Luxury Boarding for Small Dogs in Portland, Oregon

At Sit Down & Beyond, we offer premium boarding in Portland, Oregon, specifically designed for small dogs who need more than a traditional kennel stay.

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  • Vacation Boarding

    $150 Per Night 

    For dogs who do not require training or expert care to be comfortable in a boarding and social environment.

  • Board & Train

    $200 Per Night

    +$20.00 for a puppy or non-house-trained dog.

  • Off-Leash Academy Discount

    $200 Per Night

  • Experts Only Discount

    $125 Per Night

Add a courier service to your stay for easy, stress-free pick-up and drop-off.

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Why Sit Down & Beyond Is Portland’s Trusted Choice for Small Dog Boarding

Plenty of Portland dog boarding facilities can promise safety, cleanliness, and supervision for your small pup. At Sit Down & Beyond, we promise more.

✷ Trainer-Supported 
Every stay is supervised and managed by professional trainers who understand canine behavior. We will not turn away dogs with reactivity or separation anxiety, but we will provide a safe, supportive stay!

✴ Inclusive, Stress-Free Environment 
Tailored to your dog's personality, history, and emotional needs. Small dogs are kept separately from the larger dogs to maintain a calm, safe environment. 

✴ Enriching Experience
Your small dog’s stay will be filled with play, training, bonding time, and plenty of treats. Our goal is to go beyond basic boarding and create an experience that leaves your dog relaxed, fulfilled, and excited to come back.

See Why Small Dog Owners
Love Boarding With Sit Down & Beyond

  • “I loved having my dog stay here! I was set to board at a different place but they told me that my dog was too nervous with the one male on their staff and she would need 3 days of dog care before boarding would be accepted so I had to scramble for another boarder and this place was my saving grace! My dog was instantly comfortable at their facility and the staff was very accommodating to my travel schedule for pick up/drop off. Great communication from the company and clearly their staff cares for these dogs.”

    – Riley M.

  • “Shuli and team are absolutely amazing! We were looking for someone trustworthy to board and train our puppy, Louie, and we’re so glad we found Shuli. He’s done so much work with Louie over the last year on relaxing in public settings, whether that’s on walks or resting in his carrier on a 5 hour flight! Most importantly, Shuli is teaching us as owners how to communicate with our pup. I cannot recommend Sit Down and Beyond enough. It’s worth the drive over from Beaverton.”

    – Vivian L.

  • “Shuli is amazing! I'm so happy that we had Lucy board and train with him. I think he loved her just as much as we do :) His communication and updates for me were great--really nice to see her progress along the way. She came home a much more calm and responsive pup. He also provided details about all he had worked on with her so we could continue at home. I'll definitely bring Lucy back if I need to board. Can't recommend highly enough!”

    – Carissa Q.

  • “Shuli, Sit Down and Beyond’s owner and operator, is a magician. Our dog was struggling to adapt to life with our new baby and we were struggling alongside him. He wasn’t aggressive but just wasn’t on point with his behavior enough to allow us to maintain calm and keep everybody sane. We had three sessions with Shuli at our home and then left our dog with him for a board and train for 12 days while on vacation. It worked like a dream. Our dog is now much more calm in general. He leaves baby toys when we ask him to, he barks far less, and he seems like a happier boy now that he doesn’t feel at odds with us as much. Shuli also built in us the capacity to continue to train our dog without him and work on the things he needs to work on. We can’t say enough about how good our experience was with Shuli.”

    – Tommy D.

  • “Shuli is a most dedicated trainer. His compassion and commitment is unparalleled. Shuli was invaluable with a young, adopted dog. I unequivocally recommend Sit Down & Beyond for boarding and training.”

    – Doug B.

  • “Shuli is fantastic, our 2.5 year old Samoyed had a wonderful boarding experience and he provided us with a comprehensive report along with exercises to continue working on. Highly recommend!”

    – Brett D.

See More 5-Star Reviews

Our Boarding Services for Small Dogs

In-Home Boarding With a Trainer

In-home boarding for small dogs places your pup in a trainer’s home, where they receive consistent structure, supervision, and gentle, real-life integration into a calm environment. This option is ideal for small dogs who benefit from routine, need a lower-stress setting, or may feel overwhelmed in traditional boarding situations.

Because your dog lives alongside a professional trainer, they’re not just cared for, they’re guided through daily routines, behaviors, and interactions in a safe, home-based setting designed with smaller dogs in mind.

Single Dog Boarding (Private Stay)

Single dog boarding is perfect for small dogs who need their own space. Whether your dog is sensitive, easily overstimulated, or simply more comfortable alone, this option provides a quiet, controlled environment.

Your dog receives one-on-one care, a structured routine, and a calm setting without the pressure of other dogs. This ensures a safe, comfortable, and low-stress experience tailored specifically to the needs of small dogs.

Look at How Much Fun Small Dogs
Have While Boarding with Us

What a Day Looks Like for Our
Small Boarding Dogs

  • 1. Kicking Off the Day With a Little Play

    If you have a small dog packed with a ton of energy, they might be ready to wake up, explore, and engage early in the morning, and we love to embrace that energy! Each morning at Sit Down & Beyond, we begin with light activity and play alongside our trainers. Whether your little dog enjoys tug, a short game of fetch, or chasing treats, we tailor the play style so no dog is left out of the fun.

  • 2. Breakfast & a Quick Nap

    Next, our small boarding guests enjoy breakfast in their individual crates, followed by a short settle period, as we dogs rotate through focus/training sessions. A structured meal and rest time help maintain a routine similar to what most dogs are used to at home.

  • 3. Focus Sessions

    We dedicate time to individual focus sessions with every small dog in our care. Each session consists of short, positive-reinforcement exercises designed to build attention, engagement, and responsiveness based on your dog’s base abilities. Sessions may include brief recall work, foundational obedience, polite leash skills, and more.

  • 4. Group Sessions

    After individual work, we transition to small-group sessions where compatible dogs practice training exercises together. Working around other small dogs introduces mild distractions and helps strengthen reliability beyond one-on-one sessions.

  • 5. Adventure Time

    Depending on your small dog’s recall skills, we may schedule a supervised outdoor adventure. These outings focus on recall, confidence-building, and real-world skills in a safe, enriching setting.

    For dogs who need to be leashed on adventures, we offer relaxed “sniffy walks.” These slower-paced outings allow small dogs to explore at their own speed, decompress, and build calm leash manners in nearby parks or quiet neighborhoods.

  • 6. Group Relaxation & Settle Time

    After a full day of activity and training, we shift into calm practice. Learning to settle around other dogs is an important skill. Small dogs relax in a cozy space with beds and soft surfaces, enjoying a chew or enrichment toy while spending quiet time with trainers and companions.

  • 7. Potty Break & Dinner

    As the day winds down, daycare and day-training dogs head home. Boarding dogs enjoy a calm transition into the evening, followed by a final potty break and dinner served according to each dog’s appetite and routine.

  • 8. Night Time!

    Small dogs scheduled for in-home boarding return home with their trainers, while in-facility guests settle into their crates or suites for the evening. Our team monitors them throughout the night to ensure they remain comfortable, relaxed, and ready for restful sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Boarding for Small Dogs in Portland, OR

  • Yes, dogs under 18 inches are kept separate from larger dogs to ensure their comfort and safety. We thoughtfully divide our boarding guests into compatible groups based on size, temperament, and social skills, so each dog is surrounded by others who are a good fit for their personality and needs.

  • Yes! Dogs with separation anxiety are absolutely welcome and thoughtfully accommodated at Sit Down & Beyond. If your small dog shows destructive or self-harming behaviors when left alone, we approach their boarding stay with extra care and structure.

    During the day, if your dog is comfortable around other dogs, they’ll spend time in supervised groups to help prevent stress from being alone. For dogs who do better with more space, we provide a separate area and ensure they are not left alone for longer than 15 minutes at a time. When appropriate, we may incorporate brief, carefully monitored alone-time sessions (with video supervision) to support desensitization work gently.

    At night, your dog goes home with one of our trainers, allowing them to settle into a calm, home-like environment similar to what they’re used to.

  • Yes! Because we separate dogs by size and offer private suites and in-home boarding, even the tiniest pooch will have a great time boarding at Sit Down & Beyond.

  • Yes, we require all dogs who are boarding with us to be up to date on their vaccinations for:

    • Rabies, DHPP/DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis/Adenovirus)

    • Parainfluenza 

    • Parvovirus

    • Bordetella (kennel cough)

    We also recommend the Canine Influenza (CIV) vaccine, as well as consistent, on-schedule heartworm prevention and flea and tick medication.

  • We’ll provide most of everything your dog will need for your stay, but here is what we’ll need:

    • Up-to-date vaccination records

    • Your dog’s regular food (plus a little extra)

    • Any medications or supplements with instructions

    • A collar with an ID tag and leash

    • Emergency contact information

    We’ll have more toys and treats than your dog will know what to do with. However, if you would like to pack them some extra special treats or a comfort item/toy for their kennel time, you are welcome to!

    That said, most dogs stay so engaged with play, training, and structured activities that they rarely need much from home.