The Desperate Dogs Ranch in Braselton is designed to be like Six flags for dogs! Whilst you may require roller coasters and thrill rides to get your kicks, Fido is going to get his kicks big style doggy fashion with open pasture for running and romping, woodpiles for rooting out all kinds of chaseable things and trees for hide and seek. The land is securely fenced with a six foot high metal game fence that is also buried two feet under the ground to deter the most hardened digger. Although of course if your dog can jump a six foot fence, we would respectfully suggest that this is not the place for you!

The dogs are always supervised but are encouraged to go and explore and form friendships without too much human intervention as this is a valuable learning tool for them and can be helpful long after they leave us.

Many dogs that come to us have had no social skills whatsoever, are unsure how to play and do not have good 'greeting' techniques. Through vicarious and experiential learning, these dogs have a totally different way of dealing with other dogs within a few days and go home with some sparely new social skills. Owners have commented that after a stay with us, their dogs are more happy to make new friends and are less threatened by the presence of other dogs. Being able to greet another dog without being tethered to a human is quite a big deal for some dogs and can make all the difference. Dogs operate on a fight or flight response when faced with something challenging or fearful; giving them the ability to greet other dogs in their own fashion and in their own time takes away the need to fight and sets the dog up for success in greeting techniques. They learn in a very short time that not all new dogs are a problem and some just want to be friends.

Your dog will run off leash for at least two to three hours a day; some of that time may be spent swimming, weather permitting. We have installed a salt water pool just for the dogs, a great way to cool off on a boiling hot day, and we always accompany them into the pool for your dogs safety. Swimming is a great sport for dogs as it is very relaxing for their muscles but also totally builds their confidence just as it does for children when they learn to swim. We highly recommend swimming for dogs who are overweight as it puts so little strain on their joints whilst being good for their heart, also for dogs who are recuperating from surgery like ACL etc. Our pool is not yet heated but we hope it shall be soon so that we can swim in the freezing winter should our guests so desire. In between times, your dog can sunbathe in the quarter acre fenced top yard, or take some shade under the porch, mostly though, after a fun packed morning, they all want to nap after a drink and a snack! The snores mid afternoon can be deafening!