Camp Ruff Ruff

Camp Ruff Ruff is an in-home, cage-free dog boarding and training service in Staten Island, NY. Dogs stay inside a home rather than a kennel run, and the people caring for them are also the people who train them. The business is run by a certified force-free behavior consultant and professional dog trainer, and it takes dogs of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds.

Services and amenities

• Cage-free, in-home boarding for small, medium, large, and giant dogs
• Force-free training and behavior consulting, available by phone or Zoom
• Medication and supplement administration during a stay
• Pick-up and drop-off covering Staten Island, Brooklyn, NYC, and New Jersey
• Dogs & Storks classes for families preparing a dog for a new baby

What makes it different

Most boarding options keep care and training separate. Here the two run together, so a dog working through reactivity or general nervousness is handled by someone with behavior credentials. Along with the force-free consultant credential, the trainer holds a certificate of attendance from a BAT instructors course taught by Grisha Stewart. There is also a Dogs & Storks / Family Paws Parent Education certificate, which is the background behind the new-baby classes. The business is fully insured.

Practical details

Camp Ruff Ruff operates from 174 Sand Lane, Staten Island, NY 10305. Boarding rates run $65 to $70 per day, as published on the company's website. Booking is handled by phone at (347) 844-2652. Owners should call to ask about open dates, and to arrange pick-up or drop-off if they need transportation for their dog. The same phone number is the way to ask about training or a behavior consult, which can be done remotely by phone or Zoom rather than in person.