Dog Boarding in Waynesville, Ohio You Can Actually Trust
For 45 years, Old Stage Kennel has provided trusted dog boarding in Waynesville, Ohio. Dogs enjoy individual climate-controlled indoor/outdoor runs, raised beds, nightly checks, and a flat $40-per-night rate regardless of size.
Safe Dog Boarding in Waynesville
No Group Play. No Pack Dynamics. Just Safe, Individualized Care.
Most boarding facilities mix dogs together in group play settings. We do not. At Old Stage Kennel, every dog exercises and interacts with staff on an individual basis. This is a deliberate choice rooted in behavioral science. Group play introduces pack mentality dynamics that can lead to rumbles, injuries, scratches, and stress-related digestive issues. By keeping each dog's experience structured and one-on-one, we eliminate those risks entirely. Your dog gets focused attention without the unpredictability of communal kennels. This is what a truly safe dog boarding facility looks like in practice.
Facility Features
A Boarding Environment Built for Comfort and Security
Our indoor/outdoor runs are climate-controlled with heat in winter and air conditioning in summer. Each run connects to a covered outdoor porch that protects dogs from rain, wind, and extreme temperatures. Dogs rest on raised beds with stainless steel food and water bowls provided. The property is secured with six-foot chain-link fencing throughout, and our small dog area features ten-foot fencing to protect smaller guests from local wildlife. Five acres of landscaped grounds, garden areas, and a trail to a stream give every dog a rich sensory environment during their individual exercise time.
Overnight Dog Boarding Near Waynesville
Night Checks, Add-On Enrichment, and a Free Dry Run for New Clients
Every night, staff perform a final check between 9:30 PM and 11:00 PM to give dogs a potty break and confirm everyone is settled and comfortable. It mirrors the routine your dog already knows at home. New clients are invited to schedule a complimentary Dry Run before their first boarding stay. This visit lets your dog acclimate to the environment and gives our staff the chance to assess temperament and provide specific behavioral feedback. For owners who want more for their dog during the day, we offer individual enrichment sessions at $15 per day, including brain games and stuffed Kongs, and trail walks on the five-acre property at $7 per day. Owners must supply their dog's own food in a plastic container to prevent diet-related digestive stress during the stay.
45 Years of Professional Dog Care
Led by a Trainer with Credentials That Go Well Beyond the Kennel
Old Stage Kennel is owned and operated by Talerie Brown, who has more than 40 years of hands-on experience working with dogs. Her background includes training dogs for high-security prison programs in London, OH, working with FEMA search-and-rescue teams, and competing at the national level with working-line German Shepherds in AKC competition. She has trained thousands of dogs through private lessons, group sessions, and board-and-train programs. When you leave your dog in our care, you are not handing them off to a gig-economy sitter. You are placing them with a professional whose credentials are among the most extensive in the region.
Dog Boarding Questions
What Owners Ask Before Booking
How much does dog boarding cost at Old Stage Kennel?
The base rate is $40 per night for all dogs, regardless of size or breed. There are no weight-based tiers or size surcharges. Optional add-ons are available separately: individual enrichment sessions, which include brain games and stuffed Kongs, are $15 per day, and trail walks on the five-acre property are $7 per day. These are not included in the base rate and are booked as separate additions to a standard boarding stay.Do dogs interact with other dogs during their stay?
No. Old Stage Kennel does not use group play or communal exercise sessions. Every dog exercises and interacts with staff individually. This policy is based on behavioral reasoning: mixing unfamiliar dogs in group settings introduces pack dynamics that can lead to injuries, stress, and unpredictable behavior. By keeping each dog's experience separate and structured, the facility avoids the rumbles and scratches common in pack-style kennels. Dogs with any temperament, including those that do not do well around other dogs, are accommodated under this model.What happens during the complimentary Dry Run visit for new clients?
The Dry Run is a complimentary day visit offered to all new clients before their first overnight stay. It gives your dog a chance to experience the environment, the staff, and the daily routine without the pressure of an overnight commitment. During the visit, staff observe your dog's behavior and temperament and can provide specific feedback about how your dog responded. This helps both the kennel and the owner determine whether the facility is the right fit, and it gives the dog a familiar reference point before their first full boarding stay.What do the indoor/outdoor runs include, and how are dogs kept comfortable?
Each dog stays in an individual indoor/outdoor run with a covered outdoor porch that shields them from rain and temperature extremes. Indoor spaces are climate-controlled with heat in winter and air conditioning in summer. Dogs rest on raised beds, and stainless steel bowls are provided for food and water. Outdoor areas are secured with six-foot chain-link fencing. A dedicated small dog area uses ten-foot fencing to protect smaller dogs from local wildlife. The five-acre property also includes landscaped grounds and a trail to a stream used during individual exercise time.Are night checks included in every boarding stay?
Yes. Staff perform a final check on all boarding dogs each night between 9:30 PM and 11:00 PM. During this check, dogs are given a potty break and staff confirm that every dog is comfortable and settled for the night. This routine is designed to mirror the kind of late-evening check a dog would normally receive at home, helping reduce nighttime anxiety and ensuring that any issues are caught and addressed before the overnight hours.Does my dog need to bring their own food?
Yes. Owners are asked to bring their dog's own food in a plastic container. Keeping your dog on their regular diet during a boarding stay helps prevent digestive stress, which can be triggered by a sudden change in food. The kennel does keep food on hand for emergencies, but the standard expectation is that each dog's meals are provided by the owner. Sticking to a familiar diet is one of the practical ways Old Stage Kennel works to keep boarding stays as low-stress as possible for each individual dog.Is this facility a good fit for small dogs or dogs that are anxious around larger breeds?
Yes. The facility has a dedicated small dog area with ten-foot fencing, which provides an additional layer of security and separation from larger dogs and local wildlife. Because Old Stage Kennel does not use group play, small dogs are never placed in communal settings where size differences could create stress or safety concerns. Each dog's exercise and interaction time is handled individually by staff, making the facility well suited for dogs that are anxious, reactive, or simply more comfortable without exposure to unfamiliar dogs.Who owns Old Stage Kennel, and what is their background in dog care?
Old Stage Kennel is owned by Talerie Brown, who has led the facility for 15 years. The kennel itself has been in operation for 45 years in Waynesville, Ohio. Talerie has more than 40 years of dog training experience, including work with high-security prison programs in London, OH, FEMA search-and-rescue teams, and national-level AKC competition with working-line German Shepherds. She has trained thousands of dogs across private lessons, group sessions, and board-and-train programs.
What Clients Say
Trusted by Pet Owners Across Warren County
At Old Stage Kennel, we offer a safe haven for your pets. Please leave a review to share your experience, as your feedback helps us maintain a secure environment.
