Our Springer spaniel always loves staying with the team here. She happily walks in and happily walks out.

Our Buster has spent many happy day camp hours with Animal Keeper. He's even been boarded there several times for a week each time. He loves being there and always comes home tired and happy. I totally rest easy when he is in their care. Thanks Animal Keeper! read more

Love the animal keeper have been going there for many many years staff is wonderful with the dogs love all the services have boarded my dog's there many many times while I might say they are a little pricey but I have reviewed difference places and they all seem to be within the same range. read more

This place is amazing. The staff is super friendly and accommodating. I took my dog to training from Ruik, who was the best! From the first few mins I met him, I knew Leia (my bernadoodle puppy) was in good hands. He has a different approach then any other trainers I have been too, and was incredibly effective. Leia's jumping has improved more in the 2 weeks she spent with him, than it had in the 13 months leading up to training with Ruik. He is very good at what he does, super friendly, communicative, informative (sent videos of progress and things I can practice to make sure the training holds up). Simply put I couldn't be happier or more impressed with this experience and how my dog has changed so quickly. Training is pretty much on me now, but I'll definitely be bringing Leia back here for the outdoor day care (most are inside and not nearly as nice) as well as grooming. This place has it all and is a top notch facility. Thank you all so much, especially Ruik! read more

I left my dog there for 3 nights and picked her up this morning and she had tears in her eyes, smelt like pee and was scared.

Highly recommend! We left our XL American Bully here while we went out of town and he came home so happy! The staff was welcoming and made us feel very comfortable leaving our dog while we were gone. We were nervous to leave him after an awful experience boarding him somewhere else but so happy we went with The Animal Keeper! We will definitely be back! read more

Our 12 1/2 year old yellow Lab loves coming to Animal Keeper's! They take great care of him and he is always happy to go to the kennel!!!

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Just wanted my dog's groomed. Received a message from the manager Tom, telling me UNABLE to service my ANIMAL because he doesn't do that kind of work. I thought the place was a grooming service for pet's. Fine you don't groom dog's even though the place shows's up has pet groomers on a search. Fine you don't groom dog's. How about hey here are the services we do offer if your still interested. NOTHING just a UNABLE to service your dog because I don't do that kind of work. Unprofessional. Take your animal's else were. Don't waste your time here. read more

A special shout out to Assistant Manager Stephanie Healey who helped us schedule a bath and sanitary clip for our 95 lb Bernese Mountain Dog. Groomer Tatsiana Trus did an amazing job! She alerted us to a potential sign of infection and sure enough the vet diagnosed a bacterial infection. We are so grateful to the many services provided to our sweet Emma. She loves group play time and boarding too! Highly recommend Animal Keeper for your fur babies. read more

We did training with Rurik for my dog. He reallly needed training. He's a beaGle and extremely stubborn. We had tried everything and he still wasn't minding and was really horrible with leash training. Rurik was so wonderful. Now my dog follows commands and is doing so much better on the leash. Of course he is perfect with Rurik. Now we just have to make sure we are trained. He's an amazing trainer. We have also boarded our dog there and he loves it. It's so clean and he gets his own space. He loves playing there too. It's a wonderful place. I'm so glad my friend recommended it. read more

I have taken my two dogs to this location numerous times. I have done a lot of research on where to take my dog and The Animal Keeper in Encinitas is where I decided to take my animals and I highly recommend this place to anyone. Not only have my dogs come back extremely happy and loved there time at the animal keeper, but the employees at the animal keeper have done an amazing job at letting us know how our dogs are doing. read more

The Animal Keeper has been caring for my dogs for 30 years. I've used them for grooming, boarding & day care. My animals love going. It's the best! read more

