Preparing Your Dog for Their First Boarding Experience
As pet owners ourselves, we recognize how scary it can be to trust others with the special care and consideration of our pets. But life sometimes takes us far from home, often to places where our pets can’t safely accompany us. Reserving a spot for your dog at a boarding facility isn’t always stress-free, especially if your dog has never stayed anywhere else before. The Bark Park Pet Resort & Daycare goes the extra mile to ensure our canine guests not only enjoy their time with us, but we work hard to gain the trust of pet owners by delivering peace of mind.
What You Can Count On
The Bark Park Pet Resort and Daycare stands out because of our stellar service, but also because we pay close attention to the following:
- Cleanliness
- Safety/security
- Play times (in groups and 1:1)
- Cozy accommodations for maximum restfulness
- Timed feeding schedules that minimize stress and anxiety
- Fun, engaging play spaces, interesting activities, and fun toys
- Observant, qualified, experienced staff who well-versed in canine body language and specific needs of unique guests
- Special add-on services at our spa
New To Us
For prospective guests and their owners, we welcome short visits to experience first hand both how we manage groups as well as customize experiences for individual dogs. To gauge how a dog will accept boarding overall, we recommend signing them up for a few (or more) daycare sessions. This way they can fully acclimate to our staff, get to know the sights and smells of our busy play place, and learn how to safely engage with other dogs on neutral ground.
Owners can stay or drop their dogs off; we will be happy to take notes of their activities and comfort level while in our care.
Getting Ready to Board
There are always a million things to do before you travel somewhere. To streamline the process, please gather the following key components to boarding with us:
- Up-to-date rabies, distemper, bordetella, and canine influenza vaccinations
- Parasite prevention records
- Prescription medication and instructions
- Medical records that show spay/neuter date (all dogs must be spayed/neutered if they are over 10 months old)
- A list of emergency contacts and your dog’s veterinarian
Over the course of 2-3 weeks, slightly adjust your pet’s routine to match the one they’ll experience while at The Bark Park (we’ll give you an updated schedule when you reserve your pet’s spot). Meal times, bathroom breaks, exercise times, and bedtimes may not change significantly, but it can make a difference to a pet’s ability to adapt.
First-Time Boarding
We will go over with you in detail the items necessary to a successful stay, and discuss certain things to leave at home. With your dog’s safety, comfort, and health in mind:
- Pack their preferred food, treats, toys, and bedding options.
- Exercise them prior to drop off, and keep the goodbye as short and sweet as possible. Prolonging the inevitable can make dogs feel extra edgy and stressed out.
- When you pick up your pet, please be aware that they may act a little differently at first. It can take a few days for them to get back to normal. Diarrhea, clinginess, hiding, or lethargy may be seen. Contact your veterinarian with any concerns.
Dog Boarding for the Win
If we can assist you with any questions about our services, including rooms, rates, and routine, please call us at (916) 459-3030. We can’t wait to meet your dog!