Inspiring Conversations with Randy Neece of Canyon View Ranch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy Neece.

Hi Randy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We bought a Tibetan terrier puppy in 1990 named Max. Joe began entering Max in dog shows. When Max won Best of Breed at the Westminster Dog Show in New York, Joe decided to become a dog trainer. In no time, his new career took off, and soon our little house in Laurel Canyon was packed with dogs staying with us for training while their owners went away on vacation. We realized there was a big demand for a quality place to board and train dogs.

We were walking around Disneyland one day and wondered why there wasn’t something like it for dogs. So, we decided to create a unique place where people could give their dogs a fun-filled vacation while they went on one of their own.

In 1998, we began our search for land and found five acres in Topanga Canyon that would become Canyon View Ranch. I was directing in televsion at the time and envisioned a place as if it were a set design. We cleared areas of the property, planted hundreds of trees, and created large dog parks, Munchkinland is for the little ones and Wonderland is for the larger dogs. Each yard is a fantasyland of pools, ponds, waterfalls, above ground tubes and underground tunnels to explore.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Before we created the idea for Canyon View Ranch, most kennels consisted of cement runs with chain link fencing with a bowl of water in the corner. The idea of having large outdoor parks for dogs to play together hadn’t been tried before, so we had no playbook to go by. We soon realized we needed a larger than usual staff to keep everything running smoothly and to supervise the dogs. As more and more dogs arrived, our staff continued to grow, and so did our expenses. It took several years to balance out cost versus income.

Zoning and permits also added to our challenges, but fortunately we had support from our county supervisor who believed in our vision and helped clear the way to make it all happen.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our goal is to give the dogs who are boarding and training with us lots of love and attention, and to make it as easy for our clients as possible. We have a shuttle service that will pick dogs up and drop them off at the client’s home, and it operates every day, except Sundays.

Our training programs are also customized to fit the needs of both the dog and his or her family. It’s also important to include everyone in the household in our lessons – and not just parents and children, but also administrative and domestic staff as well – anyone who will be interacting with the dog. Consistency from everyone in the household is the key to a well trained dog.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Dogs will always be a beloved member of the family, so the pet care industry will continue to grow along with the pet population. Data shows an increase in expendature of $57.8 billion in 2013 to $102.8 billion in 2021. Data from 2024 shows the market reached $147 billion.

We’ve seen a dramatic increase in boarding and training facilities since we began Canyon View Ranch 26 years ago, but very few in the Los Angeles area are allowed to operate outdoors. Most are in indoor retail spaces or converted warehouses. That’s one of the big advantages we have and what makes Canyon View Ranch so unique. We’re always coming up with new ideas to make our outdoor parks a fun-filled adventure for our dog guests.

Pricing:

• Boarding is $100 per night
• Discounts for extended stays or multiple dogs in the same family
• Training by the day is $50 plus boarding fees
• 4-Week Training program is $4200 and includes boarding and private lessons
• 4-Week training is guarenteed for the life of the dog

Contact Info:

• Website: https://canyonviewranch.com
• Instagram: canyonviewranch
• Facebook: Canyon View Ranch