not tell me about it, which makes me even more mad! I can assure you, she won’t be back there again and just hope my dog doesn’t suffer the rest of her life, because I was stupid enough to trust them again! My concern now, other then my dogs health, is the health and wellbeing of the rest of the dogs that go there. I found these reviews a little too late. Hope others find them before they bring their dogs here!

I have been using Pawderosa’s boarding facility for my two dogs during short weekend trips for the last seven years. During that time I was very pleased with the services they provided at the rates they requested. Throughout the years we witnessed Pawderosa expanded its services, rotate management and personnel and occasionally increase rates. I was happy to stick with Pawderosa because I believed in its overall mission.
Recently however we have had a change of heart. I very much respect all the lovely people that are caring for the dogs and my distaste is not with anyone that works there. I do however have an issue with the rate changes that occurred several months ago, the added «services» and reason for the change .
Pawderosa was appealing to me originally because it was an all day play boarding facility for a single rate. Recent changes separate boarding rates (no play time sessions, only potty breaks) and play session package rates. The package rates allow for 2 hour play sessions. The more play sessions you want (up to 3) the more expensive the package per day. Pawderosa is playing up the package deals by saying they include one on one time with your dog, a gourmet treat, extra tummy rubs, etc. Their claim is that this one on one time benefits the overall psychological well being of the dogs. I have a couple of issues with this. 1) the psychological well being of my dogs is not determined by a two to three night stay at a boarding facility and 2) this type of description/​fluff appears to be designed to tug at the heart strings of individuals who feel guilty about leaving their pet to play throughout the day with other dogs (nothing to feel guilty about really).
IMO the dogs were previously allowed supervised all day play time with other dogs, food, warm shelter and any home items like a cozy bed and toy (all these are physiologically and psychologically ideal). Doggy paradise really. All this was previously provided at a very reasonable rate.
As a result of the rate change a several night boarding session has jumped from a previous (close estimation) $ 200 boarding fee for all day play to a $ 380 HALF-​day play boarding fee. I’d rather my dogs skip the $ 180 dollar tummy rubs and gourmet treats thanks.
When asked about why the rates were going up one individual I spoke with indicated that in addition to the one on one additions the rate hike was to provide continued dog training to facility personnel. I’m not sure it’s the best business plan to have the cost of training personnel translate so greatly to the consumer.
Sadly, Pawderosa has lost my business and that of others that may ask for my opinion. I have found a highly recommended all day play boarding facility that offers all of the previously mentioned services without the BS. At a very reasonable rate, reminiscent of rates Pawderosa used to have.
Overall I am very disappointed in the changes and hope Pawderosa one day gets back to the basics that made it a great place.

I brought my mixed breed boxer when I first moved here. He got hurt in day camp by other dogs. Twice. In watching the cameras, it is easy to understand why: just not enough trained personnel to supervise. The front staff is nice enough, but the groups are too large and the folks who watch the dogs in day camp are just not trained enough. I wanted to like this place so much because the location is convenient. As the saying goes, «bite me once, shame on you — bite me twice, shame on me.» Unfortunately, my dog had to pay for my mistakes. He got hurt badly and was afraid to go back.

Just an awesome place! My dogs love it, the staff is all very nice and great with the animals, and I can watch the dogs on the webcams when I’m away. My dogs come back from daycare or boarding and sleep for the rest of the day — an added bonus!
Will bring the boys here every time I board them, that’s for sure!

