About Carolyn’s K9 Retreat
At our premier dog daycare and boarding facility, your dog isn’t just a pet — they’re a part of our family!
Our Story
The CKR journey began with Bryson and Carolyn — a couple with a love for dogs and an itch for adventure. After spending a year exploring national parks and wandering the country in a travel trailer, they landed in Olympia and were captivated by its beauty and potential. Soon, a simple ad for Rover dog sitters sparked an idea and Carolyn’s K9 Retreat was born.
What started as a dream in a travel trailer has grown into the South Puget Sound’s premier dog daycare, boarding, grooming, and training destination. Today, we’re proud to be a growing, family-founded business with a passionate management team, a highly-trained staff, and a deep commitment to keeping tails wagging. Bryson still leads the charge as our General Manager, guiding our expanded team with the same heart and dedication that started it all.
Our Facility
Today, we are so much more than just a dog daycare — we’re a full-fledged retreat sprawling across 3 wooded acres, designed with your dog’s utmost safety and happiness in mind. The Retreat offers five exterior play areas spanning 5,700 square feet of clean astroturf for your pup to enjoy and explore.
Here at Carolyn’s, there are no cages or kennels — just open spaces, cozy rest areas, and separate play zones tailored for pups of all needs. With so many different dog areas, we’re able to properly separate dogs based on size, temperament, and compatibility. This provides a safe, stress-free environment for all of our furry friends, and ensures they can happily play (and rest!) to their heart’s content.
OUR TEAM
As our business has grown, our staff and services have too: from our dog daycare and boarding “Rufferees” to our expert dog trainers and dog groomers, all with the same local, family-business soul that got us here. Our expanded team means more hands to spoil your dog, better systems to keep everything running smoothly, and a management crew obsessed with making your experience exceptional. Every staff member at The Retreat is trained in safe dog handling and understands canine behavior inside and out, so your pup is always in caring, capable hands.
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Elle
LEAD DOG TRAINER
Elle has been working at The Retreat since early 2023, when she started out as a Rufferee and quickly developed a passion for working with dogs in a pack dynamic. Her interest in dog training developed as she mentored alongside a seasoned trainer at The Retreat, and then began her formal dog training education with the first course at the Canine Human Relationship Institute (CHRI). In the spring of 2025, Elle attended a week-long intensive at the CHRI in Texas, and received her certificate of graduation and accomplishment in canine studies for training and behavior modification. Her dog training philosophy focuses on relationship-based behavior modification, dog psychology, pack dynamics and more. Now, Elle continues to grow in her applied dog behavior knowledge with the dogs here at The Retreat and is always hungry to continue learning!
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Tor
ASSISTANT MANAGER
Tor has been obsessed with dogs since as long as they can remember, and took their first job at a doggie daycare in New Orleans back in 2013. They arrived in Olympia in 2018 to attend Evergreen State College, and after graduating with a dual BS/BA degree focused in the philosophy of physics, went looking for a doggie daycare job to make ends meet while figuring out their next steps. Before they knew it, Tor fell in love with the scenic woodland setting, kennel-free philosophy, and pack mentality of Carolyn’s K9 Retreat, and joined the management and development team working to build the best dog retreat possible. In their free time, Tor is a writer of fiction, screenplays, and essays, and is working towards producing their first film.
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Kira
SHIFT LEAD & GROOMER-IN-TRAINING
Kira began working at The Retreat in the summer of 2024 after moving to Olympia from Denver. She originally was hired on as a Rufferee, but quickly developed into a Shift Lead and Groomer-in-Training. Kira gets a lot of fulfillment out of being a “jack of all trades” and is always ready to get her hands on any project — dog or otherwise! At The Retreat, she gained a passion for dog grooming and is working towards becoming an ABC certified groomer. Kira also helps in the Study Hall space, and has grown into a well rounded team member! When Kira isn’t working with the pack, she spends her time reading, pursuing creative endeavors, and exploring the Olympic peninsula with her two beloved huskies, Benji and Hydra.
We can’t wait to meet you!
At Carolyn’s K9 Retreat, we know your dog is more than a pet — they’re your best friend, your confidant, and part of your family. That’s why we pour everything into giving them a safe, joyful place to play, learn, and relax. Swing by and see for yourself — our friendly team can’t wait to welcome you and your furry family member to the retreat dogs dream about!