FAQs

A: We do not require that dogs participate in Day Care to board with us, however they still must go through the intake process including the evaluation day. They are, welcome to participate in Day Care activities provided that they past their temperament tests. Dogs that do not past their temperament test are still welcome to board with us, as long as they are people-friendly, but cannot participate in group play. They will be walked by one of our dog handlers and given tons of individualized love and attention. There is an extra fee for individual care.

A: Dogs are not kept in crates or cages at Love My Doggy Day Care. We have indoor and outdoor playground space that provides our day care and boarding guests with lots of space for running and playing, and we have walk-in suites for each dog staying with us, that we use for “time outs”, naps, and our overnight boarders.

A: Every dog is required to pass a free temperament evaluation. If a dog is not going to get along with other dogs, then he/she can still attend day care, as long as s/he is people-friendly, but cannot participate in play groups. The dogs are always supervised by our trained dog handlers when they are playing together to ensure that everyone is safe.

A: Yes, generally speaking, we will have separate large dog and small dog play groups. Size and temperament are the primary factors we consider when assigning a dog to an appropriate play group. We also take into account the dog’s play style, his/her age, existing “friends”, and his/her general confidence, demeanor and socialization skills.

Play group is where the socialization happens. We separate into groups mainly by size and temperament. At Love My Doggy Day Care, we maintain a low dog-to-staff ratio, and we limit the size of the groups. Our playground supervisors are trained experts in dog handling. Dogs are never left alone, they are under constant supervision. Food or treats are not allowed in the play groups, in order to avoid any issues with possessiveness or resource-guarding. At Love My Doggy Day Care, we have both indoor and outdoor play groups. When conditions outside do not permit use of the outdoor play space, we utilize our indoor play space or covered outdoor space.

A: Yes, we evaluate all of the dogs prior to their first visit to Love My Doggy Day Care, whether it is a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, and whether it has any “incidences” in his/her past or not. We do this to ensure that all of the dogs who participate in Day Care activities get along and are in a safe environment.

A: We conduct temperament evaluation by appointment only. We usually ask for you to arrive at 9 AM, and ask that you leave your pup until at least 1 PM, so that we have enough time to observe him or her in group, but you are welcome to leave your pup for a full day of play. Please plan on bringing all the necessary documentation with you on your pet's evaluation day if you haven't emailed it ahead of time. Your pet's whole first day is considered an evaluation day, and your first visit as a new customer is always free.

A: Yes, he is welcome at Love My Doggy Day Care assuming he is not people-aggressive. The safety of our staff and our doggy guests always comes first. But group play is not for every dog, and we are happy to give individual love and attention to those that prefer alone time and people! There is an additional charge for individualized care.

A: All pups must have their puppy series of immunizations. Most vets will give the first rabies vaccinations at about 12-14 weeks. Once they are vaccinated, as long as you've had them for at least 2 weeks, the pups are welcome. Dogs that are older than 6 months old must be spayed or neutered to participate in group-play. Additionally, in any kennel environment, a young pup could possibly be exposed to air-borne viruses it could not fight off. We always encourage our clients with new puppies to follow their veterinarian's advice to be sure their pup is ready for group-play or boarding.

A: Yes, we like to rotate the dogs throughout the day between the indoor and outdoor play space (weather-permitting), and let the dogs take time-outs and naps during the day in-between play periods. Also, if you request your dog get a meal during the day, he/she will get a break for meal-time as well. There is a nominal charge for lunch service for day care dogs older than 1 year of age.

A: Yes, all of the dogs must be vaccinated for Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella (kennel cough vaccine). We require copies of your pup's medical records showing that they are current, when their vaccinations expire, and a copy of his/her Rabies Certificate. Dogs must wait at least 2 weeks before they can participate in day care or boarding services after their first Bordetella vaccine. This vaccine has an incubation period before becoming effective and protecting your dog.

