We want to create safe and enjoyable experiences for all our canine guests, staff and visitors. The assessment required for a dog to be in group play during daycare is simply to help us understand your dog’s individual temperament, playstyle and how they behave in a new environment. Daycare and group play might not be an appropriate form of enrichment and exercise for every dog if they don’t enjoy being around other dogs or don’t play appropriately. Therefore, for the safety of the other dogs and staff, we want to take the time to meet with you and your dog to determine if daycare is a good fit for your pup.
Our assessments are designed to observe your dog’s temperament, playstyle, and behavior in a daycare environment. We don’t consider evaluations as “pass/fail”, but rather an opportunity to provide us with information about your dog and whether they would be appropriate in group play sessions. We may recommend that your dog start with a half day of day care to acclimate them to the environment and minimize stress levels.
An alternative to daycare is Day Camp. Day camp is ideal for dogs that may not get along with others, for those whose owners prefer not to have them spayed or neutered, or if you simply want your dog to be cared for individually. During Day Camp, dogs will camp out in a spacious kennel, and our staff will ensure they have regular potty breaks. Each dog will enjoy individualized playtime, which includes enriching activities designed to provide sensory, cognitive, social, and physical stimulation.
Those with severe anxiety, aggression issues, resource guarding, very shy, fearful or anxious dogs may not find daycare or day camp beneficial and would benefit from working individually with a professional dog trainer. See our resource page for referral information.
We often get asked the question, how many times each week should I bring my dog to daycare/day camp? To effectively answer this, it’s essential to examine your goals for bringing your dog to daycare.
Are you looking for more opportunities for your dog to socialize with other dogs and people? Is your aim to provide additional exercise, especially during the cold winter months? Perhaps you want to ensure they aren’t home alone, or maybe they experience separation anxiety, leading to destructive behaviors when left by themselves. Whatever the reason, one key fact about dogs is that they thrive on a consistent routine, which helps them feel safe, secure, and balanced. To support this routine, we recommend bringing your dog to daycare at least once a week, even if it’s just for half a day.
We strive to create experiences and visits that are enjoyable and safer for all involved. Our leadership team members are each Fear Free Certified, meaning that we implement the program’s guidelines in creating an environment and care guidelines to prevent fear, anxiety and stress in dogs.
We certainly understand and support the recommendations of veterinarians who recommend leaving a dog intact until later in life. However, in a group play environment, there are certain sexually driven behaviors with dogs who are not fixed that can escalate to overwhelming and unwanted attention with other dogs. Some intact dogs are more likely to protect toys, territory, and other dogs, therefore it can create unsafe situations in a pack environment.
If your dog is not spayed/neutered we are still happy to do an assessment and customize an individual enrichment care plan for your pup if he/she otherwise appears to do well in a daycare environment.
No. Because dogs do not play with other dogs during boarding, they do not need to be spayed or neutered.
To ensure the safety of all dogs, boarding dogs will not participate in daycare or play with one another, as their behaviors and play styles are unknown. However, dogs from the same household will be allowed to go outside together.
If your dog regularly attends daycare at Tails & Trails, they will be permitted to join group play during their boarding stay free of charge.
When boarding your dog, the most important item to bring is food, as we do not provide meals for your pet. We will provide food and water bowls, as well as comfortable Kuranda beds. You are welcome to bring your dog’s bed, blanket, and toys, as long as they are safe for them and cannot be chewed or swallowed. Additionally, feel free to bring your dog’s favorite treats.
The Bordetella vaccine protects dogs from kennel cough, which is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is necessary for reducing the risk of infection for your dog and other dogs in a group setting.
We welcome all breeds of dogs! As long as they are up to date on vaccinations, well mannered, and are compatible for group play (if in daycare) we look forward to working with all breeds.