Located in Hume Virginia on Crest Hill Farm
Our Facility
MVK has four 3’x8’ private rooms; each can be equipped with its own fan or heater has needed. Each has a raised dog cot and closed circuit camera.
We also have a large private room ~8’ x 12’ for dogs that want to be housed together, for those extra-large dogs, or any dog that needs to be separated from everyone else.
Outside is an acre of securely fenced yard with both sunny spots and plenty of shade.
We also have miles of trails on the rest of the 50 acre property for on-leash walks.
Our Story
We care for dogs big and small, young and old.
The idea of Mountain Valley Kennel (MVK) blossomed after the owner, Katherine, got her dog, a female Doberman named Lilith. Early on, Katherine saw that Lilith was intelligent, dominant, and opinionated. She played well with most dogs one-on-one but got overwhelmed in groups. She did not do well with other female dogs, instead preferring the company of male dogs. Katherine realized that she would have to be very discerning about any daycare or boarding facility she chose for her challenging Doberman. But it was the decision not to spay Lilith until she was older that a seed was planted in Katherine’s mind of starting her own kennel.
Shortly after Lilith turned eight months old, Katherine and her husband started planning a beach trip, and Katherine began looking for somewhere to board Lilith. However, Katherine encountered one major issue: all the boarding facilities in her area required dogs over six months to be spayed/neutered. Along with that detail, Katherine had spent quite a bit of time and money training Lilith, and she did not feel that these kennels had the ability to maintain her highly trained (and occasionally hard-headed) companion. That year, they changed their plans and managed to take Lilith with them, and Katherine nurtured the idea of starting her own kennel in earnest.
Katherine knew there must be other people like herself who had dogs that required more. Dogs that would not do well emotionally in your average boarding facility, dogs that needed extra space, care, attention, handling, etc. After talking to more people at her local dog park and sifting through trainers` forums, Katherine knew that a safe place for challenging dogs was truly needed. Finally, Mountain Valley Kennel sprouted into life.
Mountain Valley Kennel has been two years in the making, and we are very proud to have opened our doors to the public in March 2022.
Katherine Tanner
Owner/Operator
Welcome to MVK, and thank you for considering us. I started this kennel because I saw a need and felt called to fill it. I wanted to make a place where I would feel comfortable leaving my dear fur babies.
I have studied under three different trainers, taking away important lessons from each. I am a confident handler and have experience with many different dogs and their unique personalities. The learning never stops, but I am at a point where I can offer my services with confidence and certainty. My top priority is that you feel comfortable leaving your dog in my care.
I always require a prior ‘meet and greet’ before leaving your dog with me, even for daycare clients. I want not only you to feel comfortable leaving your dog with me, but I also want your dog to feel safe and at home for however long they are in my care. A quick first visit while you are present helps to reinsure and reinforce to your dog that this is a “happy” place.
Thank you again for looking into my company, and I am excited to see what we can do for you and your furry kid. If you have any questions, please ask!