From the moment I saw Pawderosa’s billboard over the airport, gleaming like a beacon of light, I was hooked on the thought of my dog exploring the ranch to her heart’s content, having high-​energy play days, and making furry friends.
With upcoming travel plans, we decided to give Pawderosa a call. And then another call. And on the third time, we were finally able to track down to a staff member at the ranch about boarding our pup. Right off the bat, I loved that they ask that you bring your dog in for a four-​hour interview to see how they will mesh with the other dogs at the ranch. Great! I can rest assured that my dog won’t meet any shady characters in those dark corners of the play yard.
Before acceptance, they also request that you fill out a packet about your dog (preferences, allergies, temperament, etc.), which I also thoroughly appreciated, because it seems like they’re really invested in taking the time to learn your dog.
(If you board your dog through these guys, they automatically enroll your pup in doggy daycare. And trust me Unilocalers, when you’re away from your beloved furry children for several days or more, you’re going to want to be sure they’re getting all the play and socializing they need.)
My dog operates in a constant flux between fear and anxiety, so my partner and I were extremely nervous about her interview at Pawderosa; but the staff was accommodating and sensitive to my pet’s needs as they worked hard to make her feel comfortable upon arrival (e.g., removing their hats, as my dog does NOT agree with this fashion choice). They tried her out in several different yards with different packs of peers, and we were delighted to know that she had been accepted. Woo! The staff gave us a tour the facility so we could see where our dog was staying. The next morning, we dropped her off with ziplocs full of snacks, blankets from home and new toys in tote.
Unfortunately, that’s when things started to get a little murky. While we loved the idea of watching our dog on the webcam, most of the cams are positioned in areas that are near impossible to spot the dogs. My partner and I resorted to pointing to a dark blob of pixels and convincing ourselves that it was our Luna, happy as a clam and having a ball. Because we were gone for seven days and our dog had never been boarded before, we tried calling in the middle of our vacation to check up on her; but no matter what time of day, we could not get the staff to answer the phone. We left messages, tried a couple more times, and eventually gave into our defeat.
When we finally arrived back in town and reunited with our dog, she was bathed (free bath for any dogs that stay 5+ nights!) and sporting a fasionable bandana. On the surface, she appeared to have had a great time with her new friends while we were away. However, we noticed that she had several scratches on her underbelly and legs and a huge welt on the top of her head. While we of course understand dogs play and can cause harmless injuries, her skin was also irritated, and when we brought her home, she had a terrible cough and sneezing fits. Our dog has had all of her vaccinations up to date, but she returned to us with kennel cough – and she’s been a fit of snot and tears since. Definitely on my agenda to call and ask how they keep track of their daycare dogs’ vaccinations after the initial admission process.
I want to also mention that on Pawderosa’s website, the pictures of the kennels are not what we saw on the tour and were not what we were expecting. Furthermore, while the website mentioned music to lull the dogs to sleep, we were told on the tour that this does not necessarily happen. We were also told that our dog would return to us with a report card of how her stay went and the times she was fed, but upon departing, we left empty-​handed.
Truthfully, I want to LOVE Pawderosa. I truly do. But even with all of the pros we experienced from our dog’s stay, I just can’t overlook the cons of the facility seeming understaffed and my dog returning in the condition she came home in.
Ultimately I feel like I’m really on board with the idea of Pawderosa, but it could no doubt use some improvement in operations, functionality, and giving the clients some peace of mind before we return.

Worst experience ever!
Let me start off by saying that Danielle (not the manager) is so rude! No no no, let me start off by saying that this staff needs severe training on how to handle scared dogs!!! My dog jumps when she is scared. And after shortly explaining that my dog had gotten attacked recently, and this was the first time we were re-​introducing her to dogs, she of course starts jumping on a employee out of anxiety, and the employee picks up her leg like she is about to kick my dog!!! (I know this because I was standing in the front with the manager, watching the whole thing on camera) And so because of they incident my dog has been kicked out of this facility because the employee felt threatened! Maybe she should get more training and not open the gate so one of my dogs had the opportunity to run away while the other stayed jumping because she was so scared!!! Now back to Danielle, She had the gall to tell me to my face, «Were you planning on bringing her (my daughter) back? When we replied, not anymore. She said, well good because shes not allowed here anymore!» And she kept belittling her manager (Manager Danielle) saying she didnt handle my dogs situation right and that she went about everything the wrong way. If i talked about my manager that way, i would get fired in a heart beat!!! Oh and when we brought up the fact that they let my labradoodle run out the cage, she said, well we usually only deal with dogs thay stay when we open the cage. WELL IM SORRY I JUSY ADOPTED THIS DOG A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVENT HAD TIME TO PROPERLY TRAIN HER WITHIN 3 WEEKS!!! And finally today Danielle the manager called my WORK wanting to apologize. Stating she didnt call because the only number she had on file was an old number. WHY DID I JUST FILL OUT BRAND NEW PAPERWORK FOR MY LABRADOODLE THEN??? And the 2 new numbers on the forms were the 2 people that were with me all weekend. I thought i finally found a place I can trust to leave my pit bull, but no, this is far from it. And last but not least, both my dogs have severe eye infections!!!

