At Braintree Canine Retreat, we know that choosing the right boarding service is about trust, safety, and peace of mind — not just price.
We offer exclusive, closely supervised care for your dog in a calm, home-based environment, taking only 1-3 households of (carefully selected) dogs at a time -
That means:
No kennels, less stress for your dog, no crowds, no children.
Tailored routines, enrichment, dog puzzles/toys, 2 walks a day, and cuddles galore
Full compliance with DEFRA standards, licensing and safety protocols. Vet-approved disinfectant in use.
Emergency plans, infection control, and daily well-being checks and documentation
A warm, welcoming space designed for comfort and calm with secure garden
Regular pics/videos are shared to you with what your dog is getting up to
Our fees reflect the time, attention, and professional standards we uphold—because your dog deserves more than just a place to stay. They deserve a retreat.
Our doggy was very well looked after at Ellie’s. She sent pictures so we could see he was enjoying himself and has made himself right at home at her house! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ellie and will be using her again to look after him. Five stars!
by C
Ellie was fantastic with our dog from start to finish. She kept us updated with regular messages and photos, which really gave us peace of mind while we were away. Our dog was clearly happy, well carded for, and treated like part of the family. She had walks, playtime, and lots of attention. Communication was excellent and very friendly. We could not have asked for a better experience and will definitely book with Ellie again. Highly recommended!
by R
Murphy has an absolutely wonderful time at Braintree Canine retreat. Ellie has been so flexible and helpful. Murphy is always so excited to go and his tail will not stop wagging when I drop him off in the mornings. Ellie sends daily updates and photos and videos too which are lovely to see. Due to being a home with a small number of dogs allows lots of fun and games and attention too. Highly recommended
by M
Ellen made the whole experience easy and stress-free. Good communication and updates when Penny stayed with her. Penny enjoyed her stay.
by J
My pups stayed with Ellen recently after our sitter had cancelled. Ellen was really responsive and took them in last minute. Both my dogs are rescues and it was clear Ellen and her partner knew how to make them feel comfortable. Would definitely book again!
by L
Ziggy had an overnight stay with Ellen recently. Ellen was great from start to finish. We had a meet and greet with her dog to see how they would respond to each other and we filled in a form so she knew any necessary information about Ziggy like feeding and exercise habits.
It was clear Ellen is knowledgeable about dogs and she understood Ziggy's needs. During the stay, Ellen kept us updated with how Ziggy was doing and sent pictures. Ziggy sometimes gets a sensitive stomach, so Ellen also kindly gave us something to take away to help with that. Overall Ziggy had a great time and we would definitely recommend Ellen!
by S
Murphy had a great time at Ellen's. It certainly looked like he made himself completely at home in her house, judging by the pictures I was sent! It's nice to not have to worry about him when he is with Ellen! I wouldn't hesitate to have her look after him again.
by E
Ellen and her partner are always great with Nova. Long walks, lots of love and always keeps us informed which the kids love as Nova is there furry sibling. 100% recommend.
by N
This was the first time we had left our Cavapoochon Monty. Ellen was wonderful with updates and photos to set our minds at rest. On his first night he was a bit restless and Ellen stayed with him on the sofa till he fell asleep. We are so grateful and highly recommend Ellen. Thankyou xxx
by H
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