Loving, Trusted Dog Care

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Right From Our Home

A safe, comfortable home away from home where your pup is treated like family.

A Home Away From Home

Looking for a fun, safe, and loving environment for your pup while you're away? 🐶🌿

I'm Michaela, a lifelong animal lover with a special place in our hearts for dogs. Before launching Tails & Treats, I spent years caring for the pets of friends, family, and neighbors—and quickly realized how much I loved creating a home-away-from-home experience for every dog who stayed with me.

Located on a beautiful fenced acre in Nokesville, my home offers plenty of space for supervised play, exploration, relaxation, and personalized attention. I intentionally keep the boarding groups small so I can get to know each dog individually and provide the care, structure, and love they deserve.

I understand how difficult it can be to leave your dog behind. That's why I treat every pup as if they were my own and keep pet parents connected with daily updates throughout their stay. Whether your dog loves to play, explore, cuddle, or simply relax, I strive to make their time with me comfortable, enriching, and stress-free.

My goal is simple: to give your dog a fun vacation of their own while giving you complete peace of mind. ☀️🐾

Why Pet Owners Trust Me

I go above and beyond to ensure your dog is safe, happy, and loved while you're away.

Home-Based Care

A real home, a large fenced yard, and individualized care designed to help your dog feel safe, comfortable, and loved.

Personalized Attention

We intentionally keep our boarding groups small so every dog receives plenty of love, attention, and individualized care.

Safe Introductions

Safety is our top priority. We carefully assess personalities, monitor interactions, and create playgroups based on compatibility.

Happy Campers

Take a look at some of the wonderful dogs I've had the pleasure of hosting in our home.

What I Would Like To Know

I would love to know:

  • Any medications they are on.

  • Any dietary restrictions. Can we give treats, etc?

  • Any preferences of any kind, if they like or dislike certain things. Scared of certain household items, etc.

  • Any kind of routine and/or training you would like them to stick to. Ex: staying off furniture, sleeping in a crate at night, etc.

  • Any kind of reactivity and/or resource guarding over food, toys, etc just so I can be extra careful!

  • Does your pet have separation anxiety if I had to step out of the house for an errand?

  • Do you crate your pet when you leave or do they free-roam?

  • Does your pup prefer to sleep in bed with me, on their own bed on the floor in our room, or in a crate?

  • Please let me know about any “bad” behaviors your pup has, just so we can be aware, it won’t be a deal breaker - I just like to be aware and maybe receive any tips or tricks that you have to handling it!

  • Please let me know if your male dog “marks,” so I can be aware and keep an eye out for it. If that isn’t disclosed, there will be an extra charge if that happens frequently during his stay, especially if I wasn't made aware prior.

  • I do have a slight upcharge for intact male dogs and last-minute requests.

Safety Is The Priority

Safety is the highest priority. Every dog is carefully introduced and monitored to ensure a positive experience. I pay close attention to canine body language and group dynamics so all dogs feel comfortable and secure.

During meals, rest periods, or whenever needed for safety and comfort, dogs may enjoy their own private space. I tailor care to each dog's personality, routine, and individual needs.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Information

To provide the best experience for my guests and their families, all drop-offs and pick-ups are scheduled by appointment.

Our preferred scheduling windows are:

• Morning: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

• Evening: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

As an in-home boarding service, available appointment times may vary from day to day. I will always coordinate and confirm your drop-off and pick-up times in advance and will do my best to accommodate special requests whenever possible.

Appointments outside of the preferred scheduling windows may be available on a case-by-case basis and may incur a $15 extended-hours fee.

What Pet Parents Say

Don't just take my word for it. Here's what our extended furry family has to say.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I would book with Austin and Michaela again. They kept me updated with how Dillon was doing and sent some great pictures. Dillon seemed quite happy and well cared for when we picked him up.

