Smilin Dogs

On May 22, 2012, Smilin Dogs of San Carlos lost my dog for most of the afternoon on their 750 acre private property in rural Pescadero. At 3:30 pm, I got a phone call from the owner, Konrad, that my dog was ""missing"" & that he had been looking for her, both on foot and by car. My dog is a 4-year-old, 50-pound lab. This was her second off-leash hike with Smilin Dogs. Konrad, the owner, searched the property himself. At no time, were there other searchers besides myself. I asked him several times if we could increase the size of the search party, because it would be getting dark soon. He said his wife was on the way from Belmont, as well as a staff member. They did not show up. We found my dog at 6:30 pm by a creek (where she was last seen). Since the property is not enclosed, Konrad said it was possible for my dog to cross HIghway 1, while most of the other streets were rural, so not too may cars. 2-3 years ago, Konrad said another dog had gone ""missing"" under his care on the same property, and was not found for 2 days. I explained to Konrad that there is inadequate training of his dog-walkers. He said he would talk to the dog-walker who had lost my dog. He said, I could still use their doggy day care facility in San Carlos. And I just received an invoice today, billing me for her 2 hikes! Unbelievable. more

Smiling Dogs is the best! My Golden Retriever QQ has a great time hiking with Nicole and the rest of the dogs each week. The staff at Smiling dogs is friendly and reliable. QQ is picked up and dropped off at the same time and always clean. That is a big relief! QQ boards at Smiling Dogs regularly and has been there as long as 3 weeks. She always returns happy, content and loved. Sometimes we think she doesn't want to come home. No, I am NOT jealous! :) more

Big Shout out to Smilin' Dog's pet care. Our giant dog LOVES his day trips to Pescadero! The staff members are timely, kind, caring and respectful. We have no worries about our furry friend while he is in their care. They pick him up weekly from our house per our instructions and return him tired and hosed off! He is smiling for days, and tired too! Well worth the money for a tired and happy dog! Pros: My dog cames back tired!!! more

Smilin Dogs is an amazing service. My golden retriever absolutely LOVED running through the fields. Unlike regular dog walkers, you know your dog is getting a ton of exercise and is being treated by the kindest professionals. Pros: Best Dog Walker Hands Down! Cons: None! more

An absolutely awesome day vacation. It's relatively inexpensive. The service is impecable. They're on time and courteous. They pick-up at your house, do a 3 hour hike near Pescadero, and drop-off right back at your house. The best part is that my 80lb. Ridgeback is tired for the rest of the day. Pros: The price Cons: All that fun = more bathing more

I have a 75 pound energetic lab mix. As a young dog I had no idea what to do with his excess energy. No amount of walks or fetch would calm him. Then I found SmilinDogs. What a great service. Now, my dog has a wonderful outlet for all his energy and everyone is happy. He waits by the door impatiently on walk days. He races to the van each and every time. He has now been going to SmilinDogs for about 4 years. He never tires of it. Everyone I've met in connection with the company loves dogs and are amazing. They all appear to be animal lovers and enjoy their job. I highly recommend this service. more

Our Australian Shepard Skye LOVES Smilin Dogs. more

I live in Los Altos and have an Australian Cattle Dog named Lucy, and my efforts to ""run"" with her left me panting and sore and her under exercised. I knew I needed a creative solution to keep her healthy, fit and mellowed out and me running with my feet underneath me. I had tried several ""off-leash"" areas but ran into poisonoak or enclosures too small for her needs or ""over dogged"" areas. more

I recently went back to work and was a little stressed out about what to do with my spoiled dog who was used to spending the entire day with me. Smilin' Dogs is basically a hiking/day care service for dogs. Konrad, owner of Smilin' Dogs, will interview you and your dog to make sure their service is right for you and you are right for them. He will show you a video of dogs enjoying the leased space. Konrad is very thorough with his questions and forms and also very honest about any concerns you may have. He owns a very organized company. more

My husband and I adopted a very energetic German Shorthair Pointer 6 years ago and Smilin Dogs has been a godsend for our family. I swear she knows what day of the week it is because Friday morning she'll sit on the deck and watch the gate until a member of the Smilin Dogs staff enters and takes her for the day. She typically comes home exhausted from non-stop running. She's even worn out to the point of letting us sleep in on the following morning! more

A tired dog is a good dog. more

-This service is designed for active dogs. We have a young boxer and she loves it. We've been using them for almost 2yrs and wish we had known about them earlier! more

I have been sending my American Eskimo Toby to Smilin Dogs once a week since I came to the Bay Area three years ago. He comes home happily exhausted - and it is really hard to tire him out, so this is a great tribute. When he hears the sound of the Smilin Dogs van coming up the road, he gets really excited. The dog-handlers are great people, responsible and well-trained. Amber is Toby's favourite. For off-leash doggie outings (a ranch near the ocean) you cannot do better. more

Smilin Dogs is a working pet lovers' dream come true. My large breed dog Simon has been going for over 2 years, 2 times per week. It keeps him in great shape! And the owners and walkers are wonderful - very professional and great with the dogs. Pros: Pick up and drop off service, dependable! more

Does NOT get better than this. They pick up, drop off, and take the dogs out to a ranch on the coast to run all day OFF LEASH. My dog is 13 years old, and still in great shape, and I know Smilin Dogs have alot to do with that. Konrad, the owner, has a following of dog-owners who couldn't get along without him and trust him implicitly. If it all sounds too good to be true, then log on to their website and see for yourself. Personally, after spending an afternoon at the ranch with my dog, I don't think the pictures on their website do justice to just how special this service is. I send my dog Monday through Friday while I'm at work, and I only wish I had found this service long ago. Pros: The BEST dog day-care more

Smilin Dogs is a Godsend! I love this service. My 3 1/2 year old Irish Red and White Setter has been going once a week for 3 years. He is picked up on Friday mornings by a fabulous dog walker and is placed in a large crate with a soft rug and a treat in an air conditioned van. He is driven to Pescadero with other dogs (his Friday buddies), to romp off-lease in the creeks and mowed trails of a 750 acre ranch. Cian knows when the phone rings on Friday morning that it is his day to go to Smilin Dogs. He goes crazy and would bolt through the door if he could. After a 2-3 hour hike, he is hosed off and is delivered home late in the afternoon tired and content. The owner and very hands-on manager, Konrad Thaler, is extremely professional, competent and safety conscious of all of the dogs. I trust him and his dog handlers implicitly and can not recommend this service highly enough. Oh yes, and if you choose this service for your dog, ask for a video of your dog playing at the ranch. You will see how your dog loves his day out. more