San Francisco Bay Area Dogs Love Canine Enrichment at the Ranger Station!
What is Canine Enrichment Dog Boarding?
At Pet Camp, canine enrichment isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a professionally guided approach to supporting your dog’s behavioral, emotional, and physical well-being. Rooted in animal behavior science and applied by our trained Canine Enrichment Counselors, our program is designed to meet five essential categories of canine needs:
- Sensory stimulation – engaging your dog’s senses through new sights, sounds, and smells
- Cognitive engagement – encouraging problem-solving through puzzles, games, and skill-building
- Social interaction – providing safe, structured time with people and, where appropriate, with other dogs
- Physical activity – promoting movement and coordination through active play
- Occupational tasks – giving dogs purpose-driven activities that mimic having a job or role
This well-rounded enrichment model is especially beneficial for dogs living in busy urban environments like San Francisco, helping reduce stress, build confidence, and support long-term mental and physical health.
Special Offer for New Customers
50% Off Their First 3 Nights!
Offer not available during peak periods or holidays; ask a counselor for more details.
Which Dogs Benefit The Most From Canine Enrichment?
We recognize that some dogs are not comfortable in a typical group play setting, often getting rejected from traditional dog daycare or boarding services. Canine Enrichment at the Ranger Station may be a good fit for dogs that:
- Are high energy dogs that need extra mental and physical stimulation through the day
- Get nervous when hanging out with a lot of high energy dogs and prefer smaller or solo play groups
- Get a little too overzealous during playtime (especially intact dogs)
- Constantly struggle with the challenges of the urban environment (loud noises, cars, bikes, skateboards, crowds of people)
- Might have been rejected from other dog daycares or boarding facilities but still need stimulation and exercise and shouldn’t spend too much time alone
- Need the expertise and extra guidance of our Canine Enrichment counselors, who provide tailored one on one care
Enrichment and Dog Boarding: How It All Comes Together at Ranger Station
Daily Activity: All overnight dog boarding guests (Campers) enjoy their daily activities just like a regular daycare dog. Every Camper participating in the K9 Enrichment program will have four 20-min. sessions throughout the day to work with a K9 Enrichment Counselor in a 1:1 or small group setting. These sessions include active playtime, brainwork and calming activities.
Daily Routines: Dogs thrive on routines, so we keep a regular daily schedule for the comfort of our dog boarding Campers.
Comfortable Campsites: Overnight campers that have day activities at the Ranger Station get shuttled over to our Main Campground at 5PM. Think of the Main Campground as a dorm! Our dog boarding Campers sleep in private campsites complete with seamless rubber floors, radiant heat, Kuranda beds, privacy barriers and glass doors.
Counselors with Training and Experience: All Pet Care and Canine Enrichment Counselors undergo thorough and professional training including Pack Pro and Pet Camp proprietary training. Hands-on supervisors also complete Fear Free training and certification.
Special Offer for New Customers
50% Off Their First 3 Nights!
Offer not available during peak periods or holidays; ask a counselor for more details.
A Typical Day - Enrichment Boarding with our ABC Philosophy
At Pet Camp, our Canine Enrichment Boarding program at the Ranger Station offers a full day of structured care rooted in our A-B-C Enrichment Philosophy - Active Play, Brain Work, and Calming Sessions. Each day is personalized to meet your dog’s energy level, social needs, and behavioral preferences, all under the guidance of our Canine Enrichment Counselors.
Morning Transport
Boarding campers begin their day at our Main Campground, then ride the Pet Camp Express to the Ranger Station, a unique facility for dogs who benefit from individualized attention, structured stimulation, and expert care.
A. Active Play
We kick off the day with energetic activities designed to engage your dog physically. Depending on your dog’s play style and preferences, this session might include:
- Supervised group play
- “Fun-gility” obstacle courses
- One-on-one ball games or tug-of-war
- Movement-based confidence-building exercises
B. Brain Work
Next, we shift gears to stimulate your dog’s mind. These enrichment exercises challenge cognitive skills and promote problem-solving:
- Decision-making challenges in our giant changeable maze
- Scent walls and snuffle mats
- Desensitization and impulse control exercises
C. Calming Session
Afternoons are centered around both mental and physical relaxation, helping your dog wind down in a calm, supportive environment:
- Gentle sensory garden walks
- One-on-one cuddle time or massage
Return to Main Campground
After a full day of enrichment, campers ride the Pet Camp Express back to the Main Campground where they enjoy dinner and settle into their overnight campsite.
Testimonials
The Pet Camp staff are great! And Ranger Station is the perfect set-up for our pup who is shy of strangers. We know he's in good, safe hands while we're traveling and he's always happy to "go to camp”!
My two [Newfoundland] dogs love the ranger satiation. Staff is fantastic and always helpful. I am very comfortable leaving them there for a day or for weeks when we go on vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About Pet Camp
Our Story
Find out how it all started and see how we've grown to be San Francisco's most trusted pet boarding and pet daycare facility.
Pet Camp Express
All aboard the Pet Camp Express – pet pickup at your service! Take the hassle out of pet boarding; let us pick-up and drop-off your furry friend to and from your home or office.
Camp Counselors
Learn about our professionally trained and certified Pet Camp counselors and why our campers love them so much.
Fun Stuff
Check out the latest happenings and awesome events we have in store for your camper.
Being Green
At Pet Camp, it’s easy being green! From our recycling programs to our poop-to-power, we’ve got it covered! Find out more about our commitment to the environment.
Pet Camp App
Yes, it’s true – we’ve joined the app-crazy world of San Francisco! You can now make a reservation at Pet Camp, update your camper’s vaccine records, and even check Camper Cameos through the Pet Camp App.
Pet Camp’s facilities are fully licensed, permitted and inspected by the City of San Francisco Department of Public Health.
Caring for someone else’s pet is a responsibility that we take seriously. At Pet Camp, we set best practice standards using state-of-the-art equipment and procedures. From electrostatic sprayers to fresh circulated air, we go above and beyond to ensure a clean, healthy, and safe environment.
More info here: Health/Safety & Check-In Guide