Where Your Dog’s Happiness Is Our Priority

About Companion Acres

Meet the team

FAQ

New Client Inquiry

Our Story

We don’t aim to be the biggest—we aim to be the most thoughtful.

Companion Acres was built from a simple belief: dogs deserve the same level of care, comfort, and consideration we’d want for any family member. What started as a love for dogs and a desire to do things differently has grown into a space where pups are known by name, personalities are respected, and care is never one-size-fits-all.

A woman in a yellow shirt and black pants playing with multiple dogs in a living room near a large window.

2021 — Where It All Began

Companion Acres began at Allison’s own home, where she started welcoming dogs into her care for daycare and boarding. The name Companion Acres was chosen intentionally—because from the very beginning, Allison believed this business could grow into something bigger: a place with real acreage where dogs could play, rest, and feel truly at home.

A woman dressed in black with blue jeans and high heels is performing a ballet pose, balancing on one leg with her arms raised and the other leg extended behind her, in front of a large warehouse with the sign 'MCS Inc.' on the front.

2022 — Building the Dream

In 2022, Allison acquired the first acre of land to bring Companion Acres to life. What started as a space with zero finished walls quickly transformed into a fully fenced property with an outdoor yard and 12 thoughtfully designed Pods—each created to help dogs feel safe, comfortable, and cared for throughout their day.

Five dogs playing in a backyard with trees, a house, and a wooden fence in the background, during daylight.

2026 — Growing With Purpose

With a growing mission to support dogs of all kinds, Companion Acres helped launch its sister nonprofit, Companion Homestead. This next chapter reflects a continued commitment to care, community, and creating meaningful impact. Follow along to see what’s next for Companion Acres.

MEET THE TEAM

A smiling woman holding a small, curly-haired puppy in a pet playpen, with a young child sitting on the floor beside her, in a room with a metal oven and various storage items.

I am the proud owner of Companion Acres LLC where my home is your dog’s home away from home. I’ve been professionally working with dogs since 2015. In the beginning, I walked dogs at the humane society here in Rochester. On my car ride home, I would mentally re-design our small home to accommodate caring for all the sweet pups. Expanding on this growing passion of walking dogs, I joined Rover.com. At that time I was teaching 1st grade and thought walking pups for a summer job sounded like a good gig. BONUS: I could even bring my kids along and see my own pups more! I loved spending my day as a dog walker and dog boarder so much that I took a leap of faith, followed my fast beating and oversized heart, and committed to the profession full time.
I couldn’t be more grateful for the many relationships I’ve developed with both owners and dogs (and a few other animals) throughout these years. I cannot wait to meet you and your sweet four-legged family members as well
On a personal note, I share our home with my husband, Jake (who I couldn’t even imagine being any more supportive of my crazy ideas), three freaking cute kids, and three perfect pups of my own! We live a good life in a historical 3 story house on 5 acres, loving located in SE Rochester, MN.

A woman walking in a forest trail with four dogs, surrounded by green trees and foliage.

I love being a part of the Companion Acres Family, it is truly my home away from home! My degree and background is in Early Childhood Education, but I am no stranger to caring for animals. Growing up, my family always had animals in the house; from dogs to rabbits to even an iguana! Currently, my husband, Dan, and I have 3 pups, and would take 40 more if we could! Over my years of working at CA, my love of caring for pups has overflowed into my life’s mission and I am so grateful that I get to spend my days with each of your pups!

A young woman with red curly hair takes a selfie with her black dog wearing a red bandana, outside in front of a white building on a sunny day.

I have been at Companion Acres since May of 2022 and absolutely love it here! It’s been so great getting to know all of you and your pups. I have a lot of experience with multiple kinds of animals. From horses at my first job, to dogs, cats, and exotics at my last job, at a vet clinic. Personally, I have my pup, Ruby, a 10 year old black lab mix. Who many of you probably know, as she works with me everyday! As well as two birds; Willow, a cockatiel, and Luna, an Indian Ringneck! We’ve always had pets throughout my life and I couldn’t imagine life without them!

A man holding a black dog near a lake with trees in fall colors in the background, under a blue sky.

Hi! My name is Dan & I have been a part of the CA family since early 2022! You can find me at CA in the mornings on Sunday & Tuesday - Thursday. I love being able to spend my time outdoors with the pups & getting to know all their different personalities! When I'm not at CA, I enjoy spending time with my own pups, duck hunting with my lab, Meadow, and hanging out with my wife, Laura!
Fun Fact: I have raised muscovy ducks since 2018!

