Home-based dog care in Niles, IL
About Niles Dog Lodge
Niles Dog Lodge is a private, owner-run, home-based dog care setup with a big house, a fully fenced backyard, and a small number of dogs at a time. The goal is to provide a safer, more personal alternative to large daycare and boarding facilities for dogs that do better in a smaller group.
How it started
My name is Doug. I’m the owner of The Sign Catalog and live in Niles near Rugen Park with my wife, our son, and our dog Izzy May, a Bernedoodle.
Niles Dog Lodge started in a simple, personal way. I wanted better social time and more room for Izzy to play and be around other dogs. I was looking for something more structured than a dog park and more personal than a large daycare setting.
Because I work from home, building a small home-based setup felt like a natural fit. Over time, that became a private, owner-run environment where a limited number of approved dogs can spend time together playing, exploring, relaxing, and being part of a real home setting.
Izzy also plays an important role in how I evaluate fit. If a dog’s energy, play style, or temperament does not align well with the group, I do not force it. Keeping the environment safe, comfortable, and well matched comes first.
The focus here is quality over quantity. This is meant to be a smaller, more personal alternative to traditional daycare and boarding, with more room, more attention, and better dog-to-dog interaction.
To keep it manageable and intentional, the group stays very small, with no more than two guest dogs at a time, plus Izzy May.
What Niles Dog Lodge is
Niles Dog Lodge is a private, home-based dog care setup for dogs that do well in a smaller group with room to play, move around, and be around other dogs in a real home environment.
This is not a large commercial daycare facility, and that is intentional. Keeping things smaller makes it easier to supervise dogs, manage interactions, and make sure the group is a good fit.
Dogs spend time indoors in a real home and outdoors in a fully fenced backyard for movement, fresh air, potty breaks, play, and downtime throughout the day.
What makes it different
Private home setting
Dogs are cared for in a real home, not a high-volume commercial facility.
Very small group size
Keeping the group small supports better supervision, better interaction, and more personal attention.
Big house and fenced backyard
Dogs have indoor and outdoor space to play, explore, rest, and move around comfortably.
Approval required
Every dog must complete a meet and greet before joining so the group stays safe and well matched.
Owner-run experience
You deal directly with me, which makes communication clearer and the overall experience more personal.
Fit comes first
The goal is not volume. The goal is a safe, comfortable environment for the right dogs.
Services offered
Daycare
Daytime care for approved dogs in a small-group, home-based setting with indoor space, outdoor time, and a fully fenced backyard.
Boarding
Overnight care for approved dogs that are comfortable in the environment and are a good fit for this smaller home-based setup.
How it works
- Create your account
- Add your dog’s profile
- Complete the required information and waiver
- Schedule a meet and greet
- Approval is based on fit, temperament, and compatibility
- Request daycare or boarding through your account
Who this is for
Niles Dog Lodge is best for owners who want a smaller, more personal alternative to traditional daycare or boarding.
If your dog enjoys being around other dogs, has room to move, and does well in a home environment, this may be a good fit.
Because the setup is intentionally selective, not every dog will be the right match, and that is part of what helps keep the environment safe and comfortable.
Get started
Start by creating an account and completing your dog’s profile. From there, you can schedule a meet and greet and see whether your dog is a good fit for our private, home-based environment.