Whether your dog’s overnight boarding stay is approaching or you are considering Dogtopia to be your pup’s home away from home, we can’t wait for them to have a tail-wagging time! But before they can officially “check-in” for their boarding stay (which we like to call a staycation), there are some steps to help you both prepare, which can go a long way in helping them have an enjoyable experience.
In true trip-planning fashion, we’ve put together a checklist that you can review before your pup’s boarding stay at Dogtopia. If you have any questions, we encourage you to reach out to your local Dogtopia and speak with one of our knowledgeable team members for all the details about boarding with us.
Here’s an overview of the checklist:
1. SCHEDULE DOGTOPIA’S REQUIRED MEET & GREET
This is the first step to joining the Dogtopia family! This step is for the parents who haven’t yet brought their dog to Dogtopia. Before your dog can board or play with us, they’ll need to complete an evaluation, which we call our Meet & Greet. Exactly how it might sound, this is a chance to meet you and your furry family member and help ensure that our space is the right fit for your pup.
Our team will first perform a nose-to-tail wellness check on your dog to determine any touch sensitivities and check their vaccination/health records. From there, we will introduce them to a supervised playroom setting so we can observe how they interact with other dogs of similar size. This step is crucial, as we want to make sure our off-leash, open-play environment supports each pup that steps their paw into our facility. If given the green light, your pup can officially become part of our Dogtopia family.
2. ENSURE ALL VACCINATIONS AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS ARE MET
Maintaining safety and overall doggie wellness is crucial at Dogtopia. To help protect the health of every dog in our care, we require all guests to have an up-to-date vaccination record. This includes:
- Bordetella – must be current
- Rabies – required once at or before 16 weeks old, boosted again one year later, and then repeated every three years after
- DHPP (also known as distemper/parvo) – required at six to eight weeks old, boosted at three-week intervals, again one year later, and repeated every three years onward
- And some locations require Canine influenza, be sure to check with your local Dogtopia
To give your dog enough time to build an immune response from vaccinations, please schedule veterinary appointments at least 48 hours (preferably a week) before visiting Dogtopia.
Because we want each pup to feel their best while they’re with us, we also ask that they’re in good health and are free of any illnesses and communicable conditions, including fleas or ticks, within the past 30 days of their boarding stay. If, during this time, they have been affected by a communicable condition, please let our team know, as you will be required to bring a veterinarian’s certification of health to be admitted.
3. PACK THE ESSENTIALS
Dog food: We aim to maintain your pup’s routine while they are boarding with us. Please bring enough food for the entire stay, either pre-portioned or placed in one resealable container. Our Dogtopia locations may also have extra food available, including special treats, please contact the team at your local facility for more information.
Written Feeding Instructions: Bring feeding instructions that specify the serving sizes and if they require any special prep, such as mixing dry and wet food. Additionally, inform our team of any allergies your dog may have or if there are any special handling requirements during feeding time.
Medication: Is your dog on medication? Our team will gladly accommodate their medication schedule. Please bring all medications in the original containers, clearly labeled with dosing and timing instructions.
Bedding: Even though our boarding pups may be tuckered out once it’s time for bed from all the playing, learning, and exercising throughout the day, we still want them to have a familiar feeling from home. If your dog has a favorite blanket or bedding they usually sleep with, please bring it along! An item that smells like home will help with any homesickness they may experience during their first sleepover at Dogtopia.
Leash/collar: Dogs must be on a leash when entering our facilities. Before they enter their assigned playroom, our team will replace their personal collar with a Dogtopia collar. We will keep your dog’s leash, collar, and any ID tags in a secure compartment during their stay and will put them back on when it comes time for pickup.
4. PRACTICE CRATE TIME AT HOME
Most Dogtopia dogs staying overnight at our facilities will spend the night in our home-style crates*. Although our crates are located in the same playroom that your dog just played in during the day and beside their furry friends, it can be a good idea to introduce or refresh crate time in the days or weeks leading up to their boarding stay to help boost their comfort level.