This facility has untrained staff handling the dogs. There are times when dog play areas go unsupervised. They use water spray bottles to discipline the dogs. The problem with this is they also use the same bottles for cleaning chemicals. Which can get mixed up and used on the dogs. Could be a great place if the owners paid attention to who’s running the facility.

When we first moved to San Antonio we had to put my pup here for 2 weeks– I was stressed as we never used this doggy daycare before. But as soon as we arrived ally stress went away! I felt very good that my doggy would be staying here! They have such a cute ranch and very clean atmosphere! The workers here are very helpful and patient, and they take the time to get to know your dog upon arrival. It’s very welcoming environment and they are honest with you about how your dog is doing through out the dogs stay– they have doggy webcams you can view and see your dog throughout the day which is so cool! You can have you your dog stay long term or short term and they also have full service grooming and they gave my weimaraner a bath and did a great job :) overall we are very pleased and thankful for there great service! We highly recommend this doggy daycare absolutely! My dog had a blast here and you can see that on the webcams and from the feedback of the workers!

We were moving to San Antonio and needed a place for a big dog to stay. They were very friendly and even took our dog on a holiday. They have webcams where you can view the dogs when they are outside which is very cool. Overall I would recommend them.

After a painstaking search to find a daycare that would accept my American bulldog pit mix, I found pawdersoa and I couldn’t be happier. This place is awesome and the staff is so friendly and are willing to accept any dog, even if they need a little work. You can tell the employees love what they do and even though my boy snapped a bit at the large male employee (Ricky I think) during his evaluation because he is a little apprehensive around big men, he was given a chance and is thriving. He and Ricky are now friends and we love pawdersoa!

Absolutely love this doggie day care!!!
I had never boarded my baby before and was nervous, because I had heard that other places just stick the dogs Ina cage and only let them out for potty breaks. Not this place! They are awesome and the staff really cares about your furry babies.

You’re R and Upset C are the same person: a disgruntled employee out to cause her former employers trouble. The staff at the Pawderosa treat the dogs like you would — or better. Your pooch will thank you for a day there!

Fair warning to former employees who post negative reviews in an effort to cause trouble for the Pawderosa Ranch. The real clients know that the staff remaining at the Ranch are wonderful and our dogs love them as much as they love our dogs. The Owners take a very hands on approach to making sure my dog has a safe place to play and run around and be a dog while I’m running around town, and that includes making sure that the staff is made up of responsible, conscientious dog lovers. Real clients will attest that the Pawderosa is the best doggy daycare in town!

I absolutely love taking Bella (my Chihuahua) here for a number of reasons:
1) The staff. They care so much about the animals that stay there — from taking care of the basics concerning their care to snapping photos, playing with them, and loving on them. I really enjoy hearing the stories about how they interacted with Bella during her stays. My dog doesn’t like men, but she likes the guys at Pawderosa (my family still doesn’t believe me when I tell them).
2) The facility. You can get a tour of the grounds to see where the dogs play and sleep. It’s all open, and they are happy to show you around. Given that it gets so hot in Texas, I was initially nervous about Bella over-​heating with the amount of outdoor playtime, but they adjust their outside play hours to not jeopardize the dogs’ safety.
3) Open play. My dog is a rescue and hadn’t been very socialized. Pawderosa has an open play area where Bella can get exercised and socialized with both dogs and the staff. They have a grassy area that she just loves, and small dogs are separated from the big ones.
4) Location. Very close to the San Antonio airport if you’re traveling out of town! If in town, they’re right off 281/​Nakoma so very convenient if in the city.
At the end of each stay, they give you a daily progress report of your pet’s visit. It outlines the pet’s temperament, their appetite, bathroom regularity, etc. Good for making sure they behaved. :)
The only reason I won’t be able to take Bella there anymore is due to a job transfer to another city. I tried convincing Pawderosa to move with me, but it didn’t work. :)