A: Yes. The vaccine is about 85% effective and is similar to the human flu vaccine in the fact that it protects us, but not from all strains of the virus. Vaccinating your dog is gives him/her and the other dogs in our care the best chance of staying healthy.

A: We require that all dogs attending daycare be on year-round flea preventative. While it is unlikely that your dog will get fleas while at Love My Doggy Day Care, there is always a possibility anytime your dog is exposed to other animals. If your dog is on flea preventative and is exposed to a dog with fleas, you won’t have to worry about having a problem at home. Flea preventative is for your protection.

A: Each dog (or dog family) has their own individual sleeping quarters. We provide them with a comfortable, walk-in space to rest their heads and bodies after a day of playing. You may bring some items, listed below, from home. We will provide the food bowls, so don’t worry about bringing those. We use only stainless steel and wash them in the dishwasher after every use.

At Love My Doggy Day Care, we provide your pet with everything he or she will need. However if you wish to bring the following you may:

• Own treats
• Medication (in original container preferred)
• Safe toy - one per pet please
• T-shirt or small towel with your scent on it
• Coat - for colder weather
• If you bring your own bedding, please ensure it's freshly laundered (we have plenty of our own bedding)
• Own food, packaged in a sealed container or bagged in individual meal proportions. Please bring extra meals for boarding dogs. In case of emergency, we can provide food for your pet. There may be a nominal fee ($2/cup) per meal.

Please Note: We will make every effort to return these items, however they may not be returned or they may be returned in poor condition. We recommend you label your pet's personal items (a little sharpie goes a long way!). Please be aware that you are assuming this risk when you leave belongings with your pet.

A: Our drop-off hours are 7–9 am, and we generally require that all day care attendees arrive by 9 am, so that we can get everyone acclimated in their groups with the least disruption. However, by reservation only, we are happy to make exceptions when possible, on a case by case basis. Please note the only pro-rating of costs we do are for half-days. If you bring your dog in before 1pm, the full-day price applies. If you bring your dog in after 1pm, the half-price applies.

A: Pick-up hours for Day Care are generally between 5–7 pm, Monday – Friday, but please note you will still get charged for a full-day for any pick-up after 1 PM. Also, we understand how busy a person’s work day can get, or how unpredictable travel can be, or how road construction can ruin a simple commute! Please call us as soon as you can to notify us if you are going to be late picking up your pet(s). We will do our best to accommodate you but please note after one courtesy “pass”, assuming notice is given, you will be charged a $20 late pick-up fee, and if you are more than 30 minutes past closing, you can even be charged a boarding fee. Thank you!

A: Generally speaking, we recommend that you keep your dog’s routine as regular as possible. We do find that dogs that come on the same day or days every week are better adjusted to their day care experiences, especially since they will get to see a bunch of their regular friends. But you are welcome to bring your pup whenever capacity allows, and please remember we are a reservations-only facility. We do understand disruptions in schedules and have no problem rearranging a day with a reservation.

A: Of course! And we encourage you to. We know that being apart is difficult for both of you. You may call and check in on your dog as often as you wish.

A: Your pet will adjust quickly to our facility, our staff and routines. Feeding, playing and exercise, nap time, and potty breaks are all scheduled events that bring order and structure to the boarding experience. Our boarding guests will participate in group play during the day, provided he or she has passed the temperament test and that’s what you want. If group play is not appropriate for your dog for any reason, he or she will receive lots of individualized love and attention. After business hours, he or she will get the evening meal, some more playtime, and a before-bed potty break, before retiring to his or her individual walk-in suite for the night. You can expect your best friend to be well-socialized with people and dogs, as appropriate, well-exercised, and well-rested while you’re away.

A: Yes, your pet can be exposed to disease when boarded with other animals. The risk is, however, quite low, and minimized when boarding facilities require advance vaccination to ensure a healthy population of boarded guests. Additionally, Love My Doggy Day Care holds high sanitation standards and high-quality living conditions as vital to ensuring an absence of disease and ensuring the health and well-being of your pet.

