Bonny Doone Kennel

Just picked up my girls from Bonny Doone after another great trip. My dogs are always safe and well-​cared for at this kennel. One of my dogs has special needs; she is very, very human shy (almost to the point of being human-​aggressive if cornered, as she was feral for her first year.) Rhonda has always been very accommodating and skilled with my dog – very patient – and now my shy girl LOVES Rhonda, and is, in fact, bonding with the other ladies at the kennel. I can’t say enough about how reassured this makes me feel. I had another issue with my other dog, in that she has always been very overweight and constantly hungry. Rhonda was very interested in helping me with this dog’s weight, and patiently worked with me to figure out how to modify the dog’s diet by adding vegetables and rice cakes! That dog is now down to a svelte and healthy weight, thanks to Rhonda’s suggestions.
Rhonda studies my two dogs’ behaviors and often offers great ideas for keeping them happier with each other.
I can’t say enough good things about Bonny Doone – I’m so grateful for this beautiful and caring place for my fur-​kids.

I recently had my dog stay at Bonny Doone Kennel and was extremely impressed. When I called they were very helpful as I had some concerns because my miniature Dachshund is blind. They assured me that she would not be around other dogs (group play), we had an issue once before when she bummed into a larger dog who was less than pleased by it and snipped at hear, so it really put me at ease to know she would be safe and comforted on her own as she also prefers that. When I arrived the grounds were very clean and Rhonda and her team were very cheerful and happy. My dog has anxiety and shakes when she is unsure of situations and Rhonda immediately held her while I filled out the paperwork to help calm her down and was very caring and calm towards Breezy. My sister picked up Breezy and they also gave her a small plush Christmas blanket as a gift, how thoughtful is that! I love the added special touch, being that its already hard for me to leave behind my beloved pup! Thank you for taking such good care of her!

Bonny Doone is the best you’re going to get in Napa, if you call any vet around the area to see if the recommend a kennel they will point you to Bonny Doone. The owner lives on-​site with her 6 dogs, so no matter what if there was a problem there’s always someone there. All of her dogs are very friendly and if your dog would like some buddy time you can arrange for your dog to play with hers.
Their kennels are clean, and each run is kept clean of poop and anything else. They have outdoor patio-​kennels that are set up quite nicely. The field is nicely kept, into which if you want field time your dog will have 1 – 1 time with one of the staff, so hopefully your dog likes to play with a ball because there’s plenty of them.
The cat room is nice and relaxing, so if you board your cat you will know that there wont be any funny business of your kitty fighting with another one. I only wish the kitty condos were a little taller and had more window room for them to look out. That would be my only «wish» with this kennel.
Either way if you are knowledgeable about kennels and dogs in general and have done your research, everything that a good kennel has is Bonny Doone, Just be a responsible owner and read up on what kennels are supposed to do, be like and if they follow the rules of having a business also ASK QUESTIONS, how will you know for sure if you don’t ask. Keep in mind that they are closed from 12−2pm for lunch so if you call and don’t get an answer that’s why,
Needless to say I’m really glad I found this place, and didn’t go over to Wine Country Pet Resort (if you even want to call it that).
I will be coming back!

One star is being generous.
Pleeeeeasse. If you care about your dog do NOT bring them here. Don’t be fooled by the photos on the website. Your dog will not dog be playing in an open green field, they will be locked in a kennel (option to play on grass is an extra charge). We felt so uncomfortable leaving our dog there we rearranged our schedule for the day and picked our dog up early because I was so sick after what I saw. And the staff was really rude. Never ever again

