Sierra Dogs Boarding & Training

Sierra Dogs offers Puppy Training Camp, a customized Board & Train program for healthy puppies 12 weeks and older. Puppies stay in the home of a certified professional trainer to learn manners, foundation behaviors, and socialization in real-life situations. The program includes multiple short individual training sessions, supervised social time with other dogs, naps, alone time practice, local field trips, and work with a training assistant. Common goals include basic manners (come, sit, down, stay, leave it, settle), addressing jumping and mouthing, potty and crate training, socialization, leash skills, and comfort with body handling.

For dog boarding, first-time clients book a complimentary “meet & greet” visit to ensure a good fit before making a reservation. Existing clients contact Sierra Dogs directly for reservation requests. Dogs receive personal attention, outdoor play in a fenced one-acre area, and sleep indoors. They only accept dogs that enjoy the company of other dogs and are comfortable with caregivers other than their parents. They do not accept dogs with moderate to severe separation anxiety.

Pricing Summary

Dog boarding is $110 per night, per dog. Check-outs later than 12pm incur an additional night’s charge. The in-home dog boarding rate includes all necessary attention, activity, and space without up-selling additional items.

Puppy Training Camp rates include an initial 90-minute consultation ($300, applied to Board & Train if booked), the Board & Train stay with weekly updates, a hand-off session with a written report, and two or three follow-up coaching sessions, plus reasonable phone/email/text support. The minimum stay is 3 weeks for $4500, 4 weeks for $5500, 5 weeks for $6500, and 6 weeks for $7500. Most puppies require 4 or 5 weeks.

Policies

New client inquiries may take up to a week for a response, especially during busy times, as the trainer cannot respond when actively supervising or training dogs. The contact form is the best way for new clients to get a quicker response, while existing clients may text.

For dog boarding, check-out times later than 12pm incur an additional night’s charge. They only accept dogs that enjoy the company of other dogs and are comfortable being cared for by people other than their parents. They will not board a dog if the experience would be detrimental to its behavioral or physical health. Dogs older than five months must be current on rabies, DAPP/DHPP, and bordetella vaccines with written proof. Dogs with moderate to severe separation anxiety are not suitable for their boarding environment.

For Puppy Training Camp, they accept puppies as young as 12 weeks with at least two sets of distemper/parvo shots, provided they are free of communicable illness and intestinal parasites. Dogs older than five months must be current on rabies, DAPP/DHPP, bordetella, and canine influenza vaccines. They do not guarantee training results, stating it is unethical in the profession, but they guarantee a safe environment, use industry best practices, never intentionally cause fear or pain, and are transparent about methods and goals. Client visits during a puppy’s stay are discouraged as they can cause setbacks or confusion for the puppy and require scheduled appointments, taking time away from training.

Sierra Dogs Boarding & Training is a business founded by Eden Halbert, a certified dog trainer and behavior expert. The business, originally started in San Francisco in 2002, relocated to Placerville in 2007 and was renamed Sierra Dogs. They offer dog boarding and puppy training services.

Their dog boarding provides a quiet, cozy, cage-free in-home environment with personal attention for a few dogs at a time. Dogs enjoy outdoor play and exercise in a fenced one-acre area. Sierra Dogs is described as the only fully licensed and insured home-based dog boarding facility in the region.

The Puppy Training Camp is a customized board & train program for healthy puppies 12 weeks and older. It focuses on teaching manners, foundation behaviors, and socialization in a real-life home setting. They also offer workshops and mentoring for dog trainers, veterinarians, and pet-related businesses, covering topics like behavior knowledge, handling skills, and business & marketing.

Accomplishments

Eden Halbert is a certified dog trainer and behavior expert with a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) from the Academy for Dog Trainers. She is also a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

Sierra Dogs was voted Best Pet Boarding (Foothills edition) and Best Pet Training (Folsom/El Dorado Hills edition) in Style Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The business has been operating professionally since 2002.

How to Get Started!

For first-time boarding clients, the process begins with booking a complimentary “meet & greet” visit to introduce the dog to the environment and ensure it’s a good fit. After this, clients can make a reservation and set up client records.

For Puppy Training Camp, the first step is to book an initial 90-minute consultation where the puppy is brought to Sierra Dogs for an individualized training plan and recommendations. If Puppy Training Camp is deemed appropriate, the puppy’s stay will be scheduled. The consultation fee is $300, which is applied to the Board & Train if booked. New clients are encouraged to use the contact form for inquiries.