Katie’s Kennel Omaha is a family-run dog boarding boutique built across two residential properties rather than one traditional kennel building. The owners live directly between both locations, and the pitch is a home-away-from-home rather than rows of chain-link runs. It’s also a small operation, which shows up in both the warmth of its reviews and the size of its review count.
This guide covers what Katie’s Kennel Omaha actually charges, its vaccination and trial-day requirements, and an honest look at what reviewers say, including the criticism as well as the praise.
Quick Answer
- Two locations: Tiny Town (small dogs and seniors, since 2011) and Big City (medium/large dogs 36+ lbs, opened July 2024)
- Nightly rate: $54 under 30 lbs, $59 over 31 lbs
- Trial day required before any overnight stay: $20 for one dog, $30 for two or more
- Yelp rating: 4.3 stars, but from only 11 reviews — a small sample worth reading in full
- Vaccinations required: Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella
- Dogs must be spayed/neutered by 8 months and pass a temperament evaluation
Katie’s Kennel Omaha: Tiny Town vs. Big City
Katie’s Kennel Omaha isn’t one facility — it’s two, built specifically around dog size and energy rather than a single one-size-fits-all kennel.
| Tiny Town | Big City | |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | 2011 | July 2024 |
| Best for | Small dogs, reserved pups, seniors | Medium/large dogs 36+ lbs, high-energy small dogs |
| Address | Residential property, Omaha | 6512 Garvin St, Omaha, NE 68152 |
| Phone | (402) 680-1030 | (531) 444-7875 |
| Space | Part of a combined 8 acres, 40,000+ sq ft outdoor space | 10,000 sq ft outdoor green space |
Both locations sit directly beside the owners’ personal residence, which the business describes as being “seconds away” if anything comes up during a stay. Buildings are temperature-controlled and, according to the business, designed to feel like homes with big backyards rather than traditional boarding facilities — no glass boxes, chain-link runs, or concrete pads.
What a Day at Katie’s Kennel Omaha Looks Like
Dogs get up to 6.5 hours of socializing and play per day, broken into sessions with rest in between — Big City specifically runs four 1.5-hour play sessions throughout the day. The stated reasoning for keeping groups smaller is straightforward: less dogs means less stress and more fun. Cameras run inside and outside both locations, and the business says it can get a dog to a vet at any hour if something comes up, since a veterinarian is available 24/7.
Staffing is intentionally small — Katie’s Kennel Omaha describes its team as working seven days a week, 365 days a year, with most staff dedicated to one location so dogs see familiar faces rather than a rotating crew.
Katie’s Kennel Omaha Pricing
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate, under 30 lbs | $54 |
| Nightly rate, over 31 lbs | $59 |
| Exit bath, Tiny Town | $20 |
| Exit bath, Big City | $25 |
| Private daycare, Tiny Town | $33/day |
| Private daycare, Big City | $37/day |
| Late pickup (2:30–6 PM, Mon–Fri) | $27 |
| Holiday peak pricing | +$7/night per dog |
Multi-dog and extended-stay discounts apply: $5 off per dog per night for two dogs, $10 off per dog per night for three or more, and 20% off a stay of 20 nights or longer. Holiday reservations can require a $50 deposit, so it’s worth confirming exact terms before booking around a major travel date.
Vaccination and Health Requirements
Katie’s Kennel Omaha requires dogs to be current on Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella, with proof required before drop-off. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention is strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Dogs must be at least 4 months old with up-to-date puppy vaccines, and any dog over 8 months must be spayed or neutered.
The Trial Day: Why You Can’t Just Book a Stay
Every new dog at Katie’s Kennel Omaha must complete a full-day trial before any overnight reservation is accepted. The trial costs $20 for one dog or $30 for two or more, runs a full day from morning drop-off to afternoon pickup, and is scheduled primarily Tuesday through Thursday, with limited Monday and Friday availability. Drop-off runs 7:30–9:30 AM, pickup 2:30–6 PM.
During the trial, staff evaluate temperament: dogs need to be comfortable in a kennel setting and get along with other dogs and people. Aggression, extreme anxiety, excessive barking, and resource guarding are treated as deal-breakers. This matters for anyone planning a trip on short notice — if your dog hasn’t already passed a trial day, book that first, not the trip itself.
What Clients Say About Katie’s Kennel Omaha — The Positive Side
On Yelp, Katie’s Kennel Omaha holds a 4.3-star rating from 11 reviews. Owners describe a genuinely homey atmosphere, responsive communication with photo and video updates during a stay, and dogs that come home tired and happy rather than stressed. Several reviewers specifically mention their dogs being excited to return for another stay, which is one of the more reliable signals a boarding facility is doing right by its guests.
