Creature Comforts. Timely Training. Passionate Proprietors.
For Alden and Janet Domrase, creating a safe, happy environment for dogs and cats is their life calling. As the owners and hands-on managers of Alden’s Kennels, it’s their passion for pets that makes Alden’s the place to turn to for all of your dog training and dog or cat boarding needs.
Experience Matters
And that’s exactly what Alden and Janet bring to every pet interaction – experience. Nearly 35 years in the pet industry to be exact.
In fact, for Alden, it’s even more than that. Having grown up on a 160-acre farm in northeast Michigan, he’s been involved in animal care, training and husbandry nearly his entire life. He left the farm to serve in the Army’s 173 Airborne during Vietnam. When he returned, he gained valuable experience working for both Ford Motor Company and Plote Construction before he and Janet turned their focus to animal care and breeding.
Despite growing up in the city, Janet is right at home in the care and nurture of animals today. She explains, “Alden and I were pen pals during his time in Vietnam. We only knew each other six weeks when we got married. Here we are 49 years later. I was from the city and couldn’t have any animals. He gave me every animal I could ever ask for.
Award-winning dog breeding and training programs
They began Alden’s Kennels in 1985 and while building their business they also became world-class breeders of champion Pomeranians. They finished 45 unique part-colored dogs, establishing themselves as one of the top competitors and promoters of Pomeranians globally. Alden will proudly tell you, “Nobody else in the world had that many pedigreed exotic-colored Pomeranians in the 1990s. We developed our own line.”
After retiring from champion breeding in 2009, they turned their focus to training, seeing an opportunity to help rescue dogs adapt to their new families. According to Janet, “We wanted to help with the training side so rescue dogs wouldn’t have to go from home to home.”
The Best Service Comes with Experience
Today Alden’s Kennels offers a wide range of training and services while proudly maintaining our status as one award winning kennel in McHenry County. By staying competitive we’re able to offer the best service possible to you and your furry family members.
We have room for seven cats in our cattery – which offers three levels of cat condo’s, play spaces, lots of climbing opportunities and a 20-inch HD television to keep your cat entertained. Boarding your dog with us? We have 32 climate-controlled kennel bays, each with its own attached outdoor veranda, 50” HD television tuned to the cartoon network to keep your dog entertained.
Beyond the cattery and kennel spaces, Alden’s 12-acre campus offers:
6,000 square foot training hall
State-of-the-art alarm system
Staff are certified CPR Trained.
Security gates, cameras and monitors throughout the facility
Comprehensive disaster plan to ensure your pet’s safety
Monitored Certified Fire Alarm System
All this and the added bonus that Alden and Janet live on the property – so your beloved pets are never truly alone during their stay at Alden’s Kennels.
We offer custom boarding packages and broad-spectrum training – in both class format and as part of a boarding package.
Every member of Alden’s Kennels' team is focused on providing your pets with the best care possible. We look forward to partnering with you.