Julia W.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Austin and Michaela took good care of my dog while my husband and I went on a 12-day trip. The day of our stop off they messaged us about conflicting drop-times with another dog and asked us to move around our scheduled drop off. I don’t think they were transparent with us about how many dogs they would be watching while our dog was staying with them. In photos there were 6-7 dogs total. They board dogs on and off of Rover, as a full-time business. My dog very clearly had a fun time playing with all the other dogs, but I don’t think this much of a constant group setting was the right choice for us. My dog has a very sweet and gentle temperament, and during his stay here he bit two other dogs, which is extremely out of character. I don’t think this was because of any mistreatment of the dogs, but I do worry that they have more than they can reasonably watch and control. My dog did come back very tired and dirty from playing outside everyday. They also had additional workers helping to take care of the dogs when they weren’t able to, which wasn’t mentioned up front.

Marissa D.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I love the communication skills that these two have in place. I never once had to worry about my “fur son”. He was scared when I left him and adjusted so well that when I picked him up , he was happy to see me but didn’t want to leave. Austin and Michaela made this a great experience. My first time leaving Kato with someone and his first time away from home. Hopefully you too will continue what you are doing because more business trips are coming and I don’t like change. You are my new sitters when you’re available. Thanks so much I appreciate you.

Christopher J.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This was our first time using Rover and had such a fantastic experience! Austin and Michaela took such good care of our doggo!

Jillian L.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Austin and Michaela took great care of our boy Rocky. They are local and well recommended. I would absolutely use their services again. Thank you for taking good care of our pup!

Joseph B.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thanks for the last minute care. They were great and super friendly . Blu came back home happier than ever and tired in every way he needed. I’ve found my go to spot when visiting family up north now. Thanks again.

Katelyn O.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Austin and Michaela were great! We dropped our dogs off for doggy daycare and they were very communicative. Sent us tons of pictures and our dogs had a great time!

Jessica L.

How It Works

A simple, stress-free process for you and your dog.

Schedule a New Guest Evaluation

Book your dog's first visit with us. This daycare-style trial stay allows your pup to experience our home environment while giving us the opportunity to get to know them.

I Get to Know Your Dog

During the evaluation (up to 4 hours), we'll observe your dog's temperament, comfort level, play style, and interactions with other dogs. This helps us ensure they're happy, safe, and comfortable in our care.

Board With Confidence

Once your dog successfully completes their evaluation, they're approved for future boarding stays. You'll have peace of mind knowing your pup is in a safe, loving environment that's the right fit for their needs.

New Guest Evaluation: $25 for the first dog (discounts available for additional dogs)

Duration: Up to 4 hours

🐶 My goal is to create a positive experience for every dog while maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for all our guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about boarding your dog with me.

What should I bring for my dogs stay?

Please bring your dog's regular food, any necessary medications, and a favorite toy or blanket to help them feel at home. We provide comfortable beds, bowls, and plenty of treats!

How many dogs do you board at a time?

To ensure every dog gets personalized attention and a calm environment, we only board up to 10 dogs at a time. This allows us to maintain a peaceful, home-like atmosphere.

Do you accept puppies or senior dogs?

Yes! We welcome dogs of all ages. For puppies, we ask that they are fully house-trained and up to date on their vaccinations. We are also highly experienced in caring for senior dogs who may need extra comfort or medication.

What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that plans change. We offer a full refund for cancellations made at least 7 days before the scheduled drop-off time.

What does a typical day for my dog look like there?

With one of us always being home, your pup can get endless playtime and love/cuddles from us! The day starts with potty breaks and mealtime, and then they get at least a few hours of playtime! They normally want to take a midday nap after that, but it’s never forced. Because someone is always home, your pup can go outside to play anytime they want. Our dogs are obsessed with fetch, so that is a daily occurrence for us, at LEAST 2x a day. So they will get plenty of exercise with us if they want to participate!

Get In Touch

Have questions or ready to schedule your dog’s meetup? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch soon!

  • (703) 505-6885

Ready to Schedule Your Dog's Meetup?

Let's make sure I'm the perfect fit. Book a short visit to the home today and see why dogs love staying here.

A safe, comfortable place where your dog is treated like family. Home-based dog boarding you can trust.

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