Fantastic. We live in Orange County but travel to San Diego a lot to visit our college son and other family members. I love knowing I have a safe place to drop my dog off when we are planning a family dinner or school event. It is convenient right off the freeway in Encinitas and my relatively shy dog has really enjoyed himself. The staff is always pleasant, prices are reasonable and I love the outside playing area. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!! Took my puppy here for the day, she was put in the little dogs group play for the day, and while i was nervous at first to leave her she had a great time! The receptionists were very informative and patiently answered all of my neurotic questions. I brought her in early for the initial "temperment test" to see how well she she gets along with the other dogs. Found out later that day that she did wonderfully! All the staff seemed to really enjoy her being there. They gave her lots of praise and made me feel SOOOO much better about leaving her for the day. Highly recommend this place to all the pet lovers that see their dogs as "Hairy Children" ;) read more

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I have brought my puppy here the last few months to help her get socialized while I am at work. She is always so happy to get there and loves EVERYONE who works there. All of the employees seem to genuinely love to play with her and recognize her and me by sight!! Puppy day camp is amazing! read more

The Animal Keeper - Tired from a fun day at camp! - Pet Sitting Near Me - Encinitas, California

Kayla the manager and all the employees are so amazing. The only place I trust my dog to go to. They're amazing people and truly treat your animal with love and care. My dog Orson is excited everytime we go there, which is always a good sign! Kayla and the animal keeper staff is amazing! read more

Where do i start.. The Animal Keeper is one of the few places I can trust with my puppy. I just got my first ever dog and hated leaving him alone at home. I was hesitant to leave him with complete strangers, but the manager Kayla and the front desk staff made me feel 100% at ease. I was able to take a tour of the facility and go over pricing. They are so loving and kind to my little Ramone and he loves coming to day camp! one of my favorite features is the easy drop off kiosk on weekdays, it really helps with time when I'm running late to work (which is usually everyday) but animal keeper is always on it! read more

We were very disappointed with our recent experience boarding our 5 month old puppy at The Animal Keeper. We had given instructions twice, once when making the reservation and again the morning we dropped him off, that he be fed 3 times a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had typed out the instructions as well. We prepackaged enough food for 3 meals a day for 5 days, plus extra in case of emergency. This included a package of kibble and a package of vegetables for each meal. When we got home after boarding for 5 days, he was very hungry. Upon unpacking his bag, we found 6 packages of kibble. They had not fed him his lunch on any day. Our puppy had lost 2 pounds, approximately 10% of his weight. This is not healthy, especially for a puppy his age. We called The Animal Keeper and were told that the instructions had not been relayed to the feeding staff. They did apologize and offered a reduction of our bill. This is unacceptable. A boarding facility needs to adhere to the agreed instructions for animals in their care. read more

I was referred here after our normal boarding facilty was fully booked for the holidays last year. I will never take a animal to this place again. When told that my VERY large (210 lb) dog had food allergies and had to eat his own food (which we provided) I was informed that they charged extra for that. So not only were they double the cost of my normal boarding place, but they also charged me extra to feed my dog. More on that in a minute. I wasn't impressed with the location. It seems like it should be a daycare for kids, not dogs. They don't have real grass only a small astroturf area, which wasn't really large enough for my dog to be happy in. When we dropped off my dog (we reserved a large suite) they put him in a small room but told us they would move him later that day when the large suite opened up. When we picked him up (my husband went back to assist), they had him in the same small room. For a normal sized dog, this wouldn't be a problem, but my dog is 7 feet long laying down at least and the room was too small for him. Regarding the food problem; when I called to check on him the day after we left, they told me he wasn't eating. They asked if they could feed him canned food to get him to eat. I reiterated that he had allergies and told them in NO WAYwere they to do anything to his food. I told them to just leave it out and eventually, he would eat it. (He gets a little emo with food when he is missing us.) When we picked him up they told us that they had added water to his food to try and get him to eat it (which he didn't) so they had to throw out the food a hour or so after putting it down. So basically my dog didn't eat the entire time we were gone. He lost almost 10 pounds. Unacceptable. read more

