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How is my dog's day structured?
Your dog should have an
opportunity to get out of his or her kennel, crate or space
to at least stretch his legs. At Great Dog, our
overnight guests are integrated into our daycare pack where
they get to play, romp, and just be a dog. Traditional
kennels generally don't have that option but they sometimes
have nice big open outdoor spaces a dog can linger for a
while. They might offer a dog walk or a play group
upon request. Newer facilities, especially those with
daycare, will offer social dogs the opportunity to kick back
with canine friends during the day. This is often not
automatically part of the program, so make sure you ask.
What enrichment opportunities
do facilities provide?
The music of howling dogs is
probably not what you are envisioning for your best friend
while you are gone. Find out what kind of enrichment
activities are included in your service package. If
additional opportunities are available, consider them.
Group play, dog walks (but find out length), cognitive skill
games, educational opportunities will take your dog's mind
away from the fact you are away. Not all facilities
provide a wide range of these services but some even offer a
pool! At Great Dog, the sky is the limit as far as
what we offer. Included in your overnight care package
is daycare and daily enrichment games such as paw painting,
figuring out mazes and stuffed, frozen Kong pupicles.
Our dogs that are with us for four or more days enjoy a ten
minute neighborhood walk (at this time, only offered Monday
- Friday, Saturdays and Sundays have an additional charge).
One of our Overnight Dog Enthusiasts even plays his flute
for the pups and another brings in her Enya CD to provide
ambiance during meal times. One of our managers likes
to snap photos..giving our pups a chance to ham it up.
We encourage our staff to really consider what makes your
dog's stay truly out of this world. If we could make
bones rain from the sky, we would for our doggie guests.
Do you use kennels and/or
crates? If so, how long is my dog expected to stay in
confinement?
In traditional kennels, dogs are
kept in kennel runs, crates or 4x4 cages. They spend
the majority of their time locked away, biding their time.
In the newer fangled alternatives, dogs are often kept in
these same circumstances. Some crate or kennel run
time is a good thing. You can't possibly expect all
the dogs to eat together. That would be mayhem.
After eating, dogs should have a rest time and periodic naps
are a good thing. In free range boarding environments,
dogs often play to the point of sheer madness and in those
cases, some good old fashioned naps are the best choice.
However, double check with your overnight care facilities
and find out what is the general norm included in the
services you have scheduled. And a word to the
wise, don't let cute names fool you, suites, lofts, cabins,
dorm rooms, etc are just marketing names for crates and
runs. Sometimes they can be a bit larger. At
Great Dog, our dogs are part of our daycare play time and
enjoy all the same party moments are our daycare groups.
Our overnight guests spend two hours in the morning and
evening resting post meal. We have a trained staff
member that oversees meal times, monitors amount fed, how
much a dog rests and provides support for those dogs that
are a bit overwhelmed. Our dogs are never left
alone.
Is
someone actually with the dogs 24 hours a day or are they
just "on site."
This is a tricky one. In
many kennels, the business owner lives on the property or
has an apartment for a staff member. In these
situations, once the lights go out, save for a major
emergency, there isn't much contact with the dogs. In some
facilities, there are fire alarms that are expected to alert
a manager during off hours, but again, there is no actual
hands-on check in with the dogs. In alternative
overnight care environments, the range can be extreme from
live in (separate room from the dogs) to a staff member
physically mingling and overseeing the dogs to no one being
around at all. The most important question is to ask
what the care facility means by "on site" management?
Where is that staff person and how are they
monitoring/caring for the dogs, especially during evening
hours? At Great Dog when the lights go out, our staff
are still awake and around the pups. They might
snuggle down on the sofa and stroke ears but one eye is
always on the pups. This is an important aspect that
we feel is prudent to the well being of your furry best
friend. We are right there if a dog has a seizure or
if there is an earthquake. We are right there if a dog
is concerned about the wind outside and can act in the case
of a major disaster.
What
kind of training does your staff receive?
At Great Dog, we feel that
education is key to a successful dog enrichment program.
Our staff spend several hours of workshop training with
Certified Pet Dog Trainer where they study dog communication
skills and behavioral elements. From there, our staff
are required to become certified in pet first aid through
the Red Cross and continue their education by assisting in
our classes, watching training videos and attending seminars
and workshops offered by nationally recognized
professionals. The staff also have 24 hour a day
access to a co-owner of Great Dog and emergency vet care.
Nothing can be more disturbing than hearing your dog is
being cared for someone who has just been taught to clean
the kennels, scoop poop and plop down a food bowl.
Are there injuries?
As with any dog to dog play a pup
can go home with a scratch or owies. Just like kids
playing on a playground or at school! Think about
those days of dodge ball, jump rope and wrestling.
With dogs, an ear can be pinched a bit too hard during an
"all in good fun" rumble, a toenail can scratch a face or a
side "tagged" in a bit of zealous chase. At Great Dog,
we have trained staff to administer first aid as well as
several on call veterinarians that can handle those itty
emergencies. If something serious arises, we are well
equipped to handle those kinds of emergencies...because we
are right there with your dog.
What should I bring?
This varies depending on the
environment. If a facility doesn't want your dog to
have his or her bed, a bone and/or a toy...it may mean
nobody is watching your pup. Find out what the
facilities reasoning is behind it. If they are
concerned that your dog's beautiful bed may get ruined or a
bone can cause a riot, those are very valid reasons.
But if "choking" or "inhaling bedding" is a concern, then be
aware that the effort to watch your dog is probably lacking
or the staff haven't been trained in Pet First Aid.
Why the Kennel Cough Vaccine?
What is Bordatella?
Bordatella, or otherwise known as
Kennel Cough, is a vaccine that we liken to the flu shot for
upper respiratory bugs. While it won't ward off all
strains, it will get the bigger, badder and meaner of the
bunch. Kennel Cough is very contagious and is easily
transmitted through the air. Most facilities require a
Bordatella vaccine within six months and a minimum of 14
days prior. The manufacturer of the vaccine will
indicate that it is good for a year, but according to some
of our veterinary professionals, the documentation isn't
very good on that timeline. Better to be safe, than
sorry. Very few things disturb an owner than getting
back a coughing dog and that is why so many places have
strict requirements. If your dog comes home and starts
to cough, chances are they picked up something...much like
that sniffle you picked up on the airplane. Too much
fun, the stress of a new place and the exposure to a crowd
can all lead to an annoying cough. Let your boarding
facility know so that they can watch the other dogs in their
pack for signs of illness. If your dog continues to
cough or it gets worse, especially at night, it is worth
getting your pup over to the doc to get some antibiotics.
Then, lots of R & R is in order.
I'm jumping through hoops
getting my dog a reservation...
In traditional kennels, dogs don't
get the opportunity to interact with one another. So
other than some inoculations, your dog can be easily
accommodated in their runs or kennels. With the boom
of dog daycare and the advantages of dog socialization, more
facilities are offering group play. A good facility
requires an evaluation to insure that your dog (and others)
play the games fair, aren't aggressive and can be handled
safely in a free range environment. It may seem like a
lot of work to you, and it is, but the experience is well
worth it for your dog.
What About Pet Sitters and
Small "In Home" Care Facilities?
Pet Sitters should always come
licensed and bonded. You should also find out how long
the dog(s) will be left at home. Often Pet Sitters as
a side gig to another full time job. Make sure your
dog will be fine being left alone and make it clear to the
Pet Sitter what your rules are as far as the care of the
house, guests and how long your dog will be left.
While we are sure there are a lot of great "in home care
facilities" you should be aware that these are often not
regulated by Health officials. And, like pet sitters,
we have heard of some places where no one is home during the
day for your dog. Make sure you ask a lot of questions
about the care your dog will receive, their background and
don't assume that because they have a business card that
they are legitimately operating as a business.
I can't make my check out time
but I want my dog as soon as I get home!
Our check out times are set up to
maximize the number of dogs that we can have play with us
during the day. Once 7pm rolls around, our daytime
staff head home and our evening dog enthusiast staff start
serving dinner. Because of our dedication to keeping
an eye on the dogs, our night time staff are not able to
check out customers in the traditional sense. If you
need to check out your dog
This FAQ is a work in progress and
very much a product of our own opinions as pet industry
professionals. It is provided to help spark some
thought provoking ideas before making that reservation at a
facility of your choice.
$43 per night includes your dog's
daycare. Peak times are an added $5. See our
Rates, Rules and
Reservations page for more information.
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