Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are the hours for Daycare pick-up and drop-off?

We’re open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday, and 12pm-5pm Sunday. Daycare/boarding dogs can be dropped off and picked up anytime during these hours.

 

What are the hours for Overnight Boarding pick-up and drop-off?

For overnight boarding - check in and check-out is anytime during our lobby hours. We do appreciate a call or email with an estimated time so that we can have your pet's belongings ready.

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Can I tour the facility?

Yes! We offer tours of our facility every day of the week between the hours of 9 a.m- 11am and 2pm-5pm as the early morning and evening hours can be quite busy with arrivals, departures, cleaning, outdoor potty sessions, and feeding. Lunch and daycare resting hours vary between 1230pm-230pm.

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What steps are necessary for my dog to be qualified for Dog Daycare?

While we strongly believe that there is no such thing as a bad breed or a bad dog, not every dog is suited for our open play environment. We take our doggie guests’ safety very seriously, so each one must first complete a thorough meet and greet to ensure that they are a good fit for daycare.

The meet and greet takes approximately 30 minutes and is conducted on-site by one of our trained professionals to include the following steps:

• It begins with an overview of paperwork, history and health with the dog parent

• Once complete, your pup joins our team member in an evaluation room to observe how they react when away from their parent

• During the evaluation, we conduct a snout to tail assessment to identify sensitivities in touch that your dog may have. If a dog is sensitive to touch in one area, this is not necessarily an issue, but it is important for their comfort that our team is aware of it

• We then bring a few additional dogs into the controlled mini play area one at a time to assess your pup’s comfort level. Our team member observes how they interact with the other dogs to assess their comfort with an open play environment

• Our team member will then share what they learned with the pet parent. If for some reason the dog is not yet ready for open play, we will recommend steps the parent can take to help address the observed concern(s). Any dog that is not yet comfortable is always welcome back once they are ready to join the playroom.

Who Can Stay With Us?

We do not turn away dogs based on breed. To ensure the safety of all our guests, we require all dogs staying with us for daycare or overnight boarding meet the following criteria:

 

• Dogs must not be aggressive towards humans

• Dogs must be more than two months old

• Dogs must be spayed or neutered if more than seven months old to join doggy daycare

• Current on required vaccines: rabies, DHPP and Bordetella

• Free of any communicable diseases for 30 days

• Free of fleas and ticks

• Non aggressive dogs for daycare. For boarding dogs if you know your dog is aggressive towards other dogs or unsure then we will have separate playtimes for your pet with staff members. 

 

What vaccinations does my dog need?

Your dog needs to be current on the following vaccinations: Rabies, Distemper/Parvo/Bordetella. We recommend pets to be vaccinated at least 24 hours prior to check-in for vaccines to kick in. We also request that all dogs be on some type of flea preventative.

 

How long does a temperament evaluation last? Do I need to be present?

The initial evaluation typically lasts around 15-30 minutes. We will evaluate your dog after you leave. Dogs tend to act differently when their owners are around. will take all of the dogs out of the playroom, bring your dog in and allow them a few minutes to get comfortable in our outdoor play yard. We will then bring out one or a few friendly dogs at a time to watch other dogs through a safety gate and make sure that your dog doesn't show any signs of aggression. If your dog passes this test then we will allow a meeting with them with staff around. Once your dog has successfully met and gets along with other dogs, we will integrate them into the playroom for a few hours to see how they enjoy being in a larger group of dogs. If your dog doesn't seem to enjoy daycare then we will have your dog either in limited increments of daycare or play time on their own in one of our smaller daycare areas or a suite. Outdoor potty exercise sessions will occur every few hours.  

 

What if my dog is not a good fit to play with other dogs?

No problem! Many dogs, like many people, are just not comfortable in a crowd. We have suites with solid walls so that your dog is not disturbed by any neighbors. All dogs receive at least four potty breaks plus playtime with one of our staff members or playtime with a compatible furry friend. These playtimes are tailored to fit your dog's needs. That may be a rowdy playtime with fun safe dog toys or it may be a quiet cuddle time with outdoor potty exercise sessions every few hours. 

 

How old does my dog have to be to attend Daycare?

At least 4 months old. We want to ensure that all dogs have enough time to develop a stable immune system before they are in a facility with other dogs. 

 

Can my dogs stay together?

Yes, dogs from the same family can stay together in the same suite. If your dogs prefer to eat separately, please just let our staff know at check-in. 

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Fluffy's seems more expensive than some other places, Why?

Here at Fluffy's we include Play Time for all of our guests whether it's in a compatible play group or play time with our staff.  Have you ever boarded your pet at a facility for a certain price and pay additional to add on Play Time- then later wish you can ask your pet if the Play Time actually happened? We know how that feels. At our place we strongly feel that all animals deserve to play!

 

My dog takes medication. Are you able to give it to them?

Yes, we will gladly administer non injection medications to your dog while they are in our care. All medications must be in the original prescription container so that we will have detailed information about the medication, and you must sign a consent form giving us permission to administer the medication. We can put medications inside meals or inside of a flavored pill pocket. 

 

Why is my dog so tired after staying at Fluffy's?

Some dogs may be tired or even a little sore for a day or two after daycare or lodging with us. This is because most of them play hard and get a lot of exercise while they are here. Even though they have rest areas available to them in our play areas, most of them choose to play for a good portion of the day, which may be more than they are used to at home. Our lunch, resting, and potty break time is between 11am-1pm.