When we first started taking our dogs here, we were thrilled with everything; the people were great, the service was fantastic, and we were extremely satisfied. We recently purchased a home and no longer take them every day, but still use them for boarding. The service was lackluster, first. Very unfriendly. When we went to pick up, we were charged a late fee (which was something new which was never explained when dropping off.) The late fee was $ 15 and was charged for picking up after 2:30. When we asked about the fee, the lady simply pointed to the wall where a sheet of paper said there would be a late fee for pick-​up after 2:30. There was so much other stuff on the wall that in order to find the one piece of paper, you would have to be looking for it. After we were told about the fee, we were instructed to just have them bathed next time because it was the same cost and we could pick up whenever. If you ask me, that’s a poor business model to retain repeat business. Definitely felt nickel and dimed.

We have taken my neurotic mess of an Italian Greyhound there for 5 years now. They do a great job of helping the pets adjust and enjoy their stay. They don’t just throw the dogs in the yard and walk away, they stay with the dogs, checking on them to see how temperaments are adjusting, and helping encourage play by throwing a ball or playing tug of war. I have never had a bad experience with them, and I have used their boarding for weeks at a time!

Pawderosa has always taken care of our dog and been there when we needed them. A great team and my dog LOVES them. She is always excited to go!

Pawderosa Ranch feels like one big family. The owners and staff know the names of all the dogs at the ranch, even the newest members! The staff does a great job interacting with the dogs and have built strong bonds with each one. Pawderosa Ranch is the only place I will take my Lily Bug because I know she will get the attention and care I want for her!

I have left my Pitbull there many times, they do not discriminate against any breeds. If your dog can pass the temperment test you are golden. They provide you with a report card of your dogs stay that includes the hours she was fed and how she did. If you are Military make sure to ask for your discount!

I had such a wonderful experience with Pawderosa! My dogs just completed a 4 night stay, and they’ve come home tired but happy. The yards at the ranch are spacious and welcoming, and the staff was very patient with my two dogs, who take a little time to warm up to new people and experiences. I loved watching the webcams and seeing the daily facebook pictures while I was away; it made me much less anxious about boarding my dogs for the first time. We’ll be back for sure!

We took our dogs here almost two years ago when we went on a two-​week trip vacation. This was after us visiting A LOT of different doggy day cares, so that we could find one that would be best for them. We really liked the feel of this place:
1) because they had webcams (we could watch them while we were on vacation and know they were doing OK).
2) because they provided us with a ride to and from the airport and we were able to park our car on their lot so we didn’t have to worry about airport parking,
3) because they were the cheapest among different other ones in San Antonio area and were able to take our second dog for a bit cheaper since we put in more than one dog
4) the fact they got to play outside all day so that during the nighttime they would sleep the entire time!
5) there is a separate big dog/​little dog area (it’s a BIG plus)
Ultimately, we had a great experience here. The people were usually very friendly and when they noticed one of our dogs needed their rabies vaccination, with our permission they gave it to him for free! It was nice that they had it there readily available in case any dogs needed their shots while they are there and their «parents» are not. From what I could tell, all of the people here loved the dogs. Even when we’d watch the webcams, they keep their facilities very clean and while the dogs are outside playing, there were a few people inside cleaning the floors/​crates/​etc.
Definitely check this place out, you won’t regret it. It’s one of the best.