--- title: Cage-Free Dog Boarding and Indoor/Outdoor Runs | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cage-free-and-indoor-outdoor-runs/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Cage-free boarding and indoor/outdoor runs # Cage-free boarding and indoor/outdoor runs: what the terms mean "Cage-free" is a marketing phrase, not a defined term, so the useful question is what space your dog actually gets. At Happy Paws Kennels each dog has its own indoor/outdoor run with a doggie door, and the dog chooses whether to be inside or out. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) 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](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/choosing-a-kennel-class/) and the [kennel class finder](https://happypawskennels.com/tools/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](https://happypawskennels.com/touring-the-facility/) has what to expect. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Health and Safety Code sections 122380-122388, pet boarding facilities](https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-pet-boarding-facilities-chapter-11-pet-boarding-facilities) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Dog boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-boarding/) - [Which kennel class does my dog need?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/choosing-a-kennel-class/) - [Kuranda beds](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/kuranda-dog-beds/) - [Tour the facility](https://happypawskennels.com/touring-the-facility/) - [2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ## Read next - [Dog hotel, pet resort or kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-hotel-vs-kennel/) - [What to look for on a kennel tour](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/what-to-look-for-on-a-kennel-tour/) - [California dog vaccine law vs what a boarding kennel requires](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/california-dog-vaccine-laws-vs-kennel-requirements/) - [Can day care help a dog lose weight?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/can-day-care-help-a-dog-lose-weight/) - [Wildfire smoke and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/wildfire-smoke-and-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with arthritis or stiff joints](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-arthritis/) - [Boarding a dog with food allergies or a prescription diet](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-food-allergies/) - [Puppy socialization before the first boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/puppy-socialization-before-the-first-stay/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Is Happy Paws cage-free? Every dog has its own indoor/outdoor run with a doggie door and chooses inside or outside. If you are comparing kennels, ask each one for the interior and outdoor square footage of the run. ### Does California define cage-free boarding? No. The state sets minimum standards for pet boarding facilities in Health and Safety Code sections 122380 to 122388, but the phrase cage-free is not defined there. ### Can my dog be outside all day? Each dog chooses between the inside room and the outside area through its doggie door. The inside is air conditioned in summer and heated in winter. ### Can two dogs share a run? Yes, dogs from the same home can share. The [two dogs, one kennel guide](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/two-dogs-one-kennel/) explains how to choose the class.