During the Meet & Greet, our team will check to make sure your pup feels comfortable in our crates, which is an important factor in passing the evaluation. However, if your pup is used to sleeping outside of their crate, making the transition to a crate before boarding can be helpful. You can start by placing their comfy dog bed and/or blanket in their crate and gradually encourage them to spend time in it by offering lots of praise when they enter and lie down, eventually leading up to spending a full night inside.
*Some locations offer private doggie suites. Please ask the team at your local Dogtopia to learn more about the boarding options available.
5. STICK TO THEIR REGULAR DIET
Any sudden dietary changes, such as new food or treats, can sometimes cause digestive issues. Combined with an exciting, new boarding environment, this can lead to an upset stomach. Unless your vet advises, keep meals consistent leading up to your dog’s boarding stay, as a familiar diet can help maintain stability and comfort during feeding time.
6. BOOK A SPA VISIT FOR YOUR DOG
Nothing says staycation like a relaxing visit to the doggy spa! Whether it is a bath using dog-safe shampoo and conditioner, a mani/pedi (aka nail trimming), or any of the other spa treatments our expert team can provide, we recommend scheduling treatments right before pickup. It’s a great way to have your pup looking and feeling like a million bones when you bring them home!
7. PREPARE FOR DROP-OFF DAY
We know being away from your dog can be difficult, even if you know they’ll have a blast with other pups in their furry friend circle at Dogtopia. Since dogs are sensitive to emotions, we recommend maintaining a calm journey from home to our facility, which can include preparing their “boarding bag” ahead of time, packing some treats to keep spirits high, and anything else you think will help keep their tail wagging.
Once you arrive at Dogtopia, a cheerful goodbye can greatly help reduce any anxiety they may feel. Before you leave our facility, you can review the feeding/medication instructions with the team and any questions you may have.
Before you arrive, be sure to review the drop-off time that your local Dogtopia has provided to ensure the team is ready to bring your pup in for their stay. Some locations have specific boarding drop-off hours, so it is always best to confirm if you have any questions or concerns about the best drop-off time.
8. REVIEW & UPDATE EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Before your dog’s boarding stay, please review the emergency contact(s) the team at your local Dogtopia has on-file, and update if needed. If you are traveling, be sure to designate a local emergency contact (who won’t be traveling with you), such as a friend or family member, who can be contacted quickly in an event where you cannot be reached.
9. DOWNLOAD THE DOGTOPIA APP
If it’s not already downloaded on your phone, now is the perfect time to do download and set up your Dogtopia app profile! Our free mobile app includes several features, such as requesting appointments, reviewing your pup’s schedule, and a feature you’ll love while your pup is boarding with us, access to our live playroom webcams. Check-in on your furry friend during playtime hours, no matter where you are, so you can (virtually) join in on all the doggy fun. It’s the cutest thing you’ll see all day!
10. PLAN FOR FUTURE VISITS
The more familiar your dog becomes with Dogtopia, the easier overnight stays will be in the future. That’s why we recommend regular daycare visits to help your pup gain familiarity and feel comfortable in our space with our team and other dogs. Although we recommend booking at least three days of daycare before a dog’s initial boarding stay, scheduling daycare afterward can also help keep the fun and healthy habits going.
If you know you’ll be traveling again, have some late nights coming up, or want to change up your pup’s environment, regular daycare visits can help keep a consistent schedule so that boarding feels like a fun part of their routine.
To learn more about what your dog will be up to during their stay, check out our post: Your Helpful Guide to Dog Boarding at Dogtopia.
If you are considering Dogtopia for your pup’s overnight boarding stay, find a location near you.
This blog was reviewed/edited by Dogtopia’s Director of Health & Safety Lorraine Rhoads, an experienced animal biologist and environmental scientist.
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