Thank goodness I found this place!
We all love our dogs, but, from the perspective of being a «dog person»…I’m a physician and well-​known agility handler. One of these dogs I boarded has had tremendous national attention… I’m into dogs as an owner, trainer, and exhibitor up to my neck. So, I think I have some perspective on what’s important for dogs and what’s realistic for their care.
I have had beagles continuously for more than 20 years and have never boarded them in a kennel situation. I have always either had a dog sitter either sleep in or have them keep my dogs in their home, or there’s been a family member stay with them. Because I am a part-​time resident of Napa, I don’t have that network of people yet (and the dog sitters I’ve met have not impressed me) so I needed to find someplace for my two boys for 3 nights. My challenge with my older dog is that he has recurrent colitis and can’t be in with the general population of dogs, lest he «treat» himself (yes, eat poop) and become sick. One «snack» and he can be sick for days. When I went to visit BDK for the first time, I was encouraged to bring my boys along. The entire place only smell lightly of bleach, no doggy smells. I was shown the entire facility and when I started to explain to Rhonda what my concerns were about the poop thing, she promptly said, «Don’t worry, I have one, too» and then proceeded to tell me how they would manage the situation. Yes, the kennels are… kennels, but more than large enough for my two dogs. They have good air circulation, access to the outside. The food bowls are sanitized after each meal. The runs that my guys used were plenty big.
They were happy when I dropped them off and hard to get to come to me when I went to pick them up. «Boys, it’s Mom! Boys… boys!» They obviously were happy there.
I waited to do this review until I could tell my older boy was OK from a digestive standpoint and he was.
I had planned on washing my dogs once I got home, expecting them to be a little grubby after «summer camp» and, I gotta tell you, they don’t smell the least little bit (and these are beagles, they stink on a good day!). So I don’t get the complaints from the other reviewers at all.
I want my dogs safe, in a clean environment, and to have their care individualized. BDK did all three they were obviously were taken care of. I’m very particular about who cares for my dogs—
Now for the one-​star folks: Cassie, you obviously don’t understand cleanliness. Kennels have to have non-​porous floors, otherwise, they could not be kept clean. What would you think if your dog came home with a parasite? Lynn, my best friend is a mini aussie breeder and in her dogs that have nervous issues, she shaves their butts. As long as they aren’t getting ready for the breed ring, then shave it. If you’re going to board your dog, then you have to have to anticipate these things and, yes, make it a little easier on the kennel crew.
My one thing… is that I would have liked to fill out the forms before we came in that morning for drop-​off.
I will entrust BDK and Rhonda with my dogs in the future.

What a great place! We have two dogs 8yrs, and 1yr. Our 1 yr old is an american staffordshire terrier, and can sometimes get a little worried when going to new places. We wanted to find him (Zero) a place where he would be comfortable and perhaps get a little extra attention to make him feel safe. We tried a few places before finding Bonny Doone, and now feel we have found the perfect place! The staff at Bonny Doone took the time to meet Zero before he stayed there, and answered all our questions. We toured the facility with Zero and was able to see what his daily routine would be. we have now taken Zero a few times, and he loves it! He told me himself. Everytime we picked him up, the time was taken to let us know how he did. I am so happy to have found a place that makes us, and Zero feel so comfortable. I highly recommend Bonny Doone Kennels.

We just used Bonny Doone Kennel last week. My wife and I got married at the Kenyon Estate in Vallejo and wanted our dog to be a part of our wedding. Since we were coming from out of town and our hotel didn’t allow dogs to stay there, we needed to find a place that not only could keep him overnight, but that could also help us in transporting him to and from our venue. I called Bonny Doone and they worked with us to accomodate our transporting needs even though that is not a standard service they offer. Everything worked out flawlessly! We dropped him off the night before and had one less thing to have to think about before our big day. They brought him to the wedding at the exact time we discussed and he looked and smelled great after the bath they gave him. After the ceremony, he was picked up and we didn’t have to worry about anything until the next day when we picked him up. We were even much later getting there than we had told them we would be. We didn’t know that the kennel closed from 12 – 2 pm and didn’t arrive until almost 12:30. Bea (sorry if this is not the correct spelling!) was waiting out front for us on her break just in case we showed up. We were thrilled with the service and our dog seemed like he had a great time! Thanks again!

Amazing group of warm, pet-​loving people running this kennel in a picturesque south-​napa/​carneros setting. I had my dog boarded for the first time here, she is a pretty nervous dog but the staff here made her feel comfortable from the very beginning. They were very sensitive to her feelings and needs and identified a perfect routine for her during her stay. It gives me such peace of mind to know that Rhonda and everyone else at Bonny Doone Kennel are available to offer a safe and happy place for my pup to stay when I am out of town. Bonny Doone Kennel is truly a blessing!