A: Your pet’s health and well-being is always our number 1 priority. Dog day care settings do have some inherent risk, and unfortunately, some illnesses or injuries are unavoidable even in a controlled environment. In the event that your dog needs care, we will make every effort to contact you and your regular veterinarian immediately in the event of an illness or injury, and we do ask all new clients to sign a medical waiver form that allows us to treat your pet as quickly as possible even if you cannot be reached right away. We have a partner veterinarian who will be on-call for emergencies. In the event of a sick or injured pet, for those times when our partner veterinarian cannot be available, Love My Doggy Day Care has established relationship with the local emergency animal hospital when caring for a pet requires clinical procedures not available on-site.

A: Yes, depending on their size, we can usually accommodate your wishes and board your pets together in the same suite, as space allows. However, we will want to discuss the risk of this with you, including a detailed history of your pets’ history together, before making a final decision, and we will ask you to sign a paired-housing waiver acknowledging that we have advised you of the risk associated with this.

A: Yes, we offer multi-pet discounts of 10%. Please speak with the front desk manager for related details and information on any other promotions.

A: Yes, we do require an advance deposit of at least one night's boarding fee, depending on the length of your pup's stay. Please see details here. We realize that plans do change, and wish to accommodate all of our customer's needs. Cancellations must be made 2 days prior to arrival date in order to receive a full refund of the deposit or avoid cancellation fee. Our responsibility to our customers drives our deposit policy.

A: Your pets may have one safe toy to play with in their suite during their stay. The toys are not permitted in the play groups. If you bring toys from home, if possible, mark them with permanent ink with your last name. Your pets' toys will stay with them in their suites and we do our best to return all toys. Occasionally, a toy may be lost during a playtime or cleaning. If you prefer not to bring toys from home, you can purchase toys in our retail center for your pet’s stay.

A: Yes, if your pet requires a special diet, we encourage you to bring their food when boarding. Our trained dog handlers will follow your instructions to make sure your pet follows his or her regular diet. By pre-bagging each individual meal in a separate bag labeled with your pet's name, your pet will receive the exact amount of food that you feed him or her at home.

A: Yes, generally, Love My Doggy Day Care can accommodate special needs pets, and can administer medications. However, pets with significant medical needs are better off under a veterinarian's care, so we consider this a case-by-case decision that would need to be discussed with you. We do have the advantage of having a partner veterinarian ton call, and in the case of emergency we have medical release policies in place.

A: Pick-up and Drop-off services can be arranged, depending on availability. Please call us directly to find out about availability. There is a charge of $15/trip within 10-mile radius. A surcharge applies for greater distances. A one-time charge of $30 may apply for the purchase of a dog seatbelt harness or transport crate.

A: The following documentation is required:

• Verification from your veterinarian that vaccinations for rabies, distemper and bordetella are up to date, including a Rabies Certificate.
• A completed and signed registration form
• A completed and signed pet care agreement
• A signed medical release form
• A copy of a current PA dog license
• An elderly/infirmed pet waiver, if applicable (pets over 10 years old)

A: You are welcome to call and check in on your pet, but we also like to tell you about your best friend’s day with a playday report card at pick-up. Each pet parent will receive a daily report on how their dog did that day — did s/he have a favorite playmate today? Take nap? Eat all his food? Etc. Please let us know if there is anything special you’d like us to report!

A: No, we do not discriminate against specific breeds. Each dog is individually tested and evaluated by our expert dog handlers. Safety is our number one priority. Only socialized, friendly dogs are allowed to interact with the other dogs, regardless of breed. We practice an abundance of caution when allowing a dog to participate in group play.

A: No, tips are definitely not required, nor should they be solicited by any of our staff. However, if you wish to express your appreciation with a tip, please provide it to the front desk manager, and we thank you for your generosity!