All about Planet Canine 

Kate Marden opened Planet Canine in October, 1994. She was inspired by a daycare centre that had been opened by the San Francisco SPCA. Dogs had always been an integral part of her life and she wanted to create a comfortable, enjoyable place for them to stay and play while their people were off at work. By popular demand Planet Canine soon began to board dogs over-night. Kate is certified as a Kennel Tech with A.B.K.A.

Marcelo Grady is the operations manager of Planet Canine; he has been at the Planet since 2006. Marcelo has been a life long pet owner and is a natural with the dogs.alm and balanced and our pups are charmed. He is an excellant crew chief and a leader for the entire pack.

We operate differently from more conventional kennels in that the dogs spend quite a bit of time together; upwards of nine hours a day. We seek to create an away-from-home pack for your dog to be part of. Dogs are supervised when they are in the Pack. Our staff is on hand to insure that your pal gets attention, plays nice and don't run with their scissors. Our purpose at Planet Canine is to allow your dog to be a dog in a safe, caring environment. 

About our Location 

Our location is a 1400 sq. ft. converted warehouse with an attached yard. Our sleep areas are all indoor. We have several different sleeping accomodations depending on you dog's temperment and training. All dogs eat and sleep separately unless they are from the same household. Water is available in all areas of our establishment, 24 hours a day. We rarely take more than 25 dogs; and that is only during our busy seasons.

Our outdoor play yard. It is 15’ x 125’ overall; fully fenced with 16’ cyclone fencing. We are able to separate this area into two play yards should the need arise. We use a rounded pea gravel medium which is easy on the dog’s feet, sanitary, and does not harbour fleas. There are play structures, an igloo for hiding out and, of course, a fire hydrant for the lads. In hot weather play pools are available. Dogs have access to both indoor and outdoor areas during our group time, regardless of weather. Kate and her staff reserve the right to close the back doors and keep the dogs 'in the house' when the weather is too inclement.

What's for Dinner, Mom? 

Our rates include food and bedding. We will maintain your brand of dog food unless it is mail order, homemade, or prescription. Planet Canine maintains a wide selection of quality dog foods. Our House brand is Merrick, an excellant, all natural line of dog foods containing no wheat, no corn, no by-products. We also carry a high quality canned food for your pampered pooch, should that be part of her diet. Dogs are fed twice daily; if your dog eats once a day at home we will divide his meal to accomodate the Planet schedule. Feeding twice daily helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level and tends to lessen chewing behavior. We have a refrigerator for storing special foods and medications and are willing and able to accomodate most 'special needs' dogs.

Beddy-bye for Bowser

For bedding, we use blankets and bath rugs with rubber insulation on the one side. If an extra soft, cushy bed is needed, these rugs and blankets are piled up to accommodate your dog. TEvery-thing magically fits into the washing machine, making our job much easier. Dogs chew more when not at home and some of our large kennels have a bit of floor clearance for cleaning purposes. Occaisionially a night-time tug-o-war might insue; cedar and foam beds go home in plastic bags more often than not. Should you insist on using your home bed, we will do our best to give it back to you in one piece, but we cannot guarantee it's safety. Some folks bring a tee shirt, that they have worn, for their pup to sleep with. This can be a comfort for newcomers at bedtime. 

News Dogs on the Block 

New dogs are introduced gently to the group situation. We do this after you are on your way, dogs react differently when their human is at hand. It is easier on the both of you, the first time,if we introduce after you have left. Not to worry, though, we keep an eye out for physical cues of stress through-out your pup's day. If your dog does show signs of stress we will slow things down for her. For very shy dogs it can take more than one visit to feel completely comfortable. If we feel it is not the proper setting for your dog we will not hesitate to tell you. The comfort and care of your pup is our first priority. 

The Forbidden Tennis Ball 

Playing with toys is a limited activity. Tennis balls are never allowed, as they tend to be a ball of contention and our facility is modest. If every-one is being good, we'll open the toy-box and let the pups dig through our selection of rope tug and stuffed toys. Rubber squeaky toys and rawhide bones are also verboten; horror stories available upon request. Night-time toys are welcome, but as with beds, their safety cannot be guaranteed. Dogs are pack animals and they are quite happy playing in a group without the distraction of television and the competition of toys. When bedtime comes around they are too tired to do much more than have dinner and go sleepy-bye.