I heard good things about the Animal Keeper from a close friend and decided to give it a try with our 1.5 year old Staffy. I called and made an appointment for 3 days of boarding and was told I had to bring my pup in for a temperament test and a play session with other dogs, which was fine and understandable. I was also told I'd get a tour of the facility to make sure I was comfortable boarding him. The receptionist listed the multitude of options and additional charges over the phone (ie...$2.50 to administer any medication, $5 for this, $10 for that, etc...). I got the vibe that they nickel and dime everything, but that was not my issue. I arrived for the temper test appointment 15 minutes early and they immediately took Reggie into the back without asking me any questions about him, offering me a tour, or allowing me to come with my dog to see where they were going. I was simply given a form to fill out and told it would be about 2 hours. I filled the form out, left and came back 2 hours and 15 minutes later. Over the phone I was told the test/play date would be 90 minutes if I made an appointment, which I did. Upon re-arriving, the receptionist said Reggie was not ready and that "he was out playing with other dogs and had 30 minutes of playtime left". I said I'd wait and asked if I could have the tour of the facility. She walked me back to give me the tour and into what looked like a bleak shelter-like room with cages lining both walls. In one of the cages, shivering, was Reggie....not outside playing like they told me. So either she blatantly lied to me or miscommunicated with whoever the manager was...either way I found it extremely crappy. I found the entire experience to be highly unprofessional and what I saw of the facilities was very unimpressive. Their manager did come out and talked with me about the 'miscommunication' and she called me to try and explain an hour later, but I'm sorry - there is no way I will ever take my dog here again. Very poor experience. read more

We love the AK! As a child, my parents always boarded our golden retriever there, and now that I'm married and have a golden of my own, we take him there too! My favorite thing about AK is the day camp. Whether just for the day, or as a supplement to boarding your pet, the camp is a real blast for the dogs. They have 2 camps - Camp Big Dog and Camp Tiny Tots - so dogs are always comfortable playing and owners don't have to worry about their little guys getting trampled by big guys. Anyway, they have 3 large, fenced yards for camp and the staff always is present to oversee the playing and also to throw balls for fetch. During summer the pups get to splash in kiddie pools which is my dog's favorite activity. Camp is a great way to socialize and ultimately tire out your dog! Boarding here is relatively inexpensive. They do offer "luxury suites," but we always opt for regular boarding + camp daily. If your dog is going to be running around all day with his buddies, he really won't care where he sleeps. Camp adds that extra "fun factor" to boarding and my dog has a great time each time he stays. The AK is also a stickler for immunization records, which I think is awesome. I wouldn't want my dog playing with dogs who were not up to date on their vaccines. As for the negative reviews, I think some bad experiences are to be expected when you send your dog off to associate with so many other dogs. Let's not forget that at the end of the day, animals are still animals - they get sick sometimes, or get in fights. But I can assure you I have never had either happen to us, and I know that AK does everything in its power to prevent these kinds of things. The staff are very caring and are always looking out for each dog, and, if a dog misbehaves in the yard they are immediately separated from the group. As for the people complaining about the "bring your own food" charges - give me a break. It's $2 extra to bring your own food, and they only charge in the first place to discourage everyone from bringing their own food and making things complicated. Just picture trying to keep each dog's food straight for every meal - it would be chaotic and would take FOREVER to get the feeding done. So, unless your dog has allergies, just let AK feed them their food...otherwise, suck it up, it's $2! Anyway, all in all, check the place out if you haven't already. They are happy to offer tours of the boarding facility and will chat to you about any special needs you have. We recommend this place to everyone we know with doggies. read more

I am giving one star because we have been going for 12 years and we have been satisfied until now. Perhaps the increased amount of services that they provide has reduced the quality of care for animals that was previously present.. but when I went to pick up my little doggy she had vomit all over her face and was extremely distraught, yelping and shaking. Also, she was suppose to have been bathed before I arrived but that had not been done. For all the visits over 12 years I have never seen my dog in that state. When I pointed this out to the staff I was told "well it's your choice not to bring her here anymore." There was no apologies or even excuses made. If an employee of my business told a long standing costumer that they didn't have to come here anymore I would fire them on the spot! read more