A woman outdoors with three dogs, hugging and smiling with closed eyes, in a grassy field with trees in the background.

Hi Everyone! My name is Sunshine and you can find me at CA on weeknights and Sundays! I've always had a love for animals, especially dogs. When growing up, I insisted on caring for friends’ dogs, even if they were rowdy - I would always have a blast! I love to do art, bake, garden, bike, & dance (clogging, Irish, ballet, modern, & tap). I also have 7 cats at home: Woody, Jangles, Marley, Pumpkin, Squirt, Miso, ZZ

A black and white photo of a smiling family of five with two dogs, sitting on a golf cart outdoors.

Hello. I'm Jake! For those of you who may not know. I'm Allie's husband, and therefore have been involved with CA from before the beginning. I help out wherever I can - definitely a lot of fixing or repairing things, turns out dogs can be destructive © I left my job as a golf course superintendent earlier this ear to give our family some more flexibility and with that, l'm able to hang outside with the dogs in the mornings. Fortunately, Allie and I have been blessed with a great team that know what they're doing, where all I have to do is play with the dogs and stav out of the way &
My favorite part of CA is being able to see a lot of dogs from puppies to adulthood and be a small part of their lives, and getting to know many of their owners... between getting to know the dogs/owners, and the team at CA, it really feels like an extension of our familv

A woman hugging two dogs inside a wet car with a rain-dappled window, one dog resting on her lap and the other with its head outside the window.

Avin met Allison at dance lab in the summer of 2021 and started working at Companion Acres in January of 2022. She was born and raised on a farm and she has always has been around dogs! She grew up with many types of pups on the farm! 30 years ago she was introduced to Great Danes and will always have one in the pack and will support as many rescues and sanctuaries as possible!! Through the love of great Danes she finally understands why she loves Scooby Doo so much! Avin has done numerous basic obedience classes through the years. She has dog show experience, as well! Her and her Great Dane, Honey Doo, finished as champions. They almost went to Westminster!! Avin and her hubby live in the country with their 2 Saint Bernards, Great Dane, Labrador, horses, chickens and cats.

A young woman with glasses and a bun hairstyle holding a brown and white puppy outside on a sunny day, with a blue sky, a wooden fence, and a white building in the background.

Hey, my name is Michaela! Most of my friends call me “Mitch”. I started working here in February 2023. I have loved dogs my whole life and have luckily gotten to grow up with the fattest ones (English bulldogs)! I know pretty much everything about bulldogs so whenever I see one come in I get very excited! I enjoy baking, singing, and playing softball. I love working at Companion Acres because who wouldn’t want to see a bunch of dogs all day long am I right?

A woman standing outdoors near Christmas trees, wearing a white off-shoulder sweater and black tights, with black wavy hair, smiling softly.

Hi! My name is Madelynn, I started last June. You can find me at CA Thursdays through Sundays this Summer! I have been having such a great time meeting and hanging out with your pups. It’s been really fun getting to know each of their personalities, too! When I’m not at CA, I enjoy hanging out with my 5 pups & cat, reading, and making art!

A teenage boy with brown hair and a black shirt holding a brown and white Shetland Sheepdog puppy inside a house.

Hi my name is Slayton! I am new to the CA team. You can find me working on weekends and some weekdays! I love working at CA because I get to be around amazing dogs and play with them. When I am not working I play soccer and hangout with friends!

A young man with short brown hair and a white t-shirt sitting on a couch while a tricolor corgi dog rests its head on his shoulder, looking out the window.

Hi my name is Trevor! I’ve been apart of the team since October 2024. You can find me working at CA on weekends. My favorite part about working here is playing with all of these amazing dogs and learning about them. When I’m not working at CA I’m probably at home with one of my 4 dogs.

A girl with glasses hugging a golden retriever dog outdoors on a sunny day, with a wooden fence and green trees in the background.

Hi! My name is Ella and I have been a part of the CA family since April 2024! You can find me at CA most weekends, as I'm in school during the week. One of my favorite parts of working at CA is meeting so many different pups, all with such fun personalities! I also love getting to work mager with so many amazing people! In my spare time, I enjoy playing and snuggling with my 4 dogs :)

A young woman crouching on a paved sidewalk while holding a happy, playful dog with a tongue out. The woman has long brown hair, is smiling, and wears a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. The dog is medium-sized with a brindle coat, and is wearing a harness and collar.