I have to agree with Cassie — I would prefer to give zero stars.
We have left our dogs at Bonny Doone a couple of times, and this time was most definitely the last. In the past, the dogs have come home dirty. This is not ideal, but it happens. My mini aussie is a nervous dog, so a little mess on the butt isn’t a big surprise. My family owns a kennel, and we clean up a dog who makes a mess of itself right away, but I know this isn’t the way its done everywhere especially if its not too messy. So, the last time the dogs came home a little stinky, it wasn’t enough for me to say «never again»… I wish I had been more critical at that point.
This time the dogs were only in for 2 days. When my husband went to pick up, they told us that neither dog really ate their food (which we brought from home). For the mini this wasn’t a surprise, but our blue heeler is a total chow hound so that was concerning. Then the girl tells my husband that our mini «needs to be cleaned up,» but when she tries to quickly address the situation, she realizes that «it will need to be cut out of his fur.» At this point, the dog is freaking out and the mess is clearly not a recent occurrence, so my husband says nevermind– we’ll deal with it when we get home. No use in torturing the poor guy any further. We has scissors in the car and were able to do a crude trim to get rid of the bulk of the issue (or so we thought).
*Warning, this is pretty graphic, but I think its necessary to explain why I am so horrified with the standard of care at this kennel.
When we get home I let the dogs out to do their business and the mini immediately tries to poop. I see him struggling, then crying out in pain. I get some gloves and take a look, only to realize that there was more poop totally crusted over his poohole to the point that he physically could not go. I rushed him to to the tub and the scene that unfolded there was one of the more disgusting things I ever seen, and involved removing impacted poop from his butt. Considering the fact that they told me he didn’t eat while at the kennel, I can only imagine how long he was in this condition. I cannot believe that anyone whose profession is caring for animals could let this happen.
When I called to speak with the owner, she told me she was aware of the situation that the mini was not clean when we picked him up. I explained the extent of the problem and asked her how this could happen, since the best case scenario is that he made a mess of himself overnight and then no one noticed until 11am, when my husband got there to get the dogs. Again, I am inclined to think that it was longer than that since he wasn’t eating at the kennel
The owner couldn’t tell me why no one had noticed, especially since it was so obvious. I asked why they don’t check the dogs in the morning, especially when the dog is checking out that day, since its not at all unusual for dogs have digestive issues while boarding, and she didn’t have a real answer for me. She assured me that this was not their typical standard of care, and that regardless of whether the dog is leaving that day or not– the problem should have been noticed and addressed earlier. While I agree, that does little to change the situation now. She assured me that she will follow up with the girls on duty and get back to me, but the damage is done.
I could never go back, or recommend that anyone leave their dogs with Bonny Doone.

Where do I begin? Thank goodness for Rhonda and her team!!!
I got married up in Sonoma in April and wanted our dog Agnes to be a part of our wedding day (and I’m so glad we ignored my parents’ concerns about the hassle of getting her in pictures because the photos are fantastic). Agnes stayed with us at the Lodge earlier in the week (which is dog-​friendly), but we knew once the festivities picked up Friday we wouldn’t have time to tend to her so we wanted to check her into a nice place for Fri/​Sat nights, and somewhere that would be able to transport her, for an extra fee of course, to the hotel on Sat. for a few photos.
I called a handful of places in Sonoma and nobody would help us because they’re all closed on Sundays. Who knew?! We were leaving town on Sunday so these were not options.
Finally the Lodge gave us a list of petsitters/​kennels and that’s how I found Rhonda of BDK. I own my own pet care business in Los Angeles so I am pretty picky when it comes to leaving my dog with anyone. Rhonda was more than willing to help us with our special situation and when we met her in person for Agnes’ «tryout» she could not have been more lovely, friendly, warm and welcoming. I knew it would be hard saying goodbye to Agnes, but I knew she would be in great hands.
On the day of our wedding, Rhonda was punctual with Agnes and we did the photos before Agnes headed back to the kennel. I didn’t have to stress for one second wondering where Agnes was. Then on Sunday, Rhonda drove Agnes back to the hotel so we didn’t have to wake up in the morning after our wedding to get Agnes. She seemed happy as could be. Rhonda just went above and beyond the call of puppy duty and we are so grateful. If I could give her 10 stars here I would! Thank you, Rhonda, for taking such great care of our girl.
(also… my mom watched Agnes while we were on our honeymoon and sadly, we had a death in the family so my mom had to fly to NJ and leave agnes in a kennel. i’d spaced and forgotten to leave paperwork with her so she called rhonda and she was super helpful in forwarding all agnes’ info to the local kennel in salinas.)

