Golden Homes: Boutique Golden Retriever Boarding

Your Golden’s home away from home — think forest walks, secure play, and a calm, loving family environment in our home in Hoenderloo, The Netherlands.

Welcome to Golden Homes

At Golden Homes, we offer a warm, structured, and Golden Retriever-friendly environment where your dog becomes part of our family while you’re away. With two friendly resident Golden Retrievers, a spacious and secure garden, and daily sensory-rich forest walks, your dog will enjoy a stay that feels just like home.

We know exactly how it feels — planning a holiday and realizing the hardest part is deciding where your beloved golden will stay. That moment of hesitation, of wondering if anyone else will care for them the way you do. That’s why we opened our home to others who feel the same way.

Why Goldens Love It Here

  • Daily forest walks for physical and mental stimulation.

  • A large, secure garden for safe, off-leash play.

  • Constant companionship with our two friendly Goldens.

  • A warm, young family environment.

  • Calm, predictable daily routines.

  • Indoor sleeping in a dedicated space.

  • Plenty of affection, attention, and quiet rest time.

A young boy with blonde hair in a striped t-shirt standing in a forest with yellowing leaves, surrounded by two golden retriever dogs.

A Day at Golden Homes

A typical day at Golden Homes looks as follows:

06:00 Wake-up and good morning petting.

07:00 Breakfast.

08:30 Forest walk of 60-90 minutes. Leashed or unleashed dog-dependent.

Midday Free play, social time, rest, short lunch walk if needed.

16:00 Forest walk of 45-60 minutes. Leashed or unleashed dog-dependent.

17:00 Dinner

21:00 Bathroom break and beds prepared if needed.

A man walking through a wooded forest trail with two young children, each accompanied by a golden retriever dog, on a fall day with fallen leaves on the ground and trees with some remaining autumn-colored leaves.

Is Your Golden a Good Fit?

To keep our environment consistent for both our dogs and family, we can only care for Golden Retrievers that have been raised like our own - fun, active, and playful, but also calm, structured and socialized. If they meet the following criteria, we already have a pretty good idea that we’re going to enjoy each other’s company.

We welcome goldens who are:

  • Calm and well-socialized with dogs, adults and young children.

  • Fully house-trained.

  • Between 2 and 10 years old.

  • Free from separation anxiety.

  • Able to walk on a leash without excessive pulling.

Golden retriever puppy lying in a pile of fallen autumn leaves with trees and sunlight in the background.

Meet Our Family

  • Golden retriever standing in a snow-covered forest among bare trees and branches.

    Zazu

    Calm and wise, our boy Zazu rules the roost in his calm, quiet and strong way. Zazu loves nothing more than to simply “be” in the forest, poking in his nose in mouse holes and sniffing around in the leaf litter.

  • A golden retriever dog sitting on a fallen log in a lush, green forest with trees and foliage in the background.

    Summer

    If you want to see high energy leaps and bounds over tree trunks and through bushes, Summer’s the one to watch. A perfect playmate and always available for a loving pat.

  • A man crouching on green grass in an outdoor field with two golden retrievers, with leafless trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Ernst

    The outdoor, active one who ensures that no matter the weather, the dogs are walked, ran, swam and having fun in a forest somewhere.

  • A woman with blonde hair, wearing a blue headband and maroon jacket, kneeling on a leaf-covered forest floor with two Golden Retrievers, in a foggy wooded area with tall trees and moss-covered trunks.

    Lara

    The gentle caring one who smothers every Golden in love and can’t possibly get enough of those quiet golden cuddles. Lara has only one rule when it comes to dogs, and that’s that it has to be a Golden!

Our Services

  • Golden retriever dog lying on a concrete floor, resting in sunlight with eyes closed.

    Short Stay

    Full-day care, forest walks, garden play and rest! Any Golden Retriever’s ideal getaway for a night or two.

    EUR50 per night for one dog, EUR75 for two.

  • Close-up of a golden retriever dog sleeping peacefully on a light-colored floor with eyes closed.

    Long Stay

    The same thing, but make it a holiday. We’ll take care of your Golden as well as you would. Pricing for 7 days or more.

    EUR40 per night for one dog, EUR65 for two.

New Client? Here’s How It Works

  • Complete the signup form through the website with your and your dog(s) details. We’ll follow up with a phone call to learn more and answer any questions.

  • Schedule one or two paid test nights to ensure we’re a match — for you, for us, and for your golden.

  • Once everything feels right, your dog becomes part of the family and you're free to book future stays whenever it suits you.

  • We follow our daily structure and care for your dog like one of our own. You’ll receive regular updates — photos, videos, and stories — and you’re always welcome to check in at any time.

 FAQs

  • A maximum of two guest Goldens in addition to our own two. That means we will never have more than four dogs at a time. We do not mix dogs from different families unless we know they will be a match and have the permission of both families beforehand.

  • We only look after Golden Retrievers.

  • Absolutely. We follow your instructions carefully.

  • Dogs sleep in our “mud room” and entrance, depending on their bedding.

  • Contact us regardless! We can discuss your needs and see whether we can come to a solution.

  • Please bring:

    • Your dog’s food.

    • Food bowl and water bowl.

    • Their leash and collar.

    • A familiar blanket or toy (if available).

    • Bedding (if available).

    • Your dog’s Passport in case of a vet visit.

  • We monitor all dogs closely. If anything happens or we notice anything concerning, we’ll contact you immediately and, if needed, take your dog to a very well-rated vet in Apeldoorn.

  • Mostly not as we work from home and are always here. The only time they might be alone with our dogs is if we go somewhere for a couple of hours on a weekend, but even that will be monitored and adjusted to the dog.

  • We do not accept females in heat. Unneutered males may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on temperament and compatibility.

  • At this time, we do not offer transport services. All drop-offs and pick-ups are by appointment at our home in Hoenderloo.