Dog Sitters in Amherst, VA

Shady Mountain is a great place to bring your pets whether you need them kenneled or for training or rehabilitation. Miriam is a published expert in her field and no expense was spared in the construction of the facilities, from the heated, indoor therapy pool, to the large exercise areas. Even the kennels have plenty of space for your furry friends and receive daily maintenance and cleaning. Shady Mountain is also moving to solar power to provide services with clean energy. They also have strict health and care standards for all the guests, so you can be confident that your pets will not contract anything during their stay here. If you want a top notch facility run by knowledgeable people who truly care about the health, training, and well being of your pets, bring them to Shady Mountain Pet Retreat!

When vacationing with family and friends, it’s so important to find the best boarding/training facility to care for our four legged family member. Miriam and staff couldn’t be more accommodating to our family and dog. We quite often say that our dog’s vacation/training and stay at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat is often nicer than ours! We give it 5 🐾 (stars). Already planning our next visit for our beloved Piper. She’s got her bags packed and marking off days until her return!

Miriam + the team at Shady Mountain were the best decision we have ever made as animal parents. They loved on our sweet Great Pyrenees puppy, Odin, while giving him a strong foundation in “good manners”. During our weekly visits, Miriam helped train us to help Odin maintain his training at home. She helped us understand how our behavior and cues are interpreted by Odin + gave us the skills we need to make sure we can all live comfortably and HAPPILY together. If you’re wondering if you need help, you do. You will benefit so incredibly - even if you don’t have a “problem” dog. CALL! This place is worth every single penny.

Top Notch. Worth the price. Your dog will learn a lot in a short amount of time. The owner and operator is very dedicated and has a hard working staff. The lodges (rooms for dogs) and grounds are well kept and very clean. I left my puppy with a short attention span and Mariam had her sitting, laying down and healing in one week. I am amazed. If you want a well behaved dog, send him/her to Miriam at Shady Mountain Pet Retreat.

I took my baby, Venus here to go through the Puppy board and training program for 4 weeks. Me and my boyfriend would visit her every Monday and go over the lessons she had learned that week. The first week of her being there, AMAZED me! It was like a whole different puppy! What made me much more happier, was it was positive reinforcement!! No shock collars, or anything that would scare/hurt my baby. Before taking Venus in, she would consistently bark, not come when called, didn’t know basic commands and would pee inside. Now, she knows how to heel, sit and stay, sit, sit and lay. She doesn’t bark excessively and she actually listens! And she knows where her bathroom is,,, OUTSIDE! Best place ever! Everytime we went in, it was so clean and tidy. Always welcoming too (: I definitely recommend !!

SMPR is a pet paradise! The facilities are top notch and clean, the grounds are beautifully kept, and Miriam is second to none when it comes to taking care of and training your pets. By far the best pet "bed and breakfast in the region." It's certainly not a kennel, it's a retreat!

Harley is in a doggie paradise. Shady Mountain Pet Retreat is one of the best boarding and training facilities Harley has ever been too! Miriam and her husband are hard workers who truly love animals. This is the second time harley has been here and he loved it He gets special attention and loves to swim in the pool. He thinks he's playing but we all know he really needs the exercise. Harley loves playing with other doggies as well. Something he doesnt get very often at home. Miriam was also patient and positive in her training and he responses well. ( now if I could only do it myself lol) The facility is spacious and extremely clean. I can honestly say they have a passion for what they do and its refreshing to see. We will be back again and again! Well worth the money! Thank You!

The best place to take your pets! Huge indoor outdoor suites, hiking trails, indoor pool for dogs, professional staff and so much more. Pet suites are like hotel rooms. My pets come home happy and well behaved.

Caring and knowledgeable professional boarding and training for our goldendoodle.....she learned new commands, along with reinforcing previous commands..we highly recommend this retreat...and wouldn't hesitate to use them in the future....

I might be partial as it is owned by very close friends. . They are very good with all animals. The facility is very well kept.

Everyone takes the best care of my 3 cats. She/they send me texts after every visit with adorable pictures! Highly recommend. Very trustworthy and reliable.

Always the best care! I have senior, special needs dogs and Kiki makes sure they get their medicines, has patience with their quirks and make me feel comfortable going on vacation or going to work each day as she checks in them weekdays. If you want the BEST, closest to your own, call Kiki! 😁🐶🐾🐈 …

We loved Kiki watching our dogs. Our dogs are older so need some extra loving and cleaning up after. Kiki was so kind and loving to them. I think they were sad we came home she spoiled them so much. She stays in contact with you giving you updates each visit including pictures. I would highly recommend her to anyone!

