Five walks a day. Never a kennel.
Small groups, five walks a day, never a kennel. Run by the same team that rehomes Shibas, in our own home.
Real home. Real attention. Real breed knowledge.
In our home, not a kennel
Your Shiba sleeps where we sleep, eats in the kitchen, lounges on the couch. No outdoor pens, no overnight isolation.
Shiba only
We only board Shibas. We know the breed, the body language, the warning signs, and the quirks. Generalist boarders miss things.
Small groups, on purpose
Two Shibas at a time, max. Your dog gets real attention and a calm environment, not a chaotic group setting.
Five real walks a day
Morning, mid-morning, lunch, afternoon, and a final wind-down walk before bed. Plus sniffari and training games in between.
What a stay actually looks like.
We adapt to your dog's normal routine. Tell us what they are used to and we will match it where possible.
First walk of the day to start things off.
Breakfast in their own bowl, in a quiet spot.
Mid-morning sniffari, a long, slow walk with lots of sniffing.
Nap. Shibas like their rest.
Lunch walk, often with a stop in the park for a stretch.
Short training games: recall practice, leave-it, settle on a mat.
Afternoon walk, sometimes with our resident Shiba for company.
Dinner, then quiet family time on the couch.
Final wind-down walk before bed.
Bedtime. Crate, dog bed, or a spot in the bedroom depending on what they prefer.
Five walks a day is not marketing. Bored Shibas escape, dig, scream, or eat the couch. We walk because the alternative is worse.
Daycare and vet transport included.
Both run on the same schedule and from the same home. No separate location, no separate team.
Drop off in the morning, pick up after work.
Same five-walk schedule, same small-group rule. Your Shiba spends the day with our resident dog and us, then comes home tired and happy.
- Drop-off windows 7 to 9 AM
- Pick-up windows 4 to 7 PM
- No overnight
Door to door when you can't drive.
For vet visits, grooming, and daycare drops. We pick up, drive, wait, and bring your Shiba home. You get photo updates along the way.
- Bay Area pickups
- Vet, grooming, or daycare drop
- Photo updates throughout
What it costs.
Holiday surcharge of 25% applies on major holidays. NorCal Shiba adopters get $10 off per night.
What we need before your Shiba stays.
Vaccinations and health
- Current DHLPP (or DHPP)
- Current rabies
- Current Bordetella
- Flea and tick prevention current
- Disclose any medical condition upfront
Behavior and intake
- 20-minute meet-and-greet before first stay
- Reasonably house-trained
- No bite history toward people
- Comfortable being crated when needed
- Not in a heat cycle if intact
Where your Shiba actually stays.
Reserve your dog's stay.
Tell us your dates and your dog's name. We confirm availability and send the intake form within one business day.
Email or text us.
For holiday weeks, book 2 to 3 months ahead. For regular dates, 2 to 3 weeks is comfortable.
Real boarders. Real words.
"Boarding my Shiba used to mean him screaming down the house or getting defensive at every kennel. NorCal Shiba's in-home setup changed that. No kennels, a tiny group of other primitive dogs, and five walks a day. He came back relaxed and exhausted. Well worth the $85/night."
"Shibas are notoriously difficult to board at commercial kennels because they hate being locked up. NorCal Shiba runs a premium, crate-free, in-home setup that my dog actually looks forward to visiting. Their vet transport service saved me a massive headache last month when I got stuck at work."
"We use their daycare service weekly to keep our female Shiba socialized with other dogs who 'get' the breed's communication style. The small group environment means she actually gets attention and structure, not just chaotic playtime. Highly recommend Eric and his handlers."
"My dog is an escape artist and a picky eater, so traditional boarding is out of the question. NorCal Shiba understands the specific quirks of this breed better than anyone. Knowing he's staying in an actual home with five walks a day gives me complete peace of mind whenever I travel."
"Yes, it starts at $85 a night, but for a Shiba, you get what you pay for. Commercial kennels stress this breed out to no end. Here, they get an in-home environment with a small, vetted pack and five structured walks a day. My dog came back looking like he just went to a spa."
"Excellent boarding service, and the vet transport addon is incredibly convenient. They picked up my dog from boarding, took him to his scheduled annual vet exam with our local partner clinic, and brought him back safely. The communication throughout the entire stay was flawless."
Want to talk to a real past boarding client? Email norcalshiba@gmail.com and we will connect you with a recent boarder happy to share.
Frequently asked.
What counts as a small group?
Two Shibas at a time, ours and yours, or yours and one other guest. We do not stack stays. If a guest is already with us, we will tell you on the inquiry call.
What if my Shiba isn't great with other dogs?
We do solo stays for Shibas who do better without another dog. Tell us on the intake call and we will plan around it. Our resident Shiba does not go on your dog's walks if it would stress them.
Do you take non-Shibas?
No. We only board Shibas. That is the whole point of how we do this.
Can I do a meet-and-greet first?
Yes, and we require one for every new dog. 20 minutes at our home so your Shiba can see the space and meet our resident dog before a real stay.
What if I need to extend last minute?
We try to accommodate. Text or call us the moment you know and we will tell you if we have the room.
What is the cancellation policy?
72-hour notice for full refund. Inside 72 hours, 50% refund. Inside 24 hours, no refund. Holiday weeks have a 14-day full-refund window because those are hard to refill.
Final terms for adoption, surrender, boarding, training, and the Lifetime Placement Promise are in the written agreements signed in person. If anything here conflicts with a signed agreement, the signed agreement controls.