What is doggy daycare? ▽
Doggy daycare is a safe and controlled environment for friendly pups to play, exercise, and socialize with other dogs and people. We have a CPR and canine first aid certified staff trained in social dog behavior. Our staff members monitor the play yards to keep your pups safe while they play with their friends. We have 3 large play yards that have indoor and outdoor access and over 3000 square feet of room to run and play. We have large bay doors leading outside that we keep open depending on the weather. During the summer, we provide swimming pools for the pups to splash in and cool off. We also have toys and climbing equipment all year long to increase exercise, interaction, and stimulation.
My dog is aggressive with other dogs. Can he stay at Waggin’ Tails? ▽
Unfortunately, no. Our facility is an entirely social environment. Dogs that can not play or co-exist well with large groups of other dogs cannot stay at our facility. We require all of our dogs to be temperament tested and be both dog and people friendly to stay with us. We do not offer boarding for pups that cannot safely participate in Daycare.
My dog is afraid of strangers. Can he become a Tail Wagger? ▽
We take fear and fear aggression very seriously. We do our best to give fearful dogs time to adjust to the noises, smells, and interactions that come with a dog daycare experience. For dogs that struggle with human interaction, we will try to accommodate you by creating a schedule that will help your dog better adjust to us and the other dogs. However, not every dog can overcome their fears. Every dog is assessed on a case by case basis.
How do you separate the play yards? ▽
While our goal is to eventually be able to offer multiple play yards for different size pups, we currently cannot guarantee that we will have enough small breeds to run a small breed only play yard. At this time, all of our pups get to play together in the same yard until it is necessary to open up multiple play yards. We NEVER take any dogs that show aggression towards others of ANY size. If your pup is on the smaller side (25lbs and under), and they are comfortable playing with the bigger pups, they are welcome to come play any time!
I already know my dog is friendly and social. Do I still need to do an interview? ▽
Yes. We require all of our new pups to go through an interview for multiple reasons. Interview appointment slots allow us to make sure we spend enough one-on-one time with your pup to understand their behavior and their quirks. Introducing them slowly to the pack helps us keep all of our dogs as safe and healthy as possible. We also want to make sure we never overwhelm a pup in a new place where all of the other dogs are comfortable and ready to play. Just like kids in school, the new kid always gets picked on first. Social behavior also varies in different environments. Your dog may behave differently around you than they do with strangers and without you around. Daycare is very different from outdoor dog parks and small family gatherings, and daycare-to-daycare standards vary all over the country. For pups that are going to stay the night with us, the interview process is a way to familiarize them with the atmosphere and our staff to make their overnight stay easier. Dogs tend to have a rough first night in a new place, and having a positive experience here prior to their first stay makes it easier on them knowing they are safe.
What does the interview process look like? ▽
On your dog’s first day, we will introduce them slowly to the pack in order to assess their temperament and social skills. We primarily watch for aggressive behaviors and fear. Our primary goal is to make sure every dog enjoys their stay with us, so we want every dog to be comfortable and happy around dogs and humans. We ask that you hang around in our lobby and watch the interview from our webcams. Once we feel comfortable that your dog has the potential to enjoy themselves here, we will dismiss you and your pup will be able to stay with us for a half day or up until we close for the day. If we have any problems with your pup after you leave, we will notify you ASAP. If you are unable to attend the interview, please let us know PRIOR to your scheduled interview day and we will discuss options with you.
What should I expect when my dog comes home?▽
Hopefully a tired dog! Most of the time, the exciting and playful day takes a lot out of them and they crash as soon as they get home. However, every dog is different. Your dog may have sore pads and joints from playing on their paws all day. Some will play so hard they sleep for a day or two. Pups with very short hair, like bulldogs and boxers, tend to go home with redder skin and small scratches from playing. Even though they have access to water all day, they may also be too distracted to drink and may come home thirsty.
What happens if my dog does not pass his interview?▽
Daycare is not always the best fit for every dog. The stress of being away from home can bring out fear or aggression in your dog that you’ve never seen before. There is a chance that your dog will not pass his/her interview. If that happens and depending on the circumstance, we will be happy to re-interview your dog after 60 days with proof of professional social behavior training.
What happens if my dog is dismissed from daycare?▽
We are constantly evaluating all of the dogs in our facility for changes in temperament. Even if your dog passes their interview, their personalities and temperaments may change overtime and we may be forced to dismiss them from daycare for the safety of them, the other dogs, and our staff. If that happen and depending on the circumstance, we will be happy to re-interview your dog after 60 days with proof of professional social behavior training. In the extreme case where we dismiss a dog due to a significant injury to another dog or person, that dog will not be allowed back into the facility for any reason.