Kiki is wonderful! I cannot say enough good things about Kiki. She is so kind and passionate about caring for your pets. She is truly a blessing! I have always been very nervous about leaving my dogs, but Kiki made me feel comfortable while I was away visiting family. I had Kiki do overnights and home visits during the day. I have two dogs with very different personalities and she was great with both of them. I loved that she sent me frequent updates with pictures to let me know how they were doing. She brought some different toys and treats to help keep them entertained on the days it rained while I was gone. One of my dogs is on the more timid side and by the second day she was out with Kiki instead of hiding in the bedroom (which she normally does she when I leave town). Kiki also made sure my dog’s medication was given and any and all training rituals were followed while I was gone. Additionally, I had my flight canceled and Kiki was flexible and was able to care for my dogs two extra days at the last minute. I had no concerns about my dogs being with Kiki while I was gone and I will definitely be using her next time I go out of town!

Kiki did a wonderful job taking care of our kitties while we were away. Loved the pictures and updates she sent with each visit. Will definitely use her services again. She is very caring reliable and very through in making sure your wishes are met.

If you need a professional pet sitter you must choose Kiki’s Pet Care. We recently had Kiki care for our cat Jasper while we were away on vacation. This was our first time using a service and we were a bit nervous. She came in advance of our trip to meet Jasper and we were so impressed with her questions and the detailed notes she recorded to make sure Jasper would receive the proper care. We left for our trip knowing that he would be in great hands in our absence. Kiki sent daily video and pictures showing the excellent care he was receiving and how comfortable he was in her presence (he can be disagreeable at times). We were 100% pleased with his care and Kiki’s Pet Care is who we will always call in the future.

We hired Kiki to stay overnight at our house and visit several times during the day to feed, walk and play with our 2 dogs while we were out of the country. She also dropped them off and picked them up from daycare. I am usually a nervous wreck thinking about leaving my dogs if I go out of town, but I was completely at ease with Kiki and Amber taking care of them. They even downloaded WhatsApp on their phones so they could send us updates and photos while we were gone. What an amazing find! I've already recommended Kiki's services to a co-worker. Will definitely use her again!

Kiki was a lifesaver for our two dogs! My wife and I were nervous about dropping our dogs off at a local boarding facility due to their anxiety and not being familiar with the environment, so we were looking up different options and came across Kiki's site. Her response times were very quick and her prices are extremely reasonable. We ended up paying less for our two dogs to stay home in an environment that they were comfortable in rather than having them being anxious and nervous in a brand new environment. You can also tell Kiki loves and cares for the pets she looks after. We received pictures and updates after each visit and saw our nervous and shy dog warm up to Kiki in no time and even give her some kisses! We will definitely be doing business with Kiki in the future!

Kiki took excellent care of my pets while I was away on vacation. She was very thorough in taking notes during the initial meeting and sent photos and/or video updates every day that she cared for them. Her prices are reasonable and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a professional pet sitter.

Kiki's service has been amazing for our cat. Our cat is a bit shy towards the skittish side but she was perfectly comfortable in Kiki's care. She played with our cat and also put radio for her so that our cat wouldn’t feel lonely. Kiki is very personable and treats your fur baby as her own. She sends texts with pictures after every visit. I’ll highly recommend her to any one looking for a pet sitter.

I love this place. I have been bringing my dog chip (2 year old dachshund) for the past year and he has been having a blast. He has made so many friends and every time I get off work and come pick him up he is just the happiest pup in the world. I recently took a vacation out of the country and I trusted them with everything in me to take care of my dog. I called a couple of times to check on him and was told he was going great! Which I was so happy to hear as he means the world to me. Chip will keep enjoying their daycare and the prices are so reasonable. I am very grateful to have been recommended this place as all the other ones I have tried didn’t treat their dogs the best. I highly recommend lakeforest I have even spoken to the manager personally about my concerns and she was just a delight and the staff are all so welcoming and sweet. For a dog kennel they always manage to make it smell so clean and refreshing. It has just been the best experience chip and I have had. ❤️

I have boarded my dog here and taken them to the next door vet for years and they have never done me wrong! My dog always comes back happy and is just as excited when he comes back to play with his kennel friends. Lexy and the whole staff are super kind and make me feel like family.

We had several ok experiences with Lake Forest Boarding, but the most recent one has spoiled it all. We have a very friendly golden doodle who we trusted in the care of Lake Forest for just over a week while we were away on a summer vacation. We booked him for playtime everyday as well as a kennel bath on the last day. We were called a few days before pick up to inform us that they were not going to be able to give him a bath, not a huge deal. We picked him up, prepared for the stinky pup that we have come to expect after 10 days of running and playing in a boarding facility with other dogs. Instead, he smelled like the shampoo we had him groomed with just days before we dropped him off. After reviewing his check sheet, it became clear that he did not have time out of the kennel each day, or even most days. It was documented that he had one afternoon in playtime. Upon further investigation, his check sheet was signed off that he was given food on days he was not even there while it was not initialed that he was fed and walked every day that he was there. Thank goodness he didn’t require medication, because who knows if/when he had been given any medication. When we brought this to their attention, we were given several different stories and the blame was continuously passed onto someone else. The only resolution was that we were not going to have to pay for the playtime that he did not receive… We did not drop our dog off to spend 10 days trapped in a kennel alone. I am very concerned with how Lake Forest looks after for the pets we trust in their care. We will absolutely not be using this boarding facility in the future, and would not recommend this kennel to anyone who wants their pet to be appropriately cared for while they are away.

Horrible! Cole answered the phone, and was told they do not accept new patients, however they advertise at that. I was referred to by a previous customer who will no longer be going as well, due to the rudeness of Cole. I was told to give them a call, as the other groomer was having car trouble, and was told to call and get the other groomer to take my puppy, and he told me that that’s not possible, as there is not room, and they are not taking new clients. You need to inform your groomers of that, before accepting others and giving false information! If one is accepting, and the other says the whole team isn’t accepting? Then who is lying. Cole has horrible customer service, and shouldn’t be able to communicate with customers if he can’t get his facts straight.

my dog loves it here! the staff here are lovely and are always super friendly! i love the fact that my baby always comes home happy, healthy, and tired from all of the playing! ❤️❤️

A+ All Around Had my dog groomed and boarded many times over a five years until his passing of liver cancer. They are a caring and compassionate business.

I have been taking my 3 1/2 year old German shepherd dog to Lake Forest boarding, daycare and grooming for well over 2 years. She goes at least 4 days a week, either full or 1/2 days. I feel so lucky to have this wonderful place to take my dog. She is so well taken care of by the highly competent, professional, friendly staff. The entire staff is knowledgeable about animal behavior, socialization, training, playtime, etc. If there are any concerns, someone will call me right away. In all of the time we have taken our dog to Lake Forest for boarding or daycare, we have not had a single bad day. The fact that they offer half days at half price is convenient and economical. The facility is clean and sanitized every day. All of the staff love the dogs and have their best interests in mind. They are open 7 days a week, which helps those clients who work on Sundays. I honestly don't know what I would do without this wonderful place and the people who work there. I highly recommend Lake Forest to anyone who needs a warm, friendly, caring place to take their beloved pets.

Love the work but as for being professional they need help they never return calls and cancel appointments and no call back to reschedule very unprofessional will never go back

Very impressed with this boarding facility! The employees are polite and helpful and remembered my dogs after just one visit! They also offer unscheduled tours of the facility and that transparency made me feel so much more comfortable. My dogs are always excited to go go here and come home tired from running and playing! Highly recommend!

I hesitated to write this review and wanted to give our dog a week to re-adjust to being home but her behavior has not changed. The first time we took our dog here and came to pick her up she came home with a wagging tail! This past time we picked up our dog, the worker brought our dog out with her collar on incorrectly and her head was down with no tail wagging. She seemed very unhappy which is unlike our dog who enjoys meeting new people and playing with other dogs. Since we have brought her home, her behavior has been different. She doesn't like to be cuddled now and is very jumpy when you go to pet her until she realizes it's one of us. We called to ask if anything had happened and of course the response was no, we proceed to ask what their daily routine is at the kennel and could not be provided with one. If I was provided with some information about her stay (i.e how she interacted with the other dogs, if she ate all of her food, how long she played outside, anything), I may have felt a little better about her stay but with no information it concerns me. I would not recommend this place if you want your dog to enjoy their time at a kennel, she was only there for two days she should not have been traumatized. I would like to note the vet at Lake Forest Animal Hospital, Dr. Holly, has been very responsive with trying to touch bases with us to figure out what has happened and has provided a few recommendations to help ease her anxiety. I do recommend Lake Forest Animal Hospital with five stars but we will be taking our dog to another kennel the next time she has to be boarded.