Waiterock Kennels

We've trusted Waiterock for years. First with our former big rescue dog. Now with our two smaller rescues. All with certain behavioral issues that Waiterock has been willing to work with. The facility is the best, and cleanest we've ever seen. Nice kennels and good open spaces for the dogs to play a bit. Staff has always been super responsive if we've had questions.

Recently our two littles came home with a few intestinal issues after boarding. Honestly, it was probably just stress and a bit of dietary change. But Candy was wonderful about responding to my call to discuss if they'd had any problems while there and offer what good dietary approaches to take to help them feel better. We will continue to trust Waiterock as our boarding facility even though there are many others closer to where we live.

Went to have a look at this kennel and will never allow my dog to stay there after I saw the way the staff were speaking to another dog owner. The receptionist pointedly accused the dog (and the owner) of destructive behaviour. The dog owner looked genuinely shocked. and was rather disappointed. The biggest issue with this unkind receptionst was his failure to understand that the kennel is the source of the bad behaviour.

If chewing is not typical behaviour for the dog, the kennel was actually the source of his negative behaviour. I wished I had said something at the time about his accusatory tone.you would have thought that the dog owner had broken something herself.

Friendly staff take great care of our puppy everytime we go out of town. Just make sure to reserve your space in advance!

Extremely rude, poor service, difficult, poorly managed and disrespectful to me and my gentle dog. AVOID

Excellent staff; facilities are clean, safe and well maintained; with ample area for pet play. Ideal for both short and extended stays.

Max's favorite staycation! This is the most well run and well kept kennel evidenced by how happy our Max is at the end of his stays at Waiterock.

These are the pictures of my dog post a 4 night stay last weekend. Candice Harper's (the owners) response was 'well I guess you won't be boarding again in the future if you that are unhappy'. Reasons given for these wounds included 'he was climbing in and out of a paddling pool' and 'maybe it was because he was laying down on concrete'.

They claimed to be unaware of the cut under his eye or the cut behind his ear. In fairness, I had previously boarded my dog here without incident, and always found Lauren, in particular to be very attentive. However, the response from the owner, Candice Harper when I collected my Dog was contemptible. They had also not sought to get my dog seen by a vet and just suggested he would 'be fine'.

I don't ordinarily review anything, but people should be aware of the potential risks of boarding here. Negligent at best. Completely devoid of any duty of care based on this experience.

This review is years overdue. Waiterock has ALWAYS provided top notch care for our pets. We had a somewhat special needs pup - and they loved her entirely and provided excellent care - she was always super excited to be dropped off. Recently, we were advised to evacuate our home due to extreme fire danger. We now have two dogs and a cat, and running anywhere with that crowd is difficult. Waiterock did not hesitate in offering help and shelter for our fur babies.

They love these animals so much and it meant the world to us that we knew they would be safe and with the best care available. So long as we live in the Bay Area, our family will always use Waiterock for birding needs.

We have entrusted our dogs to Waiterock for over 20 years and they are the best. Our labs actually dance with enthusiasm when we turn off the main road to go up to the kennel. They love it. Our newest lab is now 11 months old and we used their day care class to help socialize her during COVID since we was not able to play with other pups. 5 star plus!

Waiterock Kennels were excellent in taking care of our new rescue chihuahua Seymour for a week! They made sure that he would thrive there, suggesting a temperament test before we left because he is on meds. So we took him for two play dates and he did really well. They are so kind and love your dog as if it were their own. We want our dog with us, but if he can't be, I would not hesitate to board him here! Candice is lovely!

I have been in other places for boarding and day care, but non of them makes you feel they will care for your dog as much as you do. The staff is unbelievably friendly, they are knowledgeable on breed needs and dog medical conditions. The place itself is great, spot clean and ready for the puppies to play and have fun. I totally love this place

Honestly I don't get the 1-2 star reviews on here. People are such weirdos about their pets. Every time I've picked up my cat Lucy she's been very happy and I've never had a single issue. The staff have always been very friendly to me, and make comments when I pick up Lucy that suggest they really care and have paid attention to her unique personality (cattitude?).

When I arrive I am greeted by a big group of dogs that always appear to be happy and playful. Perhaps folks have really had some worse experiences than mine, but I just wanted to throw my two cents in and say thank you for always taking care of my buddy Lucy

We had used Waiterock for years and had positive experiences until recently. Last time our dog came home with bright red eyes and a scratched cornea. I thought maybe it was the result of soap in her eyes from the grooming that they gave her. They told me they hadn't noticed her eyes being red and the groomer hadn't either. We took her to vet and paid several hundred dollars to treat her scratched cornea.

I wrote to Waitrock asking them to cover our deductible. No response. Disappointed, but I let it go. I wouldn't leave a bad review from that experience, but after the following response from a boarding request, I feel compelled to write one. Upon our request to board our dog, they told us they won't board our dog anymore with the explanation our dog needed to be boarded somewhere where there wasn't group play.

This is a response out of nowhere! Never had we been given this information in the 12 years she was boarded at Waiterock. If her eye was scratched by another dog, then that's her fault? Both eyes were bright red, so it was much more likely the result of soap in her eyes from the groomer. Bottom line, this is a very unprofessional way to handle an injury on their watch. Had I not asked to be compensated for the $50 deductible, I doubt they would have responded with this random explanation. I am very unhappy with the unprofessional and vindictive way Waiterock handled us.especially after 12 years of giving them our business.

I suspect they may fine if your dog or cat is sedated or otherwise possibly not a normal animal. The facility seems comfortable and well kept. My issue is with pet handling only. My senior dog went in for an "interview for consideration" so I might board him for a couple nights while I was out of town. Mind you, my dog is not familiar with being abandoned anywhere so naturally he was apprehensive when I left him for his assessment.

I understand the assessment involved engagement with other dogs, which was reported as acceptable, and a test of his submissiveness and/or approachability. Mind you, a senior dog terrified in a foreign environment might not be in the most complacent frame of mind. So anyway - yes my dog was scared, and yes he growled when left in an unfamiliar charge, and yes he "failed" his assessment because of how he processed fear.

Yes this operation is free to discriminate and I encourage due diligence, however I'd like to see more of an open mind for the animals feelings as part of the judgement procedures. At the end of the day it may be best if my dog isn't left terrified, or worse terrified and in a place where he feels unsafe. Otherwise. the location and property are very nice and the sedate dogs in the community yard seemed quite fine and submissive. Disclaimer: I was not asked for or paid for this review. The opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

We've switched from Waiterock as their costs grew too much for our budget. Our old dog no longer enjoys group play and the expense of single-pup exercise is very high. Wish them well

It is hard to imagine that in this day and age, there is still dog racism against dogs that are considered "bully breeds.or even partial bully breeds for that matter. My dog is a 35-pound mix of many things and she is the farthest thing from aggressive - she loves all dogs and people and behaves better than my 2 poodle mixes.yet she is not allowed to attend Waiterock due to her having some "bully breed" in her.

Any facility that exercises this form of discrimination is the farthest thing from a good place to go and I believe they should be shamed - it's pure ignorance. Any informed person and/or business knows that these are unfair judgments and stereotypes. Waiterock, your values are the worst. Definitely would not recommend.

Rosie the Labradoodle loves kicking back at home and going to the park but when we are away, the good folks at Waiterock take loving care of her. She misses us but I know she's well cared for. A clean fun friendly home away from home for Rosie.

Thank you Candace and staff. Your facility and service is amazing. I know when I leave my Pooch he will be happy and well taken care of. The most impressive part of your facility is how clean and organized it is, we absolutely love coming here. I recommend it for all pet owners.

Waitrock is the best day care service in the eastbay, Candy and her staff are awesome! Our bernese has been going to play regularly since he was 6 months old and just loves it. The staff love pets and want them to feel loved and welcome, we are truly thankful to them for always being so accommodating and caring.

I really think they must be feeding my Labradoodle filet mignon here because he runs so fast into this place when I drop him off. The staff is amazing, Buddy loves Lori (I think that's her name, she's the nice lady at the front desk). When ever I show up, I see my dog happily romping with the other dogs in the yard. makes me feel so good that there is a great place like this for my pup. I highly recommend this place.

The fact that my pup jumps out of my car and leaves me in the dust everytime I barely open the car door when we arrive, is a clear sign that he loves being at Waiterock. Manytimes he doesn't want to leave because he loves playing with the other dogs. He is dead tired when he gets home after the puppy playdate session. I have lodged my dog many times for extended trips (7-9 days) and he does fine.

The staff is friendly and greets my dog by name everytime. I know my fur baby is well taken care of at Waiterock and don't know what I would do without this gem in our community.

We have been coming here for a few years. I have now three dogs, so its a steep payment to say the least to board my dogs, but I have to say each time I go I feel more and more happy and secure that my dogs are being cared for. I love Candace and she is always so friendly and I love the voices she makes when she sees my dogs too. I am very happy here and rest assured your pet will be too.

I wish the prices didn't go up, but business is business. I have also tried two others before. One in Walnut Creek and the other in Danville and this one by far is the cleanest. I have recommended this to several of my friends.

My message is given, I do not recommend your place and its not based on the charges. It is based on how rude we were treated and how my cat was treated. It was so bad that I had to take it to her veterinarian today. My cat has never been seen for sickness before. PS. Thank you for showing how unprofessional you are and for confirming that I am a real unhappy customer. Good luck!

Dont know how to handle dogs. Terrible record keeping of personalities. Not professional: can't recommend. Read response & only amplifies poor dog handling at Waitrock. He never jumped out--where'd that come from? Likely best trained dog youve seen--just ignorant handling. Field champion papers fm great kennel. My 5 th lab, & the best. Trained by/with john o connell who had years in Ireland and US w/ police dogs. Check Eurosport on web. Just too much for youall to handle. Should have an only lap dog disclaimer.

Hands down the best doggy daycare and boarding we have ever found. Our doggy gets excited as soon as we get close to Waiterock : I feel so fortunate to have found this place, as it means we can go on vacation without worrying.

My little Norfolk Terrier LOVES going to Waiterock Pet Ranch! We know she'll have a blast, and be well taken care of. Candice & Lauren are always happy and welcoming to see her & us. I've always gotten a lump in my throat when & wherever I've had to leave her, but not at Waiterock.

We pick up a happy dog every time. When we drop off our dog, Kai Junior never even looks back at us as they lead him prancing to the small dog kennels. Which bothers me lol but makes me very happy.

Just had our first Meet and Greet tour of the kennel with our new dog. I used to be a volunteer officer and foster and shelter worker at a non-kill (for 25 years), so I'm experienced and I could tell from the way Lauren and Gabrielle met my dog, and the way Lauren listened to our concerns and handled our dog while meeting other dogs, that they knew what they were doing, had a positive attitude and that I will be comfortable leaving Kai there. Lauren read him like a book.

The dogs we saw were not under stress, nor was there any hysterical or territorial barking from them when Kai went into the play area right in front of them. They barked, but normally, and most did not bark at all. Lots of tail wagging from the other dogs in their kennels. That says a lot. The set-up could not be more ideal. I know of too many nightmare stories where someone left a dog with a friend and a day later the dog was missing. I like mine on lock down. But a happy, loving, kind, air conditioned, potty and poop at will in a separate private area, supervised play kind of lock down. So far, so good.

Wow, I am surprised to read a less than positive review. They have done a great job grooming Charlie Watts, my Lhasa Apso. He looks beautiful when I pick him up. I have taken him to 5 groomers and this is the best ever. Not only that, if I want him to have time to play in a group of other small dogs, he has the opportunity to do so before he is groomed. He loves that! Not to mention, I am content leaving Charlie for a night or extended stay as i know that staff take good care of him.