I've had good experiences here for two years. I have two dogs, both of whom are of very playful, but mellow temperament . They seem to really love the Animal Keeper. As soon as we pull into the lot, they get super excited upon seeing all the dogs playing in the yard. The front desk staff is pretty friendly and they seem to genuinely love dogs, which is a must for me. I need to know my dogs are in the care of animal lovers. There's also a 24 hour vet hospital attached, which is another must. I always go with the suites, which are expensive, but I put both dogs in the same one so that they'll keep each other company. There are loads of extras to add on- I think I usually get one or two, but I don't go crazy. They are militant about the dogs having shots. Even if your vet says they're up to date on kennel cough, they require proof of the shot within 6 months. Also, it's a kennel, and not every owner treats their dog for fleas, so I recommend treating your dogs for fleas before taking them there, which I learned the hard way. I've left my dogs there for as brief as one night to as long as 9 nights and have yet to have a problem. They get free baths with 3 nights stay, so they are returned clean, exercised, and happy. read more

I also have mixed feelings about this place... so honestly I am not sure if I want to give the Animal Keeper three or four stars. I used to have great experiences every time I came in, but the last time left me not really wanting to come back. THE GOOD: - My Mom got really sick two years ago. She was in the hospital for almost a month. Her dog goes to the Keeper occasionally, but during this period she was there quite a bit being shuffled between there and my home. At some point they asked if everything was okay, and I told them what was going on. They were SO nice, and worked out a discount for us due to the situation and the amount of time we had to keep boarding our dog there. I will never forget that. - in the past, the front desk staff has been ridiculously upbeat and happy. Maybe not the most experienced--I think a lot of them are high school age--but pure niceness beats crabby experience in my book 90% of the time. They love(d) all the dogs and were just generally pleasant to be around. THE BAD: - last time we went was not so good. First, I showed up without a reservation for doggie day care because last time I called ahead (about 6 mos earlier), they SPECIFICALLY told me that they do NOT take reservations and to just come in. So I did this time, and the girl at the front gave me SERIOUS attitude about it. Then, while I completely understand the militancy RE the shots, she again was rude because I didnt have the dogs' shots updated in the system and I didnt have their records in hand. I told her we could call my vet right then and there--which she rolled her eyes at. I dialed up my vet on my cell and handed her the phone and they confirmed that our dogs were up to date within two minutes. Gah. She really makes me not want to go back, which is unfortunate considering how good some of the people have been to me and my family here over the years... :( read more

Recently boarded our dog for 5 nights at The Animal Keeper in Encinitas and was pretty satisfied with service. For $31 a night to board your furry friend, it's a reasonable price for the San Diego area. We also utilized their grooming service to give our dog, Bowser a bath. After the 3rd night (I believe it was the 3rd or 5th) you do get a discount for a bath, which is nice. The facility looks big, the office seems clean and well maintained. It's hard to know of course how the pets are cared for out back, but Bowser seemed his cheery self once I picked him up 5 days later. I will say that I dislike their $2 feeding fee, should you decide to bring your own dog food. Most dog owners will naturally prefer to provide their own dog food, in case their little buddy has digestive problems with other dog food (like my dog for instance). Instead of being praised for bringing your own food, and not using their generic kibbles, you actually end up paying $2 per FEEDING just so your little guy can eat his own food. Why?! That alone totaled $12 for 5 days. But what other choice did I have. It's either that or Bowser gets a tummy ache and possibly vomits all over... Playtime is a little steep as well for only 20 minutes of play with an instructor. Next time, I will probably try the group play so my guy has other buddies to play with, though I believe that service is also above $10 per day (for maybe an hour?). Overall however, I would likely use their boarding service again since they are located near me, and getting there is very easy. Again, the actual service was fine, but the food/playtime thing was a little let down for me. read more

