08/08/2026
I realized recently that maybe I don’t talk enough about just how much of my boarding setup is designed around senior dogs.
Someone recently told me they wished they could have found someone like me when their senior dogs were still alive, and it made me realize that I probably need to do a better job explaining exactly what I offer.
Before moving back to Ohio, I ran a pet sitting business in the South for about 10 years. Eventually, most of my clients came through word of mouth and I barely had to advertise anymore.
Over those years, I figured out the type of boarding I really wanted to provide: calm adult dogs, seniors and geriatrics, and the occasional younger dog who has an “off switch” and understands when another dog wants to be left alone.
And I do want to clarify that I absolutely still board younger dogs! If you follow this page, you’ve probably seen plenty of them. Age itself isn’t the deciding factor. What matters much more to me is personality and whether a dog fits comfortably into the environment I’ve created here.
Younger dogs can absolutely be playful, silly, energetic and enjoy playing with other dogs. I just look for dogs who also know how to settle, respect another dog’s boundaries, and understand when an older or less social dog is saying, “No thank you, please leave me alone.”
My goal isn’t to have a house where nobody plays. It’s to have a house where the dogs who want to play can play, and the dogs who would rather nap for six hours are allowed to do exactly that.
Now that I’m back in Ohio and essentially rebuilding my clientele, that’s still exactly what I want Hounds in the Hills to be.
I’ve been a veterinary nurse for over a decade, but beyond my medical experience, my actual house has slowly become a place designed around one question:
“How do I keep your old dog comfortable?”
There are night lights throughout the house for dogs whose vision isn’t what it used to be.
There are baby gates everywhere so stairs and unsafe areas can be blocked off.
Getting outside requires only one larger step, and I have a ramp for dogs who need it. I also keep an additional portable ramp for other steps.
There are dog beds in practically every size imaginable, including elevated beds so older dogs don’t always have to get all the way down onto the floor.
I have kennels when dogs are comfortable using them, but I also use my guest room as a gated dog room. That gives dogs who need their own space somewhere comfortable to relax without necessarily having to be crated.
Every area where dogs spend significant time has a TV or radio for background noise.
I keep prescription gastrointestinal food on hand because sometimes older dogs decide that going on vacation means their regularly scheduled food is suddenly unacceptable, and having a gentle option available can help get them eating when appropriate.
And then there’s Ralph.
Ralph is my 14-year-old Chihuahua mix and basically the resident old-man welcoming committee. He barely bothers anybody, but many of my senior guests seem perfectly content knowing another little old dog is nearby. They can curl up in the living room with him and have some quiet companionship without being expected to play or interact.
Senior dogs don’t necessarily need a traditional boarding environment filled with activity and constant interaction.
Sometimes they need someone who understands that they walk a little slower. That they may need medication on a schedule. That they might need help getting outside. That they may wake up confused. That eating can become an entire negotiation. That slippery floors, stairs, darkness, noise, and younger dogs can suddenly be much bigger obstacles than they used to be.
And sometimes they just need a comfortable bed, a quiet room, and someone who understands old dogs.
That is a huge part of why Hounds in the Hills exists.
So no, you definitely don’t have to have an old dog to stay here. Younger dogs are welcome too, and you’ll continue seeing plenty of them on this page. I simply choose dogs based on whether their personalities work well in a home where respecting each other’s space is important.
The young dogs can wrestle and play. The adults can join in or supervise. The old dogs can sleep through the entire thing.
Everybody gets to vacation at their own speed.
But seniors and geriatrics will always have a very special place here.
Because your old dog deserves a vacation that moves at their speed, too.
Photos: senior dogs I’ve watched (or Ralph).