This is my first time boarding. What should I bring?▽
(1) Enough of their regular food brought in an air-tight container (please no non-resealable bags). (2) Any medications MUST be in their original/prescription bottle (including supplements). (3) Any bedding or blankets that will make your dog more comfortable. (4) Any updated vaccinations since their last stay. (5) Toys and treats are welcome, however, we do not allow rawhides or rope toys.
Do you provide meals for my dog?▽
We strongly recommend that your dog remains on their own regular diet while staying with us. Dogs that have an abrupt change in food quality or brand tend to have stomach discomfort and diarrhea. If you are unable to provide your dog’s food, we offer a feeding service fee ranging from $2-4 per meal. If you wish to utilize this service, we will provide Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetable Dog Food.
My dog takes medication. Can you administer them?▽
We can absolutely administer any oral or topical medications your dog needs during their stay with us. We cannot however administer any injection or rectal medications. Please note that any and all medications (including supplements) must come in the original prescribed or manufactured bottle with your dog’s name and dosage written clearly. There is no charge for us to administer any medications.
Do you walk the dogs? ▽
We do not offer dog walking at this time. We require every dog to participate in the play groups, giving them plenty of opportunity for exercise.
Does my daycare dog ever go in a kennel? ▽
A Lunch/Decompression break is available for all the Daycare pups and required for all Boarding pups. Naps are given in one of our luxury spacious kennels in the middle of the day for approximately 90 minutes. This allows for them to decompress and is a great opportunity to feed them lunch if you would like. We also give naps to pups that tend to have a difficult time relaxing while they are in the play yard and do better with a rest break.
Do dogs ever get injured?▽
When dogs play, they can get minor injuries naturally like scrapes, ear nicks, or missing fur patches. This is totally normal and usually happens with healthy play. It is rare, but unpredictable reactions can happen that lead to dog fights and more serious injuries. Our staff is trained on how to predict and prevent those situations and how to stop them quickly to reduce the chances of injury.
What happens if my dog needs medical attention?▽
Our staff is trained and prepared to handle injury and medical situations. If your dog needs emergency medical attention, we will rush him/her to the nearest veterinarian (or your vet if possible). We will be in immediate contact with you or your emergency contact if you cannot be reached. In non-emergency situations that may eventually require veterinarian care, we will first reach out to you to discuss the best course of action. Our staff is trained in Canine First Aid and to treat minor injuries and illnesses. If a veterinarian visit is not required, we will handle the illness/injury as we deem necessary. Please note that Waggin’ Tails is not financially responsible for any injuries or medical conditions that occur at our facility. Please always make sure your emergency contact is current and available if we can’t reach you.
How does the customer portal work?▽
Book online and make changes to your profile on your own time! You can request a reservation, purchase packages, pay deposits, upload vaccine records, and view our webcams directly from your portal on your computer or mobile device. Click Login at the top of your screen to direct you to your portal.
Do you require reservations?▽
All of our services are offered on a first come first serve basis. We do require reservations for overnight boarding as we have a limited number of kennels available. Kennel space goes much faster during the holidays, so we recommend reserving early. Walk-ins are welcome for daycare dogs Monday-Friday, however, during peak times, we may reach capacity. If it is around a holiday or if you haven’t been in for awhile, we recommend calling ahead to make sure we have room. We occasionally host large events such a photo shoots and discount daycare days. Those days will require reservations, however, we will send out emails to all of our current customers letting them know of those events ahead of time. Daycare reservations are ALWAYS required on Saturdays.
How do I make a reservation?▽
You must first create an account by filing out our “New Customer Registration” form. It will ask you to enter your contract information and a brief survey about your pup’s health and socialization history. Once that is complete, you can request a reservation directly from your customer portal from our website. Once we have received your request, we will confirm or deny the reservation as soon as possible.
What is your refund policy?▽
During major Holidays, we require a deposit for Overnight Boarding stays. You can view our refund/cancellation policy on our “Boarding Pricing” page. As stated in our contract, Waggin’ Tails has the right to choose to refund Daycare packages and completed services at their discretion due to extreme circumstances. If Waggin’ Tails chooses to refund a package, refunds will be given at a pro-rated rate based on the number of days already used at full price. Please ask Waggin’ Tails for more details.
How long can my dog board at Waggin’ Tails?▽
Typically, the longer the Boarding stay, the more care is required for that dog. On average, even the friendliest of dogs start to become irritable and anti-social at around the 2 week mark. They begin to miss their homes, family, and their daily routines and can sometimes no longer enjoy the daycare setting. We will board pups for up to 3 consecutive weeks, however, there must be an alternative location for your pup to stay if we can no longer allow them to participate in daycare. We do not allow dogs to be limited to their kennel space for long periods of time, and daycare is their only source of activity and potty breaks. Any dog that boards longer than 2 weeks must either be a regular boarding/daycare client with us, or having previous boarding experience elsewhere.