Leaving dogs at home alone can be a bad idea because more often than not, they'll flat out refuse to cook for themselves. Provide for your petulant pet with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of dog boarding at Animal Ranch Resort.

Steve and Jana Larson, owners of Animal Ranch Resort, pamper pooches on their 20-acre fenced-in property complete with ample romping grounds, cushy sleeping quarters, and a puppy pool. Four-legged boarders will feel at home in their separate climate- and humidity-controlled rooms equipped with chew-proof orthopedic Kuranda beds and a communal television to supply a comforting human voice and a way for dogs to keep up with their daily soap operas. The classic suite, the Ranch's most popular canine quarters, spreads 5'x6' ($17/day), though more economical and more luxe options are available, such as the 3'x6' standard kennel ($14/day) and the 7'x6' five-star suite ($22/day).

Pups can also bunk with a friend ($8 extra) and are welcome to bring their own toys, bedding, or Lassie pin-ups from home. During activity time, dogs divide into groups of up to six, matched by energy level and friendliness, and stroll around the grassy grounds playing fetch, tug of war, and kickball, of they can don their bathing cap and take a dip in the puppy pool. Animal Ranch Resort encourages owners to bring their tail wagger's favorite food, since a sudden change of diet compounded with a change in location can be doubly distressful. Experienced dog handlers can administer necessary pet meds at no extra cost, complete with the requisite spoonful of sugar.