NEWPORT — When Jeff Lyon and Sam Keras decided it was time for a change, they didn’t anticipate that journey would take them to the NEK. The couple previously lived in South Burlington but longed for a quieter, country life. They found the perfect spot in Newport to turn their dream into reality: Stubbs Dog House.
“Neither one of us had been to this area before looking at the house,” Lyon said. “We fell in love with the Newport area when we came to look at the house. We liked the house, we liked the land, we liked to ski and do outdoor stuff.”
Keras, originally from Marshfield, Massachusetts, moved to Vermont to attend the University of Vermont and never left. Lyon grew up in Fairfax, Vermont.
Stubbs Dog House, named after their own dog Stubbs, offers a range of services including daycare, overnight boarding, and training. With Keras’s extensive background working in dog daycares and veterinary hospitals, the transition seemed natural.
“It was kind of just a pipe dream to move out to the country and have a kennel,” Keras said. “But then things started to make more sense.”
For those unfamiliar with the services, Lyon and Keras provided clear definitions.
“The daycare is where we take dogs during the day so they can socialize with each other and get out of the house,” Lyon explained. “It’s good if people work or if someone has work being done in the house. They get to play all day, make friends, and socialize.”
Daycare at Stubbs Dog House offers a safe environment for dogs to interact and burn off energy, which can be particularly beneficial for busy pet owners or those who want their pets to have companionship during the day. Boarding, on the other hand, caters to pet owners who are traveling or need overnight care for their dogs.
“Boarding is basically overnight,” Keras said. “We charge per night, so they’re in our four-by-six boarding suites for sleeping and meals. Everyone has their own private area.”
During the day, boarding dogs have the option to join the daycare activities.
“During the day, they’re out, so they can either be in the daycare—it’s included—or, if they’re not super social, we’ll get them out with one-on-one time,” Lyon added.
The facility provides a more intimate experience compared to traditional kennels. Housing nine cozy four-by-six kennels, the environment is designed to be comfortable and less intimidating for the dogs.
“It’s a little more intimate as opposed to a traditional kennel where everyone’s just in cages,” Lyon said. “We made it really nice and comfy in there, and it’s part of the house, so we’re here all the time.”
For dogs that may be shy or less social, Stubbs Dog House offers a free four-hour trial to ensure they are comfortable before committing.
“We like to make sure that everyone’s comfortable,” Keras noted. “If the boarding dogs are good with other dogs, they’re out here. But sometimes we’ll take them for walks or do training with them.”
Keras, a certified trainer, offers both group classes and individual training sessions.
“The group classes have been pretty popular,” she said. “We were kind of surprised because we didn’t expect training up here to be as popular as it has been.”
With winter approaching, the couple is prepared. An indoor play area in the barn ensures that dogs can enjoy activities regardless of the weather.
“We have the barn, so we can go indoors,” Lyon said. “If the dogs don’t mind the cold, we’ll be outside for a few hours and then go inside maybe, depending on the dogs.”
Stubbs Dog House also accommodates special needs, encouraging owners to bring their own food to maintain dietary consistency for their pets. Relying mostly on word of mouth, the couple has seen their business grow steadily. They also foster dogs from local shelters, demonstrating their commitment to the community.
Clients have expressed their appreciation for the personalized care their pets receive at Stubbs Dog House. One satisfied customer shared her experience:
“We absolutely love Stubbs for many reasons,” Maria Crossman said. “We have a 3-year-old Shiba Inu named Nova. The first reason we love them is that they are nearby—there aren’t a lot of options for boarding your dog on the west side of Newport. We also love that Sam and Jeff have treated Nova like their own! They send us pictures regularly and little anecdotes about the ‘dog friends’ she is making or the fun things she is doing.”
She added that the flexibility and additional services have been a significant advantage.
“They have been very flexible at taking Nova on short notice and have add-on services like baths and nail trimmings, which has been convenient,” she said. “Finally, whenever we pick Nova up, she is happy. It has made the travel we’ve had to do much easier as we know she is in good hands!”
For more information, visit stubbsdoghouse.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram.