Our 1year old labradoodle has been going to daycare here for about 5 months now, and he absolutely loves it! As soon as we pull up to the drop off area, his tail starts wagging. They put name collars on each dog upon drop off and have a nice organized system to keep his leash and harness until we pick him up. All of the staff are warm and friendly and take the time to greet you and your dog. They even make notes of how your dog did during the day, who he played with, etc. Sometimes, I wonder if our dog wants to come home because he always makes sure to get one more hug/snuggle in from Michelle before leaving. It's super cute! They do a temperament test on the first day, and gave me a tour trough the facility. They also verify all shot records, so we know our pup is safe there with the other dogs. There is always a treat bowl on the counter to try the many delicious products they sell there. Our dog has anxiety, but he seems to be very calm there. They really do seem to understand the needs of our pet, because they even sell things like chew toys, clickers for training and thunder vests. This place is a one stop shop for a happy puppy! We also love that they have a groomer on site! During his afternoon naptime, the groomer can do a full grooming at a very reasonable price (we paid $75 at another place and they groomed him for $55 here, and did a great job). They can also just do a simple brushing after a day of playing in the pool with his friends. Consistent schedule. Clear communication from both the daycare and the groomer. Socialized puppy with nice humans and dogs. Treats. Grooming. Awesome place overall! read more

I am dividing my review in half, as the two aspects of our experience were very different. 1) Kenneling - 5/5 My husband and I were going out of town for 4 days and had been highly recommended to trust our Cavalier to this location. She's a shy little pup, so I paid for the "tuck in" at night so she'd get a little personal attention. They told me at pickup that when it was playgroup time, she hid behind the human. I'm not surprised, but appreciated knowing she was being herself. She was happy and well-fed - definitely in good spirits upon pickup. I will definitely come here again for future holidays. Everyone who worked there was cheerful and nice, and the facility was very clean. She had a cute little paw-print fabric neckerchief on when we picked her up - it made it look like she was at camp (KYOOT!) but seemed there to hide... well, on to part 2. 2) Grooming - 1/5 Oh God. I think they took a weed-whacker to my dog. My husband and I all-but laughed aloud upon seeing her. Her torso was WAY too short, then it was evident they had just stopped at the neck - there was a 1" difference in the hair length at her neck, not tapered at all - it looked ridiculous. Her ears and tail hadn't been touched (I'd requested a light trim on both) so she had a borderline poodle look. It was heinous. I would TOTALLY use their kenneling services again (we are already planning on it for the holidays), but would not pay for grooming, when it was the same cost as other places that have done a much better job (and know what a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should look like!) read more

My lab TORO LOVES this place. I know he is treated well because he can't wait to get inside. The whole staff is extra friendly and loving to the dogs. He was worn out after playing 4 hours today. The price is a really good value. read more

My first time boarding my dog and I chose the Animal Keeper in Encinitas. What a great decision! Kira got so much attention and playtime that I think she may have been sad to leave. I want to give a shout out to her Trainer, Alex Denby who not only worked with Kira everyday to strengthen her skills, but also gave me updates as to how she was doing. He was a great communicator and spent time with me when I picked her up to review all the training and how to keep up the behavior at home. read more

I recently tried the grooming services because my usual groomer moved. I was really impressed on how my groomer paid close attention to my detailed instructions...because I can be extremely picky. When she came out she looked so happy and exactly how I wanted . To top it off she was just as excited and happy to come back the next day for camp! Found myself a new groomer! read more

Ok let me start off by saying I wish I could give this location a 10 star review. If you are a dog owner, you NEED to bring your dog here. The animal keeper Encinitas is by far the best doggy daycare, grooming and boarding facility ever. Our dog loves to come here. She gets so excited when we pull into the parking lot and practically drags us inside. Once inside she can't wait to get to the back. All of the staff members here are fantastic and so helpful. I love that they treat the animals like little humans. They do fun photos for holidays, have special activities for holidays like an Easter egg hunt, have water play outside, etc. Abby has made so many friends and loves all the staff. She comes home pooped out and I know that she has had a great day. The staff actually interact with the dogs, they are not just left alone to hang out wander around and be lazy as some locations do. We love the animal keeper read more

