Golden Touch Boarding
Boarding Should Feel Like Care - Not Confinement.
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Private, individualized boarding for dogs who deserve more than a crowded kennel environment.
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Located in Appomattox, Virginia
Limited availability by design. Every dog is individually screened so we can determine whether our environment is the right fit.
A Different Kind of Boarding
Golden Touch offers a highly personalized alternative to traditional boarding. We intentionally keep our program small so we can pay attention to the dog in front of us - their personality, routines, comfort level, social needs, medications, training, and the things that help them feel secure.
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Many of the families who find us have already discovered that traditional boarding simply does not work for every dog.
• Dogs who came home stressed or dysregulated after previous boarding.
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• Dogs placed into inappropriate group play.
• Dogs who struggle in chaotic kennel environments.
• Dogs who need medications or more careful routines.
• Senior, sensitive, intact or adolescent dogs.
• Dogs who need structure rather than nonstop stimulation.
• Dogs whose owners want established training maintained.
That is exactly why we built this differently.
We look at the whole dog - not simply whether there is an empty kennel.
The Golden Touch Difference
Individualized Care
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• Your dog's stay is built around the dog rather than forcing the dog into a preset facility schedule.
• Feeding, rest, outdoor time, enrichment, handling and social interaction can be adjusted to the individual.
• We respect established routines whenever practical.
Calm, Structured Environment
• Our PAWS ™ philosophy is built around Presence, Awareness, Wisdom and Structure.
• We value regulation and calmness over chaos and constant stimulation.
• Dogs have time to engage, decompress, rest and simply be dogs.
Thoughtful Socialization
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• We do not believe every dog belongs in a large playgroup.
• Social interaction is determined by temperament, compatibility and what actually benefits the dog.
• Some dogs thrive with carefully selected companions. Others are happier receiving individual attention. Both are acceptable.
Experienced Eyes on Your Dog
• Golden Touch has decades of experience raising, training and developing dogs with very different personalities, needs and purposes.
• We notice appetite changes, stress patterns, body language, social dynamics and behavior shifts.
• That level of attention matters.
Especially Helpful for Dogs Who Need More
Not every dog is an “easy boarding dog.” And they should not have to be.
We may be an especially good fit for:
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• Senior dogs needing a slower pace, extra rest or a predictable environment.
• Dogs requiring medication and careful adherence to instructions.
• Sensitive or easily overstimulated dogs.
• Dogs with specific feeding routines, supplements or schedules.
Also a strong fit for:
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• Dogs in training whose owners want existing expectations maintained.
• Dogs needing thoughtful social management rather than automatic group play.
• Service dogs and advanced training dogs whose neutrality and behavior standards need to be respected.
• Dogs whose families simply want more individualized care.
Your Dog Doesn't Disappear Into the Kennel
We intentionally choose quality over volume.
Our goal is not to house the maximum number of dogs possible. It is to provide exceptional care to a limited number of dogs.
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That means we can actually know:
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• whether your dog ate
• whether they rested well
• how they are interacting
• whether something feels “off”
• what makes them comfortable
• what stresses them
• whether their behavior changed during the stay
Private Indoor/Outdoor Suites
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Each Golden Touch guest has a private indoor suite with direct access to their own covered outdoor patio. Dogs have room to rest comfortably, move between spaces, and enjoy fresh air without being housed in a crowded communal environment
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Comfort, Privacy & Oversight
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Our indoor accommodations are climate controlled for year-round comfort, and the boarding area is equipped with security camera monitoring for an added layer of oversight and peace of mind.
Each suite includes an individual resting space with a raised cot, dedicated feeding and water area, and direct access to a private covered patio. Because capacity is intentionally limited, we can pay close attention to each dog's eating, resting, behavior, comfort, and routine.
Private indoor suite • Private covered patio • Indoor/outdoor access • Climate controlled • Security camera monitoring • Raised resting area • Individual feeding & water • Limited capacity
More Than a Place to Stay
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Golden Touch guests receive purposeful enrichment based on the individual dog. Rather than relying on hours of group play to keep dogs occupied, we balance physical activity, mental stimulation, rest, training, and one-on-one interaction.
Depending on the dog, enrichment may include:
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• Puzzle feeders and interactive food toys
• Snuffle mats and scent-based activities
• Stuffed enrichment toys
• Individual play and one-on-one engagement
• Indoor confidence-building equipment
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• Suspension bridge, teeter board, agility tunnel, and other obstacles
• Structured walks and training exercises
• Appropriate dog-to-dog interaction
• Quiet decompression and rest
Enrichment should meet the dog - not simply fill the schedule.
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Some dogs love solving a puzzle or working through a confidence-building obstacle. Others benefit more from sniffing, quiet one-on-one attention, structured movement, or simply having time to settle. We adjust the experience to the dog in front of us.
Indoor Training & Enrichment Area
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Our indoor training area allows us to provide meaningful activity even when weather conditions make outdoor training less practical. The space includes confidence-building and training equipment that can be used selectively for appropriate dogs.