 

Why is my dog thirsty after attending daycare?

Your dog has access to water 24/7 while at Fluffy's. There are several large bowls of fresh water in each playroom that are freshened up several times throughout the day. Also, all dogs have an individual bowl of water in their bedroom if they’re lodging with us. But as with being tired, the increase in activity may also increase your dog’s water intake. Don’t be alarmed if they want to drink more water than usual when they get home (though you should encourage them to drink slowly and small amounts at a time to prevent vomiting).

 

Can my dog get hurt playing in daycare?

Just like children who play on playgrounds in daycare or at school can get hurt from time to time, dogs playing with each other on the playgrounds can get hurt too. Dogs play with their mouths and paws and like to wrestle around on the ground with each other. We always have staff members supervising during play times. If injuries do occur, you (not Fluffy's) are responsible for any medical expenses for your dog, as you would be for a child. You need to be sure that you are comfortable with this before allowing your dog to play in the playroom. If you are not, Private Playtime with a staff member is always an option. Most owners find that the benefits of allowing their dog to play outweigh the risks.

 

How can I get updates on my dog?

We will send out report cards with pictures by email or text at least once every few days during boarding. For daycare report cards or by request the day of please call or email us prior to 5pm Monday-Friday and by 4pm on Saturdays which will give us enough time for a fun photo session of your pets at play. 

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Does my dog need to be on a leash when arriving or leaving?

Yes! All dogs are required to be on a leash at all times when coming or going. This is for the safety of your dog, especially in our parking lot. This will also help keep the lobby environment more calm and running smoothly. 

 

Can you care for dogs that are ill or have special medical needs?

If your dog has something that is contagious or that could possibly be contagious (for example, if your dog is coughing, has a runny nose or is sneezing), do not bring your dog to Fluffy's until your veterinarian has confirmed that they are no longer a risk to other dogs. We recommend ill or special medical needs dogs to board at Veterinarian facilities.

 

If my dog is in a private suite how often will they get potty breaks?

All private suite dogs get at least four potty breaks per day plus play time in doggy daycare. We may also give more frequent breaks depending on your dog’s individual needs (puppies, elderly dogs and dogs with medical conditions that create more frequent urination, or if your dog just seems like he/she needs an additional break). We have an outdoor potty area where we rotate play groups to relieve theirselves, play, and get fresh air. Our indoor play area has grass potty patches as well. 

 

My dog usually eats lunch at home. Can he do this while he is at Fluffy's?

Absolutely! We offer lunch service to dogs (also for no additional charge). Just bring your dog's food in a ziplock bag or other container clearly labeled with their name and let our staff know that you would like for your dog to be served lunch while they are here. If your dog is in daycare, we will remove them from the playroom at lunchtime and place them in one of our private bedrooms to eat. We then require all dogs that eat lunch to rest for a while before going back into the playroom for their digestive health.

 

Do I need to bring my dog’s food if they are boarding?

We typically recommend bringing your dog’s food from home, as a lot of dogs do better staying on their regular diet from home and have less trouble with upset stomachs from switching foods. However, we do served dry dog food at no additional charge, if you prefer. Wet food is available for just $2.50 each meal. If your pet has any food allergies or dietary concerns, we definitely recommend supplying your own food. If you do decide to bring your own food, we recommend bringing it in pre-portioned resealable baggies. This ensures that we have plenty of food for your dog’s stay. If you do not pre-portion the food, it does need to be in a resealable container or bag. We also have a refrigerator and microwave to prepare special diets. If you dog is boarding with us for five days or more, you may want to consider increasing the amount of food your dog eats, due to their increased activity level. 

 

What else can I bring?

We provide cots and blankets for all of our overnight guests. Toys and your pet's own blankets are permitted, but we ask that you refrain from bringing them or limit them to one toy. Your dog’s belongings will stay with them in their bedrooms and we do our best to return all toys, but we are not responsible if a toy or personal items are lost or destroyed so we recommend labeling all belongings. You can also feel free to bring their treats with instructions.

 

What if my pet becomes ill or requires medical attention during their stay?

In the event that your pet requires medical attention, we will refer to your contact list and make every attempt to reach you or your designated emergency contact. If we are unable to contact you or your emergency contact and we feel your dog needs medical attention, we will transport your pet to their regular veterinarian, if close by, to ensure continuity of care. If your veterinarian is not near our facility, we will go to one of the local veterinarians that we know. If we believe that the situation is urgent or if your dog needs care after regular hours, we will take your pet to the closest veterinary emergency clinic.

My pet lost weight during their boarding visit, is this normal?

It is natural for dogs to lose a little weight while boarding. Most of the weight loss is due to excitement of being with other guests and the exercise they receive playing with their friends. Dogs who are in our playrooms are getting constant activity that is not the same as their more sedentary lifestyle at home. Therefore they burn a lot more calories during their boarding visit, which is why we recommend increasing their food slightly. In addition, some dogs may not eat all of their food at each feeding since they are in a different environment and may also lose a pound or two for this reason.

 

What is your cancellation policy?

Starting June 1, 2017:

If you need to cancel your reservation you may do so by logging in to your profile or in the email confirmation, calling us,  or emailing us. Advanced reservations require a deposit of 25% which is nonrefundable unless cancellation is requested at least 48 hours (2 days) in advance. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be invoiced at 50% of the reservation costs. A 2 night minimum stay applies before the following periods: Spring Break week, Easter weekend, 4th of July, Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving week and The Christmas Holiday 2 week break.