I lived in Napa for a year and always boarded my dog here. Everything about the kennel was great, it was clean and my dog was happy to go there and I know he got plenty of exercise. My dog has leash aggression and does not generally like other dogs. I never had any incidents between other dogs and the staff handled him really well.

Awesome custom feed schedule! I have boarded my dogs with Bonny Doone Kennel for years and my dogs always came home happy. Now I know one of the reasons why.
This year I offered to help Rhonda on Christmas Eve so one of her workers could have the night off. I was amazed at the care and meticulous detail there is in the food prep. Each dog has their own chart and notes about appetite and preferences. AND, maybe even more impressive is double verification of giving owner-​specified medications. Nothing assembly line here. They really care about the dog’s health and happiness!

I wish I could give one star, but I can’t.
I guess it was a couple years ago… but still, the experience sticks with me. My friend needed a place for his dog for only one day… I told him Bonny Doone should be okay and when I went to check it out, they showed me where he would be kept and it seemed alright… not ideal but alright. Then when I picked up the dog, I asked to see where he was and someone lead me back to this concrete crap hole of a kennel. I was horrified. I did not expect to see my friend’s poor dog in a cold, wet, damp, dark chain link fenced kennel.
Thinking Boony Doone? Run the other way, quickly.

Just picked up our large breed dog from 8 days here. It was a wonderful experience. We used them earlier this year and it was great as well!

The kennel is immaculate so I can’t figure out why my dog, after a 2 night stay, smelled so bad that we had to give him a bath and wash his bedding the moment we got home. I have only experienced this one other time and that place was dirty upon arrival so it was expected. Other than that the people and the kennels were great. I felt my dog was safe and secure.

What a great place. My border collie had a severe sprain of her toe and she needed to have her activity restricted. I needed to leave town for 3 weeks and was so happy to have found Bonny Doone Kennels. They were able to leash restrict her and slowly build up her activity so when I returned from my vacation she was as good as new.
My dog is a very active border collie so restricting her was no small task. They have an adequate staff and are organized so they were able to follow a schedule and keep her safe and allow her to recover with controlled exercise.
When I returned they showed me her schedule which was initialed by the person who took her out.
When I drove up I knew she was in good hands. The grounds are immaculate! I knew that reflected on the owners standards and sure enough the kennel is immaculate.
The other important thing is there is someone on site during the night. Unfortunately that is not the case at all kennels.
I happen to be a veterinarian and have never been this impressed with any other kennel. Hats off to Rhonda and her most competent staff!

I want to give a big thank you to Rhonda and the staff at Bonny Doone Kennel! When I bring our lab out to the kennel, she is wagging her tail and is so happy to be at her favorite «home away from home».
I have called Rhonda many times for advice on our family pets. She takes the time to talk with me and gives great information! When I boarded my cat, she had her own «kitty condo», and was able to watch the birds! Thank you again!

I have a large dog and I wanted to make sure he was safe and happy when I went out of town for a few days. Bonny Doone Kennel was the clear choice. The kennels are spacious and dogs are let out to enjoy the dog runs several times a day. They are kept separated unless you request otherwise, but it helps keep them safe and healthy. The staff is very knowledgeable and they genuinely care about their boarders. I swear my dog came home better behaved than the day I dropped him off. If he can’t be with me, Bonny Doones is the next best thing.

I love Rhonda so much! Her kennel is super safe! She and her wonderful staff were even able to take care of my somewhat aggressive little dog. She even knows about basic medical care and drugs. What more could you ask for? This is really as good as it gets!

I moved to Napa unexpectedly for a job relocation and Bonny Doone was recommended by a co-​worker. My dog had just made a 1,200 mile road trip with me and I had to turn around and leave him almost immediately to fly out for an out of state graduation. We were living in a hotel so to take him to yet another location really confused him and he was upset and nervous. I told the staff at Bonny Doone was he had went through and they were very kind and understanding and promised to take good care of him.
When I returned, he was happy and they gave me a rundown of how he did… and then one employee told me he was her favorite and had got some extra special attention!!! That made my day.
They knew I was a worried pet owner and my dog had been through a lot and they did an amazing job comforting me and him. I would recommend this Kennel in a heartbeat and will use every time I need to board in the future.
Thank you for taking care of my baby!