What to Expect from Overnight Pet Boarding

When your pets stay overnight at DoGone Fun, you can rest assured that they’ll have a great time. If you’re wondering what to expect from overnight pet boarding, this is what pets typically go through during their stay.

Check-In

When you bring your pets in for boarding, we’ll give you time to say goodbye before taking them back to the kennels or play area. Please have your check-in form filled out for us, so we’ll have all of the information we need for your pets’ stay.

Playtime

If you drop your pets off in the morning or afternoon, they can play with other dogs in the play area. We provide pets with time to rest during the day, so they don’t get overexcited.

Training

We offer training for pets that are boarding. If your pets could use some obedience training or if they need to learn specific commands, we can work with them while they’re at our boarding facility. We offer training classes and one-on-one instruction.

Meals

Our overnight pet boarding facility serves meals at regular times each day. We’ll feed your pets their regular food, or you can indicate that you want them to eat the food we provide at our facility. If your pets have special diets, please let us know, so we can accommodate them.

Elimination

Your pets will have plenty of opportunities to eliminate during their overnight stay. They can do so while playing outside or going for a walk. Our staff members clean up after your pets right away in order to keep our facility clean.

Bedtime

When it’s time for bed, your pets will stay in a comfortable kennel with a polar fleece blanket. For an extra fee, you can arrange one-on-one cuddle time for them, a biscuit, or a Kong filled with goodies. You can also arrange for an extra comfortable bed for them for an extra fee.

Grooming

Our staff members can give your pets a bath, trim their nails and provide other grooming services if you want. Just let us know which grooming services you would like for your pets.

What to Expect from Day Care for Dogs

Dropping your pets off at day care for dogs for the first time can make you feel a bit anxious when you don’t know what to expect. When you have a better idea of how your dogs’ day will go, you can feel more at ease about having them spend time away from you. When you bring your pups to DoGone Fun, you can expect them to go through the following routine each day.

Arrival

When you get to DoGone Fun after 7 am, one of our play lot attendants will be there to greet you. Our play lot attendant will make sure that your dogs are comfortable while also giving you a chance to say goodbye to them until later on.

Morning

Some day care dogs have breakfast at 8 am, along with our boarding dogs. Once they’re done with their breakfast, they head out to the play area to burn off some energy until lunchtime.

Afternoon

If your dogs are having lunch with us, they’ll be eating it around noon. That’s also when our boarding dogs have lunch. After lunchtime is done, we provide dogs with a chance to rest and take a nap. This gives them time to relax and build up more energy to burn off while playing in the afternoon. It also gives them a break from noise and excitement, so they won’t become overstimulated.

Evening

If your dogs are staying into the evening, they can have dinner between 5 pm and 6 pm, along with our boarding dogs. After dinner is done, your dogs will be ready for you to pick them up.

Other Services

At DoGone Fun, we offer more than day care for dogs. If you sign your dogs up for training, you can expect them to have several shorter training sessions throughout the day instead of one long class. If you sign your dogs up for grooming, they’ll get a bath in the afternoon, which means they’ll be clean and shiny when you arrive to pick them up and bring them home.

What to Know About Dog Day Care Costs in Chicago

Bringing your dogs to day care means they’ll have a chance to meet other pups and stay busy while you’re at work. When you’re looking into dog day care facilities, it’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t just choose the option with the lowest rates. Instead, you should focus on finding a facility that fits your budget while also providing your dogs with a safe and stimulating environment. Keep the following information on dog day care costs in Chicago in mind during your search.

General Rates in Chicago

The average rates in Chicago vary based on the quality of different dog day care facilities and the kinds of amenities they offer. You’ll find that places with higher rates tend to offer a variety of amenities and services that go beyond simple day care, such as obedience training classes and spa services. These places also usually have staff members who are highly skilled and trained, as well as facilities that offer a clean and safe environment for dogs.

DoGone Fun Day Care Costs

When it comes to dog day care costs in Chicago, DoGone Fun offers prices that fit many budgets. While these prices are slightly above the average costs, there are also several perks that are available. These daily indulgences, which are available for an added cost, include a cup of house food, regular or gourmet biscuits at naptime, frozen yogurt treats, a Kong stuffed with goodies for naptime, 15-minute walk outside during day care hours and a freshen-up service with dry shampoo.

At DoGone Fun, introductory rates for day care are $95 for up to 12 hours on three full days, $70 for three half days up to six hours and $40 for a full day up to 12 hours. Long-term costs are also available, such as 10 full days for $370 and 20 full days for $700. Day care between the hours of 7 pm and 10 pm is also available at $5 per hour per dog. For more information on dog day care costs in Chicago, please contact DoGone Fun.

Pros and Cons of Dog Day Care

Having a safe place for your dog to spend time and socialize while you’re gone during the day helps relieve boredom, but is doggy day camp right for you? While there are important advantages associated with dog day care, there are also some disadvantages all dog owners should consider before making this decision. Keep the following pros and cons in mind when you look into dog day care for your pet.

