The heart of what we do:
enriched experiences
Whether in a zoo, kennel, or even your home, captive animals need more than just food and shelter—they need species-specific stimulation to live happy, healthy lives. “Enrichment” aims to improve the mental and physical well-being of animals by providing an environment that mimics what they would encounter in the wild. It comes in many forms and provides opportunities for natural behaviors, prevents boredom, and reduces stress.
While this is something of a new, trendy buzzword for the pet care industry, enrichment is really at the heart of what we have always done at the Grinning Dog! Engaging dogs physically, mentally, and emotionally in activities they really enjoy, that suit their personalities, stage of life, breed traits, social profile, and individual needs - that's what makes a Grinning Dog grin.
Let’s break enrichment down into 5 categories to see how our custom care philosophy enriches your dog’s stay:
While this is something of a new, trendy buzzword for the pet care industry, enrichment is really at the heart of what we have always done at the Grinning Dog! Engaging dogs physically, mentally, and emotionally in activities they really enjoy, that suit their personalities, stage of life, breed traits, social profile, and individual needs - that's what makes a Grinning Dog grin.
Let’s break enrichment down into 5 categories to see how our custom care philosophy enriches your dog’s stay:
Social Enrichment
This type involves interaction with other dogs and/or trusted humans to encourage natural social behaviors and reduce feelings of isolation and stress.
For dog-social dogs, this might look like group play with compatible friends in our turnout yards and Nature Park, or a bedtime snuggle with a roommate. For every Grinning Dog, this includes their bond with our longtime staff. We have always intentionally kept enrollment numbers low and insisted upon a gradual acclimation process for new pups so that dogs feel safe, comfortable, and bonded to us while at camp.
While this is a core experience for every dog here, adding a dedicated “One on One” session with a staff member to your dog’s boarding is a great way to add an extra-special dose of social enrichment to their day!
For dog-social dogs, this might look like group play with compatible friends in our turnout yards and Nature Park, or a bedtime snuggle with a roommate. For every Grinning Dog, this includes their bond with our longtime staff. We have always intentionally kept enrollment numbers low and insisted upon a gradual acclimation process for new pups so that dogs feel safe, comfortable, and bonded to us while at camp.
While this is a core experience for every dog here, adding a dedicated “One on One” session with a staff member to your dog’s boarding is a great way to add an extra-special dose of social enrichment to their day!
Cognitive Enrichment
Keeping an animal’s mind sharp is just as important as physical activity. In the wild, feral dogs spend a significant portion of their day foraging for their next meal and overcoming challenges in the environment. Cognitive enrichment mimics this by introducing fun problem-solving tasks like training games and food puzzles.
Our “Cogni-Play” program is specially tailored to provide cognitive challenges to your pup, busting boredom and helping to satisfy their busy brain.
Our “Cogni-Play” program is specially tailored to provide cognitive challenges to your pup, busting boredom and helping to satisfy their busy brain.
- Our à la carte Basic sessions include puzzle toys, simple obstacle courses, and/or an introduction to foundational training skills.
- For dogs keen to build on their existing skills over a longer curriculum, our Advanced level package builds to trick training, K9 nose work, more complicated fun-gility obstacle courses, and/or introductory obedience. Talk to us - together we can design the perfect program for your pup!
Physical Enrichment
Physical enrichment focuses on keeping dogs active and fit while providing outlets for their natural, instinctual behaviors. This supports their growth and long-term health, while burning off excess energy. For us, this involves spaces that allow them to run, swim, jump, bark, roll, and dig, as well as play that satisfies their predator instincts.
Every single Grinning Dog gets access to our large, outdoor turnout yards (measuring over 2.5 acres in total!) for group play with friends and/or One-on-One play with staff. Parkour Playground elements in the turnout yards add fun physical challenges to explore. For our Plus clients, our signature 17-acre Nature Park turns the excitement, space, and environmental variation up to an 11/10!
Regardless of whether your dog gets Classic or Plus care, a variety of running, digging, pond paddling, playing chase, fetching balls, jumping logs, herding friends, and hunting crickets options are all on the menu here.
Every single Grinning Dog gets access to our large, outdoor turnout yards (measuring over 2.5 acres in total!) for group play with friends and/or One-on-One play with staff. Parkour Playground elements in the turnout yards add fun physical challenges to explore. For our Plus clients, our signature 17-acre Nature Park turns the excitement, space, and environmental variation up to an 11/10!
Regardless of whether your dog gets Classic or Plus care, a variety of running, digging, pond paddling, playing chase, fetching balls, jumping logs, herding friends, and hunting crickets options are all on the menu here.
