K9 Camp and Boarding Retreat

K9 Camp & Boarding Retreat is a cage-free dog boarding operation in Kalispell, Montana, set on two acres along Montana Highway 35. Dogs sleep in a home setting on an open floor plan instead of in kennel runs, and spend their days in fenced play yards. The camp also cares for dogs with medical needs and administers medication.

What the camp offers

• Two acres to play, with fenced play yards and outdoor dog houses
• Open floor plan sleeping indoors, no kennels
• Enrichment toys and water activities
• Plenty of exercise on the property
• Specialty care for medical needs, including medication

Who runs it

Wendy Urbach and Stacie DaBolt run the camp together, with more than 40 years of combined experience. Wendy has spent 22 years working with dogs and learns each camper's personality, likes, and dislikes. Stacie's background includes Director of Operations, Shelter and Field Operations Manager, animal cruelty investigator, and first responder work in disaster situations; she appeared on Animal Planet's "Animal Cops Phoenix" in 2008. Their stated mission is a comfortable stay where each dog is treated as an individual, with attention to its health and happiness.

What a stay looks like

The arrangement is closer to a house with a big yard than a row of kennels. Dogs move between indoor space and the fenced outdoor yards, with enrichment toys and water activities in the mix. The camp describes itself as an in-home family environment built for dogs who do better out of a kennel.

Booking and location

Booking is by phone at 406-755-7487, and the camp also lists K9CampRetreat@gmail.com for questions. The first step is a call, then a meet and greet at the property so owners can see it before booking. After that come the application plus medical and behavioral forms, followed by scheduled drop-off and pick-up times. The property sits on Montana Highway 35 in Kalispell, MT 59901.