These activities can support body awareness, confidence, engagement, impulse control, leash handling, and reinforcement of existing skills.
Physical enrichment • Mental enrichment • Scent work • Training • Rest • Individual attention
Boarding Options
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Signature Boarding
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Individualized overnight care within our private Golden Touch environment.
• personalized daily routine
• multiple outdoor opportunities
• appropriate exercise and enrichment
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• individualized or carefully selected social interaction
• feeding according to owner instructions
• rest and decompression time
• maintenance of established household manners
• updates during longer stays
Enhanced Care Boarding
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For dogs who require greater daily management. Availability is determined individually.
• medication administration according to provided instructions
• senior-dog accommodations
• more frequent potty breaks
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• individualized feeding protocols
• additional one-on-one care
• carefully managed activity levels
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• additional monitoring
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Boarding + Training Support
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Going away does not have to mean losing progress.
For appropriate dogs, training reinforcement may be incorporated into the stay.
• leash manners
• calm transitions
• crate or kennel routines
• impulse control
• household manners
• confidence
• reinforcement of existing training
Training support is customized and is not automatically included with standard boarding.
Private Day Boarding
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A quieter alternative to traditional dog daycare.
Ideal for dogs who need care during the day without spending hours in a large, overstimulating playgroup.
• structured outdoor time
• rest periods
• enrichment
• appropriate social interaction
• individual attention
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• reinforcement of calm behavior
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Door-to-Door Concierge Service
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For many of our clients, the hardest part of boarding is not the stay. It is the logistics.
For qualifying reservations, Golden Touch may provide door-to-door pickup and return service, allowing your dog's boarding experience to begin and end at home.
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• clients traveling from outside the immediate area
• busy professionals
• families coordinating flights
• longer boarding stays
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• clients who simply value convenience
Ask us about availability and service area.
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Going Home Fresh
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Select grooming services may be available during your dog's stay.
• bathing
• brushing
• coat maintenance
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• nail care
• teeth cleaning
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• ear cleaning
• departure freshening
Availability varies according to coat, temperament and scheduling.
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Small Team. Personal Care.
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Golden Touch boarding is intentionally different from a high-volume facility. Care is provided by people who know dogs and have the time to actually observe them.
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Jennifer & John Fano
Founders of Golden Touch, Inc. For decades, Golden Touch has worked with dogs and families through breeding, development, training, service-dog work and individualized canine care.
Sabrina Blanks- Boarding Care & Guest Experience
Sabrina brings hands-on boarding and canine-care experience to Golden Touch and shares our belief that dogs deserve thoughtful, individualized care rather than a one-size-fits-all kennel experience.
Daycare should not mean eight hours of chaos.
For many dogs, less stimulation creates a much healthier experience.​
For eligible guests, we also offer optional Golden Touch Wellness Dining enhancements and a convenient house-feeding option. Every feeding plan is individualized, owner-approved, and based on the dog's normal diet, tolerance, health needs, and length of stay.
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Not every dog receives every enhancement. We avoid introducing unnecessary dietary changes during boarding, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs, allergies, prescription diets, or other special feeding needs.
Wellness Dining
1. Your Dog's Regular Diet
Bring your dog's familiar food and we will maintain the feeding routine you provide. This remains our standard option.
3. Golden Touch House-Feeding Option
For eligible guests, Golden Touch can provide a thoughtfully selected house-feeding option using Life's Abundance, with approved Wellness Dining additions when appropriate. Dogs who are not already eating the house diet may require a transition plan.
2. Wellness Meal Enhancement
Keep your dog's familiar food while adding selected owner-approved Wellness Dining enhancements, such as a Life's Abundance freeze-dried raw topper, organic dog friendly produce, probiotics, farm-fresh egg, and/or farm-fresh goat milk when appropriate and available.
Three Feeding Options
Travel Light
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Prefer not to pack and portion meals for the entire stay? Ask about our Golden Touch house-feeding option for eligible guests. Combined with concierge pickup and return, we can make preparing for your dog's stay remarkably simple.
Concierge Enhancements
Know the dog. Respect the dog. Care for the dog in front of us.
Is Golden Touch Right for Your Dog?
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Because our environment is intentionally small and personalized, we screen prospective boarding guests before confirming their first reservation.
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We may ask about:
• age and breed
• health and medications
• feeding and vaccination status
• temperament and dog-to-dog behavior
• crate or kennel experience
• training history
• separation concerns
• previous boarding experiences
• behavioral or medical considerations
• your expectations for the stay
Our goal isn't to accept every dog.
Our goal is to make sure we can care for your dog well.
You Should Be Able to Travel Without Worrying About Your Dog.
Whether your dog simply deserves more individualized attention or has struggled in traditional boarding environments, we'd be happy to talk with you.
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Tell us about your dog, what has worked in the past, what hasn't, and what would make you feel confident leaving them in someone else's care.
Let's start with a conversation.
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Request a Boarding Consultation
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