Nutritional Enrichment
This type goes beyond just providing food—it’s about how food is given. To tap into natural foraging instincts and keep dogs engaged and satisfied, it can include a variety of tastes and scents as well as puzzles and frozen options that give dogs a chance to “work” for their food, the way they would in the wild.
Our extensive menu of Treats and Toppers, including our frozen Kongs and rotating Monthly Specials, keeps mealtime interesting and offers satisfying cognitive stimulation. A Basic CogniPlay session also incorporates food puzzles.
Our extensive menu of Treats and Toppers, including our frozen Kongs and rotating Monthly Specials, keeps mealtime interesting and offers satisfying cognitive stimulation. A Basic CogniPlay session also incorporates food puzzles.
Sensory Enrichment
Just like us, animals experience the world through their senses. Sensory enrichment stimulates their sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. For dogs, engaging their noses is especially important! Did you know that their sense of smell is 10,000x more sensitive than ours? They are able to detect the sex, hormonal status, individual identity, illness, and emotional state of another animal just through their scent!
Our signature focus on extensive outdoor space, both in our Classic yards and Nature Park, provides ample opportunities for dogs to exercise their noses (and to get a variety of proprioceptive, visual, auditory, and taste inputs too!).
Want to go above and beyond? Booking a Nature Park walk, a One-on-One sniffy walk (for those who may not be reliable off leash), a CogniPlay scentwork game, or adding toppers and treats to meals takes your dog’s sensory enrichment to the next level!
Our signature focus on extensive outdoor space, both in our Classic yards and Nature Park, provides ample opportunities for dogs to exercise their noses (and to get a variety of proprioceptive, visual, auditory, and taste inputs too!).
Want to go above and beyond? Booking a Nature Park walk, a One-on-One sniffy walk (for those who may not be reliable off leash), a CogniPlay scentwork game, or adding toppers and treats to meals takes your dog’s sensory enrichment to the next level!
Extra Enrichment Menu
Customize your dog's care for a perfect fit
Meal Toppers
Perfect for nervous pups, sensitive or picky tummies, and gourmet eaters. Fresh, natural, juicy chicken (skin off) - $6 Warm Chicken Broth - $2 Pumpkin - $2 Yogurt - $2 Cottage Cheese - $2 Freeze dried liver sprinkles - $2 Parmesan cheese - $2 
Hot Lunch $2
We will serve up your pup's lunch with warm chicken/beef/vegetable broth |
Rotating "Monthly Special" Snack $4
Keep things interesting with a seasonal, limited-time treat whose recipe rotates monthly. Check Pet Exec for this month's special! 
Frozen Kong $5
A frozen snack that encourages your dog to relax while they work for their food. 
Frozen Yogurt break $4
Cooling, refreshing, and loaded with probiotics! |
One on One - $15
A good option for a dog who enjoys a human to themselves for a while. This can include a 15 minute on- or off-leash sniffy walk around the pond, Office Dog privileges, a snuggle on the couch, a game with a favorite toy, a soothing massage or a trip to our Parkour Playground. Talk to us - together we can design a customized option for your dog!
A good option for a dog who enjoys a human to themselves for a while. This can include a 15 minute on- or off-leash sniffy walk around the pond, Office Dog privileges, a snuggle on the couch, a game with a favorite toy, a soothing massage or a trip to our Parkour Playground. Talk to us - together we can design a customized option for your dog!
NaturePark $16
Off leash romp with one of the humans and a few friends through our completely fenced 17 acre grassy dog park.
Read more about Off leash risks and benefits HERE
Off leash romp with one of the humans and a few friends through our completely fenced 17 acre grassy dog park.
Read more about Off leash risks and benefits HERE
Brain Games - $20-30 / session
- This program engages dogs who enjoy more cognitive stimulation during their stays. It may include puzzle toys, a simple obstacle course, and/or an introduction to foundational training skills like following a lure.
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- Talk to us - together we can design a specialized option for your dog!
Custom Care Gallery
Don't see what your dog needs?
Because we limit the number of dogs we care for, we are able to offer individualized, one on one attention. Clients sometimes have needs and wishes that are not normally offered. We are willing, given time and liability constraints, to be as accommodating as possible. Please feel free to ask us about meeting your dog's specific needs - we may not always be able to, but we’ll try!
Fees vary depending on services provided.
Because we limit the number of dogs we care for, we are able to offer individualized, one on one attention. Clients sometimes have needs and wishes that are not normally offered. We are willing, given time and liability constraints, to be as accommodating as possible. Please feel free to ask us about meeting your dog's specific needs - we may not always be able to, but we’ll try!
Fees vary depending on services provided.