Searching for cage-free dog boarding usually means one thing: you want your dog to have real room, not a small box. Here is how to judge that at any kennel, and what a run looks like at ours in Dixon.
What cage-free does and does not tell you
No California statute defines "cage-free" for a boarding business. The state does set minimum standards for any pet boarding facility that boards four or more pets for pay. Under Health and Safety Code section 122382, an enclosure has to let a pet turn around, stand, sit and lie down comfortably, and the facility has to provide heating, cooling or shade as needed. Those rules apply to every kennel, whatever words appear on its website.
Because the phrase is loose, ask for numbers instead: the interior square footage, the outside square footage, and whether the dog can reach both on its own. California also requires a boarding facility to give owners written information about enclosure size, observation practices and the daily activity schedule (section 122384), so a clear answer is something any kennel should be able to give you.
What an indoor/outdoor run is
A run is a private space with two parts: an inside room and an outside area, joined by a doggie door. Your dog walks between them whenever it likes. On a hot Dixon afternoon the inside is air conditioned; on a cold valley night it is heated. A dog that wants fresh country air can lie in the outside area, and a dog that wants a quiet corner can stay in.
Dogs can see their neighbors through the fence, which many dogs enjoy, but each one has its own space and its own Kuranda raised bed with blankets. Happy Paws has 100 of these runs on about 10 country acres, and the 2022 building has fire sprinklers, which is one of the two fire-safety options the state accepts under section 122385.
Matching the run size to your dog
The three kennel classes differ in size, and the right one depends on your dog's size and temperament. Economy is a 4 by 4 foot interior with about 48 square feet outside, Business Class is 5 by 6 feet inside with about 60 outside, and First Class is 6 by 8 feet inside with about 72 outside. On the 2026 rates they are $52, $59 and $72 a night for one pet. The kennel class guide and the kennel class finder help you pick.
See it before you book
The easiest way to judge any run is to stand next to it. Tours at Happy Paws run every day from 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM with no appointment, and a staff member walks with you. Watch your step on wet concrete during cleaning. Look at the doggie door, the bed, and how much room an animal your dog's size would have. The tour page has what to expect.