Cottonwood Ranch And Kennel

Five-star business all the way--we wouldn't and haven't taken our dogs anywhere else for 25+ years. It's such a comforting feeling to know your beloved animals are in a safe, compassionate and very fun, clean and beautiful environment when you need to travel. Or, how about "starting out" a new puppy with early socialization and lasting training methods? That was our most recent experience with Ted -- a high-octane Aussie pup came our way rather unexpectedly and she has benefitted in an extraordinary way from Ted's positive-reinforcement training protocols and, primarily, his gentle, consistent "Dog Whisperer" energy. And this wasn't our first puppy to get its start at Cottonwood and then go on to thrive. As people from all walks of life and locales near and far (Cottonwood is indeed a global business, given the nature of its clientele) can attest, you can't do better than Ted's place for your fur babies. I'd give 100 stars if I could.

Five stars for Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel. We have been sending our dog to Ted and Vanessa for more than 10 years (a few times a year, sometimes a month or longer at a time). We used to drive 2.5 hours from Telluride just to take our dog to Ted, knowing she would be receiving the best care and she would be truly happy running around the ranch with Ted while we traveled. The ranch is a beautiful property in Crawford and truly dog heaven (we couldn't fathom having our dog boarded in a crate inside somewhere). Ted conveniently picks up in Basalt (and our dog is always so excited to see him and jump in the van!) and he is always on time and responsive (and flexible if our travel dates change). Highly highly recommend!

This place is absolutely incredible, and I can’t say enough good things about Ted and the care he provides. From the moment we met him, it was clear that he truly loves what he does and genuinely cares about every dog in his care. Our dog came back happy, confident, and so well trained—it honestly exceeded our expectations. One of our biggest struggles before working with Ted was leash walking. Walks used to be stressful, but now our dog walks beautifully on a leash and is so much more responsive and calm. The improvement was noticeable right away and has made such a positive difference in our daily life. The property itself is beautiful, with an amazing view and a peaceful environment that’s perfect for dogs. It’s clean, well-maintained, and clearly designed with the dogs’ comfort and enrichment in mind. You can tell they’re not just kenneled—they’re engaged, exercised, and cared for. I’ve also met Ted in Basalt while he was delivering dogs, and that experience really reinforced how passionate he is. He was genuinely happy, proud of the dogs, and excited to share how they’d been doing. That level of dedication and joy in his work really sets him apart. If you’re looking for someone you can fully trust with your dog—whether for training, boarding, or both—I highly recommend Cottonwood Kennels. Ted goes above and beyond, and the results truly speak for themselves.

Ted and Vanessa run the best kennel I've used on the western slope. Our pointer, age 9, trained with Ted as a pup. Ted not only created a well behaved highly active dog, but also took the time and effort to help our small kids learn how to best interact with the puppy. When our dog aged and became a little impatient with young pups, he helped train away some "grumpy old lady" behavior as well. Ted and Vanessa are like family, and our dog boards with them whenever we can't bring her along on our travels. She dog jumps into the van happy to go to play time at the ranch, and returns well fed, well exercised, and tired from all of her ranch adventures. I highly recommend Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel for training and/or boarding!