Welcome Home: Beyond Cage-Free Boarding
No metal buildings. Just couches, snuggles, and Friday pizza nights.
Happy Tails from Our Daycare & Boarding Families
Beyond cage-free: what that actually means
"Cage-free" has turned into a buzzword, a bit like "all natural" on a snack label. It sounds good, but it usually means a big metal building with lots of open space, a few attendants, and ratios of one caregiver to 30 or more dogs. That's better than a cage, but it isn't home.
We go further than cage-free. Dogs who stay with Bubbles & Beyond stay in our home. They curl up on the couch, they join in on our family pizza movie night on Fridays, and at bedtime they sleep in our bedroom with us. All day long there are people around, so your dog is never left waiting for someone to notice them.
Put simply: while you're on vacation, your dog gets a vacation too.
A day here
Most of the day is calm and easy, the way a good day at home feels, just with a few extra friends. Essential oils are diffused in the house to help keep things relaxed. There are bursts of play and activity, and then plenty of slow, cozy time in between.
We offer enrichment activities like lick mats and puzzle games to both our daycare and boarding dogs. Fridays bring pizza and a movie on the couch with us, and at night your dog sleeps in our bedroom with us.
We don't run a facility schedule. We just fold your dog into a home that already has a steady rhythm of care.
How it started
Bubbles & Beyond started out as a mobile grooming service. Then in 2016, we met Zeus, a 17-year-old poodle whose mom had to travel for work and had nowhere safe to leave him. We brought Zeus into our home.
Zeus is the reason Bubbles & Beyond went from mobile grooming only to also offering boarding. Having him with us made something clear: dogs do best when they're part of the steady, everyday care of a real home, not set apart from it. That's how our boarding began, and it's still how we do it.
Our people
Most of our team is family, and we train every one of them ourselves. We also pay above market. Nobody here earns minimum wage, because the people looking after your dog should be valued for it.
So the faces your dog sees are steady and familiar, and those people know your dog by name.
The ratio difference
How many dogs each caregiver looks after makes a real difference to your dog's day.
| Typical large "cage-free" facility | Bubbles & Beyond | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Large metal building with open space | Our home |
| Caregiver-to-dog ratio | Often 1 caregiver to 30+ dogs | Usually 1:4, depending on season. Never more than 1:8 |
| Who's caring for your dog | A few attendants | Mostly family, all trained by us and paid above market |
| Where dogs sleep | Facility space | In our bedroom, with us |
| Pace of the day | Big group, high energy | Mostly calm and chill like home, with moments of activity |
Holistic care partners
We're lucky to have a holistic veterinarian on call: Dr. Lori Miller of Eden's Holistic Vet Clinic. If you go see her, tell her Bubbles said hi!
We also work with Sally Shultis, a member of Eden's Holistic Veterinary Team. Sally is a board-certified Raindrop specialist for both people and animals, a certified Aroma Coach, and a certified Health Coach. If you meet Sally, tell her Bubbles said hi too!
We keep essential oils and natural products on hand in case of an emergency. If a situation calls for it, we'll take your dog to an emergency vet.
It matters more than you'd think that we can just call a vet with a question. Small concerns get answered fast instead of being left to guesswork.
Daycare
Daycare is the same experience as boarding: the same ratio, the same diffused oils, the same calm pace. The only difference is that your dog goes home at the end of the day.
- Half day: up to 6 hours
- Full day: up to 10 hours
- Daycare drop-off and pick-up: Monday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. Weekends by appointment.
Enrichment activities like lick mats and puzzle games are offered to both our daycare and boarding dogs, so every day here has plenty to keep minds and bodies busy.
New to boarding with us? Every new boarding client starts with a one-day daycare trial. It's required, and it needs to happen 3 to 5 days before your dog's first stay, so you have time to make arrangements with us or with another provider. The sooner you schedule it, the better. The trial gives your dog a chance to meet us and settle into our home before an overnight stay, and it lets us get to know your dog.
Boarding drop-off and pick-up
All boarding drop-off and pick-up is by appointment, so we can follow our safety guidelines. Weekend hours are limited, so please plan ahead if you need a weekend drop-off or pick-up.
Recovery Bridge boarding
Some dogs need more attention than a typical stay. Recovery Bridge boarding is for:
- Dogs who were injured at another boarding place and need extra care while they heal
- Dogs on a high-touch natural protocol, including natural cancer support
- Owners who need their dog's prescribed care given faithfully while they travel
Recovery Bridge is offered at three nightly tiers: $85, $105, and $125. The $125 tier is our highest-touch level, with a lot of oversight.
To be clear, Recovery Bridge is not an ICU and never replaces medical care. It's careful, attentive home care that follows the plan you and your vet have put in place.
Recovery Bridge starts at $85 a night. Its three tiers are the same as the Enhanced ($85), Intensive ($105), and Recovery ($125) care levels on our boarding rates page, where you can see the full breakdown.
Coming summer 2027: pool time
Next summer we're adding pool swimming add-ons. The pool is in our fenced backyard, so everyone stays safe. Add-ons will include:
- Swimming with a care provider
- Fetch into the pool
- More ways to stay cool through a Texas summer
More details closer to launch.
Frequently asked questions
Is my dog really staying in a home? Yes. Boarding dogs stay in our home. They hang out on the couch, have people around all day, join Friday pizza movie night, and sleep in our bedroom with us.
How many dogs does each caregiver look after? Usually one caregiver for every four dogs, depending on the season. It's never more than one caregiver for eight dogs.
Do you board cats or other pets? Our boarding and daycare are for dogs only.
Why do I need a daycare trial before boarding? Every new boarding client starts with a required one-day daycare trial, 3 to 5 days before the first stay (sooner is better). It lets your dog get comfortable with us and our home before staying overnight, helps us get to know your dog, and leaves you time to make arrangements with us or with another provider.
What happens if my dog gets sick or hurt while staying with you? We have a holistic vet on call (Dr. Lori Miller of Eden's Holistic Vet Clinic), we work with Sally Shultis of Eden's Holistic Veterinary Team, and we keep essential oils and natural products on hand for emergencies. If it's needed, we'll take your dog to an emergency vet.
When can I drop off and pick up for boarding? All boarding drop-off and pick-up is by appointment, so we can follow our safety guidelines. Weekend hours are limited.
What are your daycare hours? Daycare drop-off and pick-up are Monday through Friday, 7am to 7pm. Weekends are by appointment. A half day is up to 6 hours and a full day is up to 10 hours.
Ready to see if we're a good fit?
We'd love to meet your dog. Start with a daycare trial and see what a day in our home feels like.
Women-owned and LGBTQIA-friendly. Bubbles & Beyond Pet Care, Tomball, TX.