Our Facility
Citizen Canine was created by Tina Merrill, a Stanford MBA graduate whose frequent business travel needs caused much guilt and hassle in finding quality, reliable care for her two beloved dogs. She searched high and low for a place that was focused on meeting ALL the needs of her dogs: physical, psychological and social, in a positive reinforcement handling and training environment. In October 2000, she decided to put her corporate degree to use and opened Citizen Canine to fill the need for Bay Area dog owners dedicated to the health and happiness of their pets.
Tina put together a team that was committed to making her vision of superb care and service a reality. Our staff consists of dog care professionals schooled in the ways of Citizen Canine. Each day they are dedicated to providing the proper care for our guests: taking the time to help first-time boarders settle in, preparing special meals for finicky eaters, playing an extra game of fetch with our active go-getters, and ensuring each dog guest is comfortable in their bed when it‘s time to turn out the lights.
Our staff knows how to keep dogs happy, healthy and safe—not just because they are trained in animal care, but because they are dog owners as well. Many of our staff members have pursued formal education in dog obedience and behavior, and can help with training if requested.
Our Team
Each of our staff members receive extensive training as Certified Pet Care Technicians (CPCT) through the Pet Care Services Association, in Pet First Aid & CPR through the American Safety & Health Institute, as well as Citizen Canine’s unique dog behavior and operations curriculum. Under the direction of professional dog trainers from our behavior and training department, each of our staff members spends numerous hours learning to read a dog’s body language. We understand when a dog is saying she’s worried, he’s enjoying himself, she wants to be petted or he’d rather be left alone, and anything else they wish to tell us. Our staff are committed to improving their skills through continuing education, on-site training, and regularly attending seminars and workshops. Many of our staff members have pursued formal education in dog obedience and behavior, and can help with training if requested.