Took my multipoo in for grooming and really enjoyed talking to Michelle about styling my dog's hair as a boy. In the past, I have had some funny looking haircuts I was was unhappy about. She was very attentive. I received a phone call two hours later that my puppy, Kiwi was ready. Best haircut I have ever seen! So happy with her work, will be returning. Good prices, used a groupon for the first time there and will be back! read more

The Animal Keeper - Before long hair, transformed by Michelle, short and sweet. - Pet Sitting Near Me - Encinitas, California

Been boarding my pets here for a few years and they are awesome with the animals. Have great care for both dogs and cats. Used them for my kitty till we lost her last fall and she was always so well cared for. My pup Troy is ALWAYS happy to get there and play and is SO tired when we pick him up. We could board him closer to where we stay but make the drive to Encinitas because I know he will be so well cared for. The staff are great and I can tell they like working with the animals. Recommend read more

I am very very happy with animal keeper we started out with the daycare many years ago and we've also done boarding. both my wife and I are very happy with the staff Kelly, Stephanie, and kehlani and the manager there is exceptional her name is Kayla. I can highly recommend them I always feel my pets have been very well taken care of. Ed Robertson read more

I have been bringing my 4 lb Yorkie, Fiona, for the last 7 months and she absolutely loves the Encinitas facility. She cannot get in the door fast enough. The staff are wonderful and take great care of my little girl. The place is clean, and very well run. I am thrilled to have this place for her. read more

I bring my chocolate lab here 4-5 days a week for day care and have used them twice for boarding. My dog loves it and has never had any problems. The staff up front is always great! read more

My dog and my mom's dogs have been going to the Animal Keeper for over a year - they have a great facility and the staff is very friendly. I truly feel that any pet staying there is in great hands. Although I have not attended their dog training program, word of mouth is that it is among the best in the area. My German Shepherd, Pirate, LOVES their doggie daycare...all the dogs seem happy, healthy and much loved at The Animal Keeper. www.theanimalkeeper.com read more

Dog "attendant" PLUGGED INTO EAR BUDS WATCHING HIS PHONE NOT THE DOGS!!! We came for our first tour and play day - will NEVER return! The dogs were all just standing near the exit hoping to get out while the yard "attendant" sat in his chair glued to his phone - not listening, not watching, not interacting! read more

Will never take my dog here again. It's run by a very young staff of girls who have absolutely no idea what they're doing. I've asked to see the area where the dogs stay during the day, and I was not allowed. And I was given the very lame excuse that my dog would be sad. Really??? And when I asked how my dog did during her stay there, I was told that "all the dogs ran around". Another really??? Apparently no one really monitors the dogs or cares enough to observe them and how they're doing during their stay. And when I went pick up my dog, I was left waiting for about 15 minutes, while the giggling girls at the front desk gladly waited on a young man who came in AFTER I did. He got his dog in under two minutes. In addition, this place never has any type of medical staff on duty, Truly, I don't believe there is anyone here who has any real knowledge, any certainly no relevant certifications of any type. In addition, I failed to mention that they promote and sell Ketogenic Raw Dog Food, which is not only frowned upon by both the (reputable) scientific and medical community, but a documented public health hazard for both humans and animals. Just an obvious attempt to make a quick buck, without doing the research first. Never again. read more

We weren't really sure what to expect when we brought our hyper 1 year old Australian Labradoodle to Animal Keepers for training, but we ended up being very happy with the results. After 15 lessons with Rurik, our dog is much easier to take on walks as he now sits on command and walks by our side, rather than running ahead and pulling violently on the leash. He is also getting better when he sees other dogs, and is not jumping up on people as much as he used to. Rurik's caring nature and calm demeanor really helped instill this change. He also was very good about carefully explaining our dog's progress; including sending videos and giving our children and us notes on what to do at home. (It's important for everyone to be on the same page and to keep the training up if you really want to see results.) We definitely recommend Rurik to anyone who wants to gain more control over their rambunctious pup! read more