Doggie Daycare FAQs
First Day FAQs
Prior to requesting your first doggy daycare or dog boarding reservation you will be required to schedule an Off-Leash Play Assessment for your dog to determine if our center is a good fit for you and your pet. The assessment takes 3-4 hours and costs $25.00/dog.
No, appointments/bookings are not necessary. Just bring your furry friend to us when you need to.
On your pet’s first day we will need to see a copy of their most recent vaccination records. For future visits this information will be stored in our computer system. We supply everything needed for a fun day of play. Dogs must enter the facility with a collar and leash. We appreciate a “quick collar” as pups are placed into daycare “naked” for safety reasons. Of course you may use any collar to bring your pet to daycare.
Please call us if you are going to be late. Late fees will be charged upon pick up. This fee is $1.00/per minute. If we do not receive a phone call, we will assume that your dog is going to spend the night with us. They will be set up with a comfy bed, fed a great meal of our special food, and you will be charged for boarding.
For most dogs lunch is not necessary however, for some dogs with special dietary needs or younger puppies, you may want to bring lunch in a Ziploc bag. Please clearly mark your dog’s name on it. There is an additional charge of $2.00 per feeding.
The earlier the better, that way your dog will be one of the first dogs in daycare and can meet each incoming dog one at a time. It will be less intimidating than coming into a group that has already been playing together for most of the day.
We encourage you to visit and tour the facility before enrolling. Our facility is available to tour Monday to Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Sunday and Stat Holidays 10:00am – 2:00 pm.
Health & Wellness FAQs
** Please note that the vaccines should be given 7-10 days prior to your visit, to be effective**
If your dog has had unexplained vomiting, diarrhea, green discharge from eyes or nose, coughing, lethargy, etc, please do not bring him/her to daycare. Consult with your veterinarian.
No, preventative flea/tick/lice medications are not required. However, we do recommend looking into them for yourself and discussing with your veterinarian if they are right for your pet. There are pros and cons to all medications, particularly with insecticides. If you do choose to use a topical treatment, we only recommend Advantage Multi or Revolution which can be purchased at your vet.
**Please note: Topical treatments are also available at most pet stores at lower prices. Pay attention to the chemicals used in these products and do your research first before using these. They have been shown to have far more side effects than their more expensive counterparts. STAY AWAY from products that contain Permethrin, resmethrin, and propoxur, to name a few.**
Whenever you expose your dog to other dogs in a public environment like a doggie daycare, vet offices, or dog parks, there are risks involved. Of course, there are benefits also! Your dog learns how to socialize, play and interact in the pack. Friends are made and games are played. stimulated and exercised, and learn new things instead of sitting home alone. The staff at It’s A Dog’s Life are trained to recognize potential risks, however some are simply unavoidable. Unfortunately dogs are very much like small children – they pass viruses and parasites between each other. Some risks include Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Canine Lice, and Papilloma (Dog Warts). If we notice a dog in our facility with symptoms of the following illnesses we will remove them from the daycare area and contact their owners immediately.
General FAQs
Typically, dogs burn off their initial energy and have a rest before going for round two. Some dogs run, play tug with toys, chase balls, and wrestle with their friends. Other dogs just enjoy watching all the action and playing in smaller groups. Typically dogs burn off their initial energy and have a rest before going for round two. They nap whenever they need to on our comfy Kuranda beds.
Our team is amazing and provides constant supervision. They watch for body language and behavior cues, often resolving a situation before it escalates into anything more than posturing. The most common injuries that owners find are scratches and the odd small cut. Dogs play with their teeth and paws, so the occasional scratch is par for the course. We know our clients well here at It’s A Dog’s Life. We are aware of who doesn’t like who. Yes… just like people, some dogs just don’t care for each other! We separate dogs by size and temperament and have several different areas to place a dog, depending on who else is there that day. Dogs that are new to the facility are introduced slowly, and are watched carefully. They all eventually (some quicker than others!) find their niche of pals and doggie things to do.
No. We do not allow food of any kind in the daycare. Some dogs are food aggressive, so this would not be safe.
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