What Clients Say About Katie’s Kennel Omaha — The Critical Side
With only 11 reviews, a couple of critical accounts carry real weight, and they’re worth reading honestly rather than glossing over. One reviewer, writing in October 2022, described safety concerns around aggressive dogs being placed in group settings and felt the business had grown “too big, too fast” with staffing that hadn’t kept pace. Another reviewer, from March 2019, described multiple cancelled trial-day appointments and an eventual denial of service for dogs over 40 lbs, calling the scheduling coordination unreliable. A separate note in the reviews points out that drop-off and pickup times require advance arrangement rather than flexible walk-in hours.
Given the small review count, it’s hard to say how representative either the praise or the criticism is of a typical stay today, especially since Big City opened in 2024 specifically to give larger dogs more space — a change made after some of that earlier feedback. A phone call asking directly about current group sizes and staffing is a reasonable way to get an up-to-date answer.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
- How many dogs are typically in a single play group right now?
- What’s the actual process if my dog and another dog don’t get along during the trial day?
- Can I see the specific run or room my dog would stay in, not just the play yard?
- How is a dog’s weight class decided between Tiny Town and Big City if they’re borderline?
- What happens if I need to extend my trip by a day or two mid-stay?
Booking a Stay at Katie’s Kennel Omaha
Booking goes through the business’s online portal rather than a phone call alone — you register, and staff follow up to schedule the trial day first. Bring a leash your dog can walk in on, current vaccination records, and food only if your dog eats a midday meal during the stay. New clients at Katie’s Kennel Omaha should plan this a few weeks ahead of travel, not the week before, since trial-day slots are limited and every dog needs one before its first overnight reservation.
How Katie’s Kennel Omaha Compares to a Larger Facility
A small, owner-operated boarding business like Katie’s Kennel Omaha trades scale for personal attention — fewer dogs per group, staff who know regulars by name, and owners genuinely nearby. That’s a different model from a large resort-style facility with dozens of amenities, and it comes with different tradeoffs: fewer service add-ons, and a small review sample that makes it harder to judge consistency from the outside. Our Chisholm Creek Pet Resort review covers a much larger 20-acre facility with a similarly mixed reputation across review platforms, which is a useful comparison if you’re weighing a boutique kennel against a bigger resort-style option.
For general questions about what any boarding facility should offer — feeding logs, supervision levels, injury protocols — the Pet Care Certification Council’s guidance for pet parents is a useful independent reference regardless of which facility you’re considering.
Is Katie’s Kennel Omaha Right for Your Dog?
Katie’s Kennel Omaha is a reasonable fit for an owner who wants a smaller, more personal boarding environment and is willing to commit to a trial day before booking a trip. It’s a stronger fit for calm, social dogs that will pass a temperament evaluation without issue. It’s less of a fit for an owner who needs to book on short notice without a completed trial, or for a dog with known reactivity around other dogs, given the resource-guarding and aggression concerns raised in past reviews.
Katie’s Kennel Omaha: The Bottom Line
Katie’s Kennel Omaha offers a genuinely different model from a standard kennel: two size-specific locations, owners living on-site, small dedicated staff, and a mandatory trial day meant to catch temperament issues before an overnight stay. Pricing is straightforward and multi-dog discounts help with a household of more than one dog. The honest caveat is a small review count with a couple of specific, serious complaints about staffing and scheduling from past years — worth asking about directly rather than assuming they’re resolved or still current.
FAQ
How much does Katie’s Kennel Omaha cost per night?
$54 per night for dogs under 30 lbs and $59 per night for dogs over 31 lbs, plus optional add-ons like exit baths and daycare.
Do I need a trial day before boarding at Katie’s Kennel Omaha?
Yes. A full-day trial ($20 for one dog, $30 for two or more) is required before any overnight stay is booked.
What’s the difference between Tiny Town and Big City?
Tiny Town serves small dogs and seniors and has operated since 2011. Big City opened in July 2024 for medium and large dogs over 36 lbs and higher-energy small dogs.
What vaccinations does Katie’s Kennel Omaha require?
Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella, with proof required before drop-off. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention is encouraged but not required.
Are there any negative reviews of Katie’s Kennel Omaha?
Yes — a small number of critical reviews describe past concerns about group-size safety and trial-day scheduling. With only 11 total reviews, it’s worth asking directly about current practices.
Pricing, policies, and staff can change — confirm current details directly before booking. Last verified September 2026.
