Be a Dog
Dogs are some of the best teachers in life. They remind us to be present, love unconditionally, and find joy in the simple things. We honor their wisdom by letting their spirit guide how we care.
About Deer Creek Canine
Bel Air, MD · Family-owned · 23 acres
Built by dog people, for dog people.
Deer Creek Canine Academy is led by Matt and Tracey, a family of dedicated pet parents who built the resort to fill a real gap in Harford County. With five dogs of their own and a lifetime around training, they created a place dogs could call their home away from home.
Our Story
Five dogs. One family. A pet resort built around them.
Matt was raised in a world of dogs. His father was a professional trainer of German Shorthaired Pointers for field trial competition, and that early foundation led him to pursue dog training himself. Matt and Tracey share their home with five dogs: Sammie, Jackson, and Bella (German Shepherds), Yvi (chocolate Lab), and Fozzie (Belgian Malinois). When they looked at the options for high-quality boarding and training in Harford County, they decided to build the kind of place they would want for their own dogs.
Tucked away on 23 scenic acres in the countryside, the resort is just minutes from Bel Air center and easily accessible from Fallston, Forest Hill, Abingdon, Churchville, and surrounding areas.
Five values guide the work.
Posted in our facility. Lived in our team. The five sentences our staff knows by heart.
Second Mile
We believe in doing more than what is expected. Going the second mile means showing up with heart, effort, and the willingness to go above and beyond, because pets and their families deserve nothing less.
Silver Lining
Every challenge holds an opportunity. Even when things do not go as planned, we look for the good, find the lesson, and focus on positive outcomes.
Grow Daily
Learning never stops. Through internal training, continuing education, and industry seminars, our team is always expanding our skills, because better care starts with better knowledge.
Pound the Stone
Excellence is not built overnight. It is the result of consistent effort, daily discipline, and showing up with care and commitment, day after day.
The Facility
23 acres. 1-acre yard. 3,200 sq ft indoor zone.
Numbers worth knowing. A real resort, not a strip-mall kennel. Climate-controlled accommodations, UV air purification, 24-hour security monitoring.
- 23-acre property in Bel Air, MD
- 1-acre outdoor play yard with summer splash pools
- 3200 sq ft indoor climate-controlled play zone
- Custom-built deluxe accommodations with raised cots and natural light
- UV air purification and 24-hour security monitoring
- Daily wellness checks, photo updates, vet-recommended cleaning products
What Harford County dog owners say.
4.9 / 5 from 954 Google reviews. Verbatim quotes from real owners after the rebrand.
Tyler, Mat, and Vanessa were wonderful to work with for both my dog and I. They helped to correct some bad habits I had established with my dog and built confidence for us too.
Thanks to Vanessa, Tyler, and Matt for training my dog Violet. They are very patient with the owners and their pets. As a senior citizen they made the training very easy for me to understand. Thank you so much!
The trainers were very knowledgeable and helped our very large dog be able to walk easily on a leash and taught us a lot about how to manage such a large dog. We look forward to the follow up sessions!
Come see the place.
Tours run by appointment. Call (410) 420-2273 or send a note via the contact page.