24 Paws Ranch caters to medium and large dogs that are healthy, friendly, social and non-aggressive. If you have smaller dogs that do not meet our height and weight criteria, we would be happy to give you a referral to a local cage-free facility that offers all day play and can accommodate your smaller dogs. Below is a list of our basic requirements:

•  All dogs should be at least 35 - 40 lbs and a minimum of 16" high at the shoulder; however, a large breed puppy that has not yet reached these minimums may be accepted. 
• We cannot accept any dog that exhibits aggression towards people or dogs. 
• We cannot accept a dog that is highly fearful, insecure and nervous. This behavior causes the dog to become a target by the other dogs, so they need special attention by a professional before being integrated into a large group of dogs.
• We cannot accept a dog that will sink if they fall into the pool.
• We cannot accept a dog that will jump or climb over a 6' chain link fence. We have had several breeds jump the fence to escape. One instance involved Huskies that were roamers, and even 12 acres was not enough space. The other involved a high strung Border Collie mix that had high separation anxiety and wanted to get to his owner. We don't want to jeopardize your dog, so check with us if you're not sure.
• We reserve the right to exclude some powerful breeds from boarding and daycare. When provoked, a powerful breed dog can quickly escalate into a high level of aggression that is often difficult to control. Please check with us if you have any questions.
• We require a vaccination certificate from your vet to show that your dog is current on your vet's recommended combination vaccination, rabies and Bordetella (for kennel cough).
  
• Puppies should be at least 6 months old and have completed all shots, including their first rabies shot. If your puppy is younger than 6 months old, please check with us. We may be able to make an exception based on the puppy's development.
  
• All dogs over the age of 8 months must be spayed or neutered. In a social environment, an intact male is often viewed as a threat by the other male dogs. His presence changes the dynamic of the pack and can elicit aggression, even if your intact male has never exhibited aggression himself. Intact females, whether in heat or not, may be picked on by other female dogs, and male dogs will view her as an intact female and treat her as such. All of this contributes to a potentially unstable environment that can result in a dog fight. We may be able to make an exception for a puppy older than 8 months if there is a medical reason for the delay in spaying or neutering, but please check with us first.
• We do not have fleas on the ranch, so we require that all dogs arrive flea-free. If we find fleas on your dog when he arrives, we will bathe him with a flea & tick shampoo for a fee of $10. We will then require that you put your dog on a flea & tick prevention program.
  

Other important information:

We do see an occasional snake on the ranch, including rattlesnakes, so we encourage all dog owners to enroll their dogs in rattlesnake avoidance class. This is not a requirement for boarding, but is a good idea for the protection of your dog. We have found this to be the most effective method of avoiding a serious snake bite.   

Note: This is a 12 acre property of wild grasses and weeds. We keep the property mowed; however, we use mulch blades and don't bag the cuttings so there are still lots of burrs and stickers on the ground.We have found this causes significant problems for dogs with long, curly, Poodle-type fur, such as Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, especially in the Spring and early Summer. These breeds are particularly affected because many owners like the fur left long, and they can become infested, especially in the feet, if they are not trimmed short; therefore, we highly recommend shaving around the toes to avoid infestation. If you have a dog with long, curly fur and do not want to give your dog a short cut, especially around the feet, we would be happy to refer you to another cage-free facility that has more traditional grass play yards.

We encourage you to visit the ranch, but we do ask that you call for an appointment before arriving at our gate. Due to the fact that we are often out with the dogs and could be at the back of the property when you arrive, we need notice of your visit so we can plan to meet you.

We require a completed application with your first visit which includes all of your contact information, your vet, and information about your dog. Please click on the link below titled "24 Paws Ranch Application" for a printable PDF file. You can bring a completed application with you on your first visit, fax a completed copy to 760-789-2385, or complete one at the facility. We also require your dog's vaccination records on or before your first visit with your dog. If you are a resident from another state and are leaving your dog in any kennel facility in the state of California, please see the attached PDF file titled "CA Dept of Health Services". This is a list of approved and non-approved rabies vaccines for the state of California. Your dog must have a current, approved vaccine for California before being allowed at our facility.