Tips for Boarding
We welcome you to come and visit our facility! We also have pictures on our website of our kennels. Regardless of how nice a pet care facility environment may be, dealing with this type of environment can still be a stressful experience for many dogs. Listed below are some ways to help minimize that stress.
If your dog has never been boarded before, you might want to consider one of the following options prior to leaving on your vacation:
- Bring your dog to our facility for a couple of short stays (1 hour each)
- Bring your dog in for a day of daycare (They must meet the requirements for this program)
- Have your dog come in for an overnight stay. This allows the dog to become familiar with our environment and staff. You dog will also see that you come back to get them!
These options allow your dog to become familiar with our environment and staff. Your dog will also learn that you come back!
Make sure all of your dog’s vaccines are current and you have a printed record of them to bring to us when you drop off your dog. Please make sure your dog has had the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine. You must request this vaccine from your Veterinarian. If your dog is getting this vaccine
for the very first time, it needs to be administered a minimum of 7-10 days prior to their stay.
Please remember that the Bordetella vaccine is similar to the Flu vaccine. Kennel Cough can still be contracted, even if your dog has had the vaccine.
You dog should be on a flea / tick preventive system (i.e. Frontline). (No flea collars are permitted.)
We encourage you to bring your dog’s regular food when he/she stays with us. Remember changing your dog’s routine causes stress and changing their food can add further stress to their digestive system. Please provide us with your dog’s regular food and only bring ONLY as much as your dog will eat during their stay.
You are welcome to bring bedding, toys and special treats for your dog to help them feel more comfortable. If this is the first time your dog is boarding, you may even want to bring an item of clothing that has your scent to make your dog feel more relaxed. Please be aware that anything you bring may get soiled (dogs sometimes need a couple of days to adjust to their new routine) or on occasion a dog may also play with and destroy any items in their kennel.
Please be upfront and honest about your dog's habits and quirks. This will help us have a better understanding about dogs we do not know so we can provide better care.
When checking in, try to remain as nonchalant and as calm as possible. Don't be overly affectionate or do anything that might cause your dog to attach too much significance to this situation. The objective is to minimize, rather than exaggerate. Keep it low key - no long goodbyes, no tears and no overly emotional displays. On the first stay, we like to let the dog see you leave so he/she knows that you have left the building.
You are welcome to call and check on your dog during their stay. If it’s their first stay, you will receive a report card that will give you the details of their visit.
It's helpful to make sure your pet knows basic commands and is well socialized around strangers. Our boarding environment requires us to handle and have contact with the dogs (they DO NOT remain in one isolated spot during their stay). A dog that is aggressive towards us will not be able to stay at our facility.