Advantages of Doggy Day Camp

Day care for dogs provides a number of benefits, as long as it offers a high-quality environment and skilled staff members. These benefits include:

• Flexible schedules: Depending on your work schedule, you can sign your dog up for full days of daycare or half days. You can also arrange for evening day care if that works better with your schedule.
• Exercise: Dog day care facilities with play areas give dogs a chance to run around for hours at a time, which provides them with good exercise.
• Supervision: Dog day care facilities have trained staff available to keep an eye on dogs while they’re playing. This helps prevent behavioral problems from occurring, such as aggression.
• Socialization: Dogs have regular opportunities to spend time with other dogs at day care, which helps them stay mentally stimulated.

Disadvantages of Doggy Day Camp

Dog day care facilities are not ideal for some types of dogs. For example, those who are fearful, those who are hyper and those with certain medical conditions might have trouble adjusting to this type of setting. Other disadvantages of doggy day camp include the following:

• Behavioral problems: Existing behavioral issues, such as jumping on people, might get worse when you send your dog to day care. Keep in mind that some facilities do offer one-on-one training for behavioral problems.
• Injuries and illness: Dogs have a higher risk of getting hurt or becoming sick from being around other dogs.
• Too much excitement: Some dogs become overstimulated when they’re in a dog day care setting. Skilled staff can detect when this happens and prevent dogs from getting too excited.

Tips for Preparing for Long Term Pet Boarding

When you have to go away for an extended period of time, long term pet boarding provides a solution for where to leave your pets. Being gone for weeks at a time can make you feel anxious about the care your pets receive while you’re away, so it’s important to find a great boarding facility for them. This means finding one that offers a safe and clean environment with a play area and highly skilled staff. Once you’ve found a place, you’ll need to prepare for this long stay. Keep the following tips for long term pet boarding in mind while getting ready.

Pack Familiar Items

As long as the boarding facility allows it, pack up your pets’ favorite things, such as toys and a blanket. These objects can provide them with comfort when they’re staying in an unfamiliar place. You can also add a t-shirt of yours for them to snuggle with, since this will leave them with something that has your scent on it. Having this kind of item around can also make your pets feel more at home in their boarding facility.

Schedule a Vet Appointment

If your pets are due for a vet visit, get it out of the way before you leave. This ensures that your pets are free of illnesses or other conditions that could affect their ability to board. It also means that your pets will be up-to-date on all of the vaccinations required by the boarding facility.

Have Enough Food and Medication Available

If you plan on having your dogs eat their own food while you’re gone, make sure you have plenty of it. Their food should last for the entire time you’re gone. If any of your pets need medication, you’ll need to ensure that you have enough to last them during their stay.

Ask About Veterinary Care

If your pets get sick or injured, find out how the boarding facility handles it. Make sure you know where your pets will go for care, and leave contact information with the boarding facility so they can keep you updated.

How to Find the Best Dog Kennel

If you’re not comfortable hiring a pet sitter to stop by or stay at your home while you’re gone, a dog boarding kennel is a great alternative. How do you know which one is the best dog kennel? There are different things to consider when you’re choosing a kennel for your pets. Keep the following in mind in order to find the top kennel in your area.

Cleanliness

You know that living with pets comes with a certain amount of mess, but the best dog kennels provide a clean environment. Look for a place that cleans up accidents and other messes as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of germs. This helps lower the risk of your pets becoming ill during their stay.

Fresh Water

When you take a tour of dog boarding facilities, look for bowls of fresh water. The best facilities ensure that dogs have access to fresh, clean water on a regular basis. If you don’t see water or if you see bowls that look dirty, keep looking for a boarding facility that is better and safer for your pets.

Exercise and Play

Some boarding facilities offer minimal services. Dogs in these places usually stay in their kennels most of the day and only leave for a couple of short walks. The best dog kennel will provide dogs with opportunities to run around and play, which helps them burn off energy and stimulates their minds. This helps keep dogs happy and prevents boredom during their stay.

Friendly, Knowledgeable Staff

The environment and available activities are important factors when choosing a dog kennel, but it’s also crucial to find a place with staff members who are great with dogs. Keep in mind that the top dog kennels have staff members who are friendly, patient and knowledgeable about dogs. They should be able to deal with any issues that occur and help keep dogs happy while they are there.

When you find the best dog kennel, make sure that the dates you need are open. The top kennels tend to get booked fast, so make your reservations early.

4 Factors to Consider When Comparing Local Dog Kennels

When you have to travel while leaving your pets behind, dog boarding kennels offer a place for them to stay. However, you shouldn’t just go with any local kennel. Instead, it’s important to compare local dog kennels to make sure that your pets will be staying in a safe environment while you’re away. When you go over your options, keep the following factors in mind before making your decision.

Options for In-Person Visits

Dog kennels should be willing to let pet owners walk through the facility to see where their pets will be staying. Kennels that don’t allow this might do so in order to hide safety flaws or prevent pet owners from seeing a messy environment. Make sure you’re able to tour the dog kennel you’re considering having your pets stay in. This lets you see how clean and safe the place is before you decide whether or not to have your pets board there.

Vaccination Requirements

Local dog kennels should require certain types of vaccination to be up-to-