Hello!! My name is Lauren and I have been a part of the Companion Acres crew since May of 2024. I absolutely love it here! My love for dogs began very early in my life, and my family has always had dogs. My dog at home is named Marley, but everyone calls him Mark. We also have two guinea pigs, a gecko, and a fish! Right now, I am in college working on a degree in biology where I will (hopefully) continue to work with animals in the future. However, I always miss being at home with my dog when I’m at school.
I love working at CA because it is so fun for me to get to know all of the dogs and the awesome people that work there! In my free time I like to draw, paint, sew, hang out with my friends, make sweet treats, go for walks, and watch movies. This summer you can find me working Monday and Wednesday evenings and sometimes on the weekends!

Smiling woman taking a selfie in a forested mountain area, with snow-capped mountains in the background, wearing a gray cap and black tank top.

Hi! My name is Andrea and I am new to Companion Acres! I don't have any pups of my own yet, just the cutest little goldfish, so I am very excited to get to come to work everyday and play with the sweetest pups around! I did some dog grooming in college, and growing up we always had pets of all shapes and sizes: furry, scaly, eight-legged, slimy, feathers, vou name it. we had it!
Outside of CA, I LOVE spending time with my family, especially up north- boating, kayaking, hiking, playing cards, riding around on motorbikes. I am a fall girl, everything about it- horror movies, haunted houses, pumpkin everything!
Fun Fact: I'm also a Companion Homestead Board
Member!

A woman kneeling on a brick path with five dogs in a garden with green trees and pink flowers.

Hello! My name is Rachel and I have been a part of the CA team since May of 2025, but I have been a CA Pawrent since November of 2024! You can find me at CA most Saturday afternoons/evenings. One of the reasons I love working at CA is all the puppy love! As a dog mom of 4 and a board member of the Great Dane Rescue of MN, I am a dog lover through & through! So being able to work at CA with all of your pups has been a fantastic experience so far!

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know Before Your Pup’s Visit

Companion Acres in a primarily kennel free facility, kennels are only used for feeding to ensure safety.
Pups get to “social sleep” with friends they spent their day with. Groups overnight are limited to 1-4 dogs.
A team member sleeps over to monitor the pups at night.
Pups are rotated outside all day except for our 2 hour “nap time” where they enjoy an afternoon break. This time is essential to the dogs to recharge and rest!
Pictures of the pups are a HUGE part of our day to day routine. Along with the pictures, updates are sent to parents directly via text.
Every weekday we do a different activity for the pups, whether this is trying out a product, treat, toy, or a cute seasonal dress up photo op!
We require pups to have up to date Rabies, Bordatella, and DHLPP (Distemper) vaccines.
Monday-Friday: 6:15am-7:30pm
Saturday-Sunday: 8am-6pm
We do not have specific drop off and pick up times within our operating hours. This and our pick up/drop off by appointment service (picking up outside of hours) allows you to have a flexible schedule for both you and your pup!
We don’t offer tours. The dogs tend to get riled up when an unfamiliar human enters the space. This results in you not getting an accurate snapshot of the behind the scenes.
To see a virtual tour, visit our Instagram page and view the story highlight titled “Virtual Tour”!
Or, visit the link at the top of this page!
Each night every pod gets cleaned, blankets are added to the floor and the cots provided, and water is refreshed. Creating a comfortable environment for pups to wind down for bed! Groups overnight are limited to 1-4 dogs per pod, these dogs will have also spent the day together, or even multiple days!
A pod is the space the groups stay in while inside. The groups are anywhere between 1-6 dogs per pod. Each pod has cots and water bowls to ensure comfort all day!
We don’t offer half day prices, however our open and flexible pick and up drop off hours allows you to make your own flexible schedule.
Every dog is unique, and every dog exhibits separation anxiety in different behaviors. We help ease these anxieties by providing a lot of human contact, familiar companion friends within their playgroup, and a comfortable environment.
We recommend letting your pup do a sniffing tour of the lobby 1-2 times prior to their stay. As well as meet and get treats from the staff. We also recommend 1-3 days of daycare prior to boarding. Consistency is huge for pups, so even when not traveling, it’s recommended to bring your pup for visits in between boarding.
We do not group them in with females that are intact.
When grouped with male pups, we may see excessive humping by either the intact male OR by males that are not. Males who are neutered can also react aggressively towards This is often seen due to either hormones or dominance.
We do have intact males that can be humpy with females that are NOT intact.
So these are all factors that we have to take into account when grouping, and if we find that the intact male isn’t able to play with others due to the fact they are excessively humping, we do have to separate them & have them be on their own during their time with us.