If you like traveling with your dog, I have the most awesome, dog friendly vacation rental in Northern California’s Gold Country to tell you about. Dog & Pony Ranch is located in the Sierra foothills in Amador County and was built from the ground up with your 4-legged family member in mind.
Cyndi and Troy Harrell frequently stopped in the Jackson area traveling between Kirkwood and the Bay Area on skiing trips. They often looked at property listings in the local paper and decided to take the plunge in 1998. Cyndi and Troy saw the potential of this 60-acre parcel of raw land which they developed over the years while continuing with their careers in the Bay Area. The house was finally completed in 2014 and they opened it to guests, but they weren’t done yet. In 2015, they started the second part of the house that was built for guests and their dogs. They relocated to the ranch permanently at the end of 2016 after Troy retired.
Dog Friendly Features
Cyndi and Troy are animal lovers and pet parents of big dogs so they know a thing or two. Here are just a few of the things they thought of when designing the property for your dog-friendly stay:
Stained concrete floors for easy clean up
Leather furniture that repels hair
No delicate decor below tail level
Artificial grass play areas
Dog door to private fenced side yard
Amenities available for your dog:
Agility equipment
Swimming pond with dock where dogs can practice dock diving
Large, comfy beds in every room
Crates if you need and use them
60 acres of field-fenced property where dogs can roam off-leash
Miles of hiking trails
Photo from the Dog & Pony website
Although they don’t hold weddings at the ranch, one thing Cyndi would love to see more of is romantic marriage proposals where your dog delivers the ring.
Dog & Pony Ranch is so serene and beautiful, you can recharge from a stressful, hectic life while enjoying the outdoors with your fur baby. There are no restrictions on the type or number of well-behaved dogs allowed. Cyndi and Troy say they don’t like paying pet fees when traveling so they don’t charge any — unless, of course, your pet does damage.
Awesome for Humans, Too!
No dog? No problem. Couples can enjoy a romantic weekend or families can reconnect at Dog & Pony Ranch. The 2-bedroom plus loft, 1.5-bath rental sleeps a maximum of six. The house and property of this dog friendly vacation rental are absolutely stunning. Imagine the amenities for humans if they thought of all these things for your dog. Cyndi and Troy have thought of pretty much everything for a perfect getaway!
They have an amazingly thorough website with tons of information on the property and what to do locally. There’s also a guide book at the house that contains most of the same information. You can save booking fees by reserving this dog friendly vacation rental directly with the ranch through their website. You can see lots of guest photos on their Facebook page.
I’m so glad Cyndi found me and happy to be the pet sitter for their dogs and livestock when they are out of town.
You are definitely going to want to pin this and save it for later!
What a wonderful destination for a dog loving family! The accommodations look great for humans, but the agility course, pond and ability to be off leash are amazing! I pinned this to my “Have Dog, Will Travel” board.
wow I LOVE the agility course! THAT is pet friendly! really great find! I also like having your own kitchen we are vegan so on top of wanting to dine with our dog we also have an often “difficult” diet to accommodate so we prefer having the ability to make our own meals.
Wow, this place looks great! I love Northern California and would love to head there again for a vacation. I will definitely pin this to one of my boards for future reference. Thank you!
What a cool place to stay! I love that they have agility equipment and that the floors are concrete (such a clever idea). I’m so glad you were able to visit so you could give us the inside scoop!
Wow, Dog & Pony Ranch looks beautiful! I wish my dog enjoyed car trips. We’re in SoCal and this would be a fun place to end up with him. And that marriage proposal idea – too cute!
I tried to post before–and really like the look of this place. It makes sense that as popular as dogs have become, that folks want to take their companions with them. It’s great there are places that accommodate this now!
Sounds like a lovely place! What a neat idea too. I agree with the owners – paying pet fees is no fun, so it’s always nice to find a pet-friendly place that doesn’t charge extra fees. Sounds like the perfect getaway. Now… for a Cat & Kitten Ranch to open… 😉
Sounds like such an amazing place, even the name is gorgeous. I love the fenced in area, giving dogs the chance to run around safely and the agility course is a bonus. Thanks for sharing.
Plenty of room and it looks comfortable. Oet lovers will enjoy it and the amount of great exercise and running space so a dog isn’t cramped and unhappy!
Cyndi and Troy Harrell frequently stopped in the Jackson area traveling between Kirkwood and the Bay Area on skiing trips. They often looked at property listings in the local paper and decided to take the plunge in 1998. Cyndi and Troy saw the potential of this 60-acre parcel of raw land which they developed over the years while continuing with their careers in the Bay Area. The house was finally completed in 2014 and they opened it to guests, but they weren’t done yet. In 2015, they started the second part of the house that was built for guests and their dogs. They relocated to the ranch permanently at the end of 2016 after Troy retired.
Dog Friendly Features
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Wow, Wow, Wow! My pup would absolutely love this..Time to get saving I think.
What a wonderful destination for a dog loving family! The accommodations look great for humans, but the agility course, pond and ability to be off leash are amazing! I pinned this to my “Have Dog, Will Travel” board.
wow I LOVE the agility course! THAT is pet friendly! really great find! I also like having your own kitchen we are vegan so on top of wanting to dine with our dog we also have an often “difficult” diet to accommodate so we prefer having the ability to make our own meals.
Wow, I’ve never heard of this ranch…and since I’m a west coast gal, we will visit! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this place looks great! I love Northern California and would love to head there again for a vacation. I will definitely pin this to one of my boards for future reference. Thank you!
My parents wish there were more places like this in SC where they could take their dog with them.
That sounds pretty amazing. Mr. N would love romping in those fields! I like that they don’t charge fees as well.
What a great place and I must remember it as it is Northern California so might be easy for us to get to, thanks for the information
The interior looks well-kept and inviting for guests. What a bonus for agility to be offered! I wish we lived closer. 🙁
The interior looks well-kept and inviting for guests. What a bonus for agility to be offered! I wish we lived closer. 🙁
What a cool place to stay! I love that they have agility equipment and that the floors are concrete (such a clever idea). I’m so glad you were able to visit so you could give us the inside scoop!
I was amazed at all the thought they put into it for dogs.
Wow, Dog & Pony Ranch looks beautiful! I wish my dog enjoyed car trips. We’re in SoCal and this would be a fun place to end up with him. And that marriage proposal idea – too cute!
What a beautiful place! My Goldens would love it there, wish it was so far away! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I think they give every dog friendly vacation rental something to aspire to!
I tried to post before–and really like the look of this place. It makes sense that as popular as dogs have become, that folks want to take their companions with them. It’s great there are places that accommodate this now!
It really does seem like people are getting into their dogs more and more, which I think is so great.
Sounds like a lovely place! What a neat idea too. I agree with the owners – paying pet fees is no fun, so it’s always nice to find a pet-friendly place that doesn’t charge extra fees. Sounds like the perfect getaway. Now… for a Cat & Kitten Ranch to open… 😉
I know what you mean about the cat and kitten ranch! This place is so awesome that I want to go stay by myself just for a personal getaway!
Sounds like such an amazing place, even the name is gorgeous. I love the fenced in area, giving dogs the chance to run around safely and the agility course is a bonus. Thanks for sharing.
This looks a very nice place to take a dog.
Plenty of room and it looks comfortable. Oet lovers will enjoy it and the amount of great exercise and running space so a dog isn’t cramped and unhappy!