FAQs for Puppy Boarding | KinDog Behavior and Training

FAQs

for Puppy Boarding

Is puppy boarding the same as board & train?

No. Puppy boarding isn't a training program for teaching your puppy new training skills, and no minimum number of days is required. If you're interested in boarding with a training program that teaches foundations for basic manners, a board & train program is the appropriate service.

If you started basics training with a trusted positive reinforcement colleague, I'm happy to informally practice the skills your puppy has learned so far. For example, we may occasionally practice already-learned basics like sit, down, or recall during play or other activities throughout the day.

How far in advance do I need to book?

My boarding services typically book up a few months in advance, sometimes longer during holidays, summer travel season, and other peak times. Current availability for boarding stays is shown here. Assessments can only be scheduled on days I don't have a boarding guest staying in my home.

What are the age requirements?

Puppy boarding is for puppies who are 10-24 weeks old at the start of the boarding stay.

How many puppies do you take at one time?

I only host one puppy at a time. This includes puppies from the same household.

My puppy is nervous or shy around strangers. Is puppy boarding a good fit?

Maybe. If your puppy is slightly hesitant when meeting an unfamiliar person, but warms up after a couple minutes, puppy boarding might work out. We'll decide together if it's a good fit during the boarding assessment.

If your puppy is more fearful than that, puppy boarding might not be a good fit. As an initial step, I'll l thoroughly review the information you provide in the request form. In some cases, I may email you detailed follow-up questions asking for clarifications. Please provide thorough responses to all questions in the request form and any follow-up email. Based on your responses, I'll make a determination whether or not to proceed with a boarding assessment meeting.

How long will my puppy be left alone?

It depends on your puppy's age and the length of the stay. All puppies must be comfortable being left alone for at least 1 hour. Some puppies may be left alone for 2-3 hours if they're ready for that. We'll agree on the details for your puppy at the boarding assessment.

What are your medical requirements?

The following is required for all puppies:

Up-to-date on distemper and parvo vaccinations, as appropriate for the puppy's age.
Up-to-date on rabies vaccination, if 16 weeks or older.
Currently free of fleas and ticks, and taking a monthly flea and tick preventative medication.
Currently free of worms, other internal parasites, and communicable diseases.

When booking the boarding assessment, you'll be required to upload a copy of up-to-date vaccination records and recent intestinal parasite screen with negative results (including giardia). You may be asked to perform an additional intestinal parasite screen shortly before the boarding stay.

Do you accept newly adopted rescue puppies for boarding?

Yes. A newly adopted rescue puppy must reside in your home for at least one month before requesting a boarding stay. An alternative timeframe may be considered for very young puppies on a case-by-case basis. Additional medical requirements may apply.

Are there set times I need to drop off or pick up my puppy?

Yes. We'll agree on the specific drop-off and pick-up times as part of booking the stay. The earliest drop-off time is 8am. The latest pick-up time is 8pm. The total fee includes both the drop-off day and pick-up day.

How do I get started?

To get started:

Click on the "Check Dates" button to see if the dates you're interested in are available.
Click on the "Request Form" button to open the request form for puppy boarding.
Answer each question thoroughly and submit.
I'll review your request thoroughly and be in touch by email within 3 business days Monday through Friday. If we proceed, you'll receive a booking link for the boarding assessment where you can view all scheduling availability in real-time. Don't forget to check your spam folder.

What if I need to reschedule the boarding assessment?

You may reschedule the boarding assessment by notifying me via email at least 7 days before the scheduled appointment. If you notify me with less than 7 days advance notice, or aren't present at the scheduled time, the appointment is forfeited. Due to the nature of my boarding services and limited availability for boarding assessments, a new appointment may not be available for several weeks. All purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule a puppy boarding stay?

At the time of booking, a 50% deposit payment is required to secure the specific days you book, and the remainder is due 7 days prior to the start of the stay. Once a booking is made, those days aren't available to others for boarding or board & train, and my availability for other services is affected as well. If you cancel the booking or wish to reschedule the days, these payments are forfeited. All purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable.