Dog Daycare & Boarding Requirements
Waggin’ Tails requires all pups to meet certain health and socialization requirements to participate in Overnight Dog Boarding or Daycare.
Please read below for our Northglenn Dog Daycare and Boarding Requirements.
Vaccination and Health Requirements
We require the following vaccinations for dog daycare and boarding:
- Rabies
- Distemper/Parvovirus
- Bordetella (6 month boosters required)*
In addition, we recommend but do not require:
- Leptospirosis
- Canine Influenza
Owners must provide proof of vaccinations from a veterinarian. Upload records directly to your client portal or provide hard copies at check-in. The submitted documents must have either a given or expiration date for each vaccine. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to reach your veterinarian at check-in, so please arrive prepared.
We do not allow dogs with expired vaccinations in the facility.
*We can offer Bordetella boosters on-site for an additional $20, ONLY if they have received their last booster within the last 9 months. If their last booster was over 9 months ago, they must have a booster at least 3 days prior to their next stay.
Puppies/Dogs still receiving Distemper boosters need to wait until all vaccinations are complete before bringing them to daycare and/or boarding. Without ALL of their vaccinations, vulnerabilities still exist and they should not be exposed to other dogs until all of their boosters are complete.
If your dog has any underlying conditions that prohibits him/her from having any of these vaccines, a signed letter from your veterinarian must be provided for your dog to enter the facility. Waggin’ Tails Dog Resort holds the right to turn away any dog that cannot receive these vaccinations at their discretion. This exception does not exist for the Rabies vaccine under any circumstances as required by Colorado law.
Dogs with injuries/stitches, medical conditions that are aggravated by stress and exercise, or that require medications for survival will not be allowed to stay at Waggin’ Tails. Your dog must be healthy in order to participate in daycare or overnight boarding. Please notify us of any medical conditions that could affect how your dog plays or interacts in a social setting. We value your pup’s safety and don’t want to put any dogs at risk of injury or death due to an existing condition.
Medications – We are happy to administer oral and topical medications and supplements for your pup at no additional cost. However, we are unable to administer any injection or rectal medications. We cannot accept dogs that require medications for survival. If your dog a life or death medication, the safest place for them to stay is with a veterinary medical professional.
About Kennel Cough and Bordetella
Dog Daycare and Boarding Requirements for Kennel Cough and Bordetella vaccinations
Many refer to Kennel Cough as Infectious Tracheobronchitis, Bordetella, or Bordetellosis. Vets administer The Bordetella vaccine to reduce the chance of a dog catching and spreading Kennel Cough.
Our Requirements
We require the bordetella vaccine to be administered every 6 months to participate in daycare or boarding. Some veterinarians only recommend yearly boosters, however, this is based on limited social interaction.
Please understand that even if vaccinated, your dog can still catch and spread Kennel Cough. It is impossible for the vaccine to address every strain of the virus, which is why we require a 6 month booster to optimize its effect. If caught, the vaccine helps reduce the severity and length of symptoms.
Please check the given dates on your pup’s vaccination records. If your dog has never received the Bordetella vaccine, or it was last given more than 9 months ago, we require them to receive the Bordetella vaccine at least 3 days prior to their boarding or daycare stay. This allows the vaccine time to absorb into their system.
Administration
Vets typically administer the Bordetella vaccine nasally, orally, or subcutaneously. While studies vary on the effectiveness of each format, all are proven effective and safe for dogs 8 weeks and older.
Symptoms and Treatment
Kennel cough symptoms vary based on each dog’s immune system. The primary symptom of Kennel Cough presents as a persistent nonproductive cough that produces a honking or gagging sound. It usually appears 5-10 days after exposure and tends to last 10-20 days after. The cough usually worsens during or after vigorous exercise. Some dogs may also experience other symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and/or eye discharge. In mild cases, dogs with kennel cough remain alert and active. In more severe cases, symptoms may progress toward pneumonia and include lethargy, fever, and a loss of appetite.
If your dog suffers from these symptoms or you think your dog has kennel cough, consult with a veterinarian. It could progress to pneumonia or other complications depending on their immune system. Veterinarians can treat and soothe the symptoms with cough suppressants, similar to the human cough.
It is important to understand that there is no cure for Kennel Cough. With both a viral and bacterial component, antibiotics do not always provide faster relief. Always consult a veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog’s health.
Kennel Cough is Highly Contagious
Please keep your dog at home if you believe they are suffering from Kennel Cough symptoms. That includes visiting daycares, dog parks, and walks. Additionally, do not allow them to drink from communal water bowls in public places. If we believe your dog has these symptoms, we will require you to pick them up and that a veterinarian examine them before returning.
If a vet diagnoses your dog with Kennel Cough, we require them to stay home at least 10 days after the start of their prescribed medications AND until their symptoms have completely disappeared.
Learn more about Kennel Cough symptoms and prevention by visiting the following resources by PetMD and Whole Dog Journal.
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/does-your-dog-need-kennel-cough-vaccine
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/kennel-cough-treatment-and-prevention/
Age Requirement for Daycare
We recommend that all puppies be at least 4 months of age, as this is when all vaccination boosters have been administered. Puppies that have completed ALL of their vaccination boosters are welcome.
While we love puppies, without all of their boosters, they are more susceptible to common contagious viruses and diseases such as kennel cough, distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, Giardia, hook worms, ring worm, etc. Their immune systems aren’t strong enough to fight off these viruses and can lead to very unpleasant symptoms, or worse. We want to make sure that all our dogs stay healthy at all times by maintaining this requirement.
Spay/Neuter Requirements for Daycare
Dogs over the age of 6 months should be spayed/neutered prior to pack socialization. In some cases, we will allow unaltered dogs that begin coming to daycare early (prior to the age of 6 months), to remain unaltered up until the age of 9 months, as long as they are not demonstrating any signs of hormone shedding behaviors, especially excessive mounting or aggression.
Unaltered females approaching or past their first heat cycle will not allows at Waggin’ Tails until after they have been spayed and healed.
We understand that some studies show that waiting to alter a dog until they are older is beneficial to their growth and development. While we understand that standard, there are many risks involved in social settings and interactions. This requirement is to prevent unwanted breeding as well as reduce any aggressive behavior that could result from excessive hormones. While the unaltered dog may be friendly, altered dogs in a pack environment behave differently when an unaltered dog is brought into the group, putting their physical and mental health at risk.
Temperament Requirements for Daycare
We require a temperament test for every dog in order for them to stay at our facility. This is a FREE* day of daycare for you in order for us to determine if a daycare environment is beneficial for your dog. We assess their behavior towards other dogs and humans, specifically looking for aggression or fear that could lead to the injury of any dog in the facility.
The first day for most pups is usually overwhelming and a little scary and every dog adjusts at their own pace. Our biggest goal is to make sure every pet grows to love daycare and remains safe in our care. We do our best to be honest with all of our clients about their dog’s experiences and whether or not daycare is a good fit for them.
While we do a thorough assessment on your dog’s first day, we are constantly monitoring the behavior of every dog. If at any time we feel that a dog’s behavior in a social play group has changed and could put them or another dog at risk, we will dismiss the dog permanently or require behavior training before they can return.
Quick Release Collar and Identification
For safety reasons, we require all dogs to have a collar with a quick release clasp, optimizing our chances of removing it quickly in case of an emergency. Belt buckle, pinch, martingale, and training collars must be removed. You can purchase a quick release collar from any major retailer. Click here for an example of a quick release collar, or here for a collar with a quick release/martingale combo. Make sure your quick release collars do not have a locking button on them and they are on tight and secure when they arrive for daycare.
We do not allow dogs to wear audio, shock, pinch, flea, or correctional collars in the facility.
We strongly recommend having ID tags or some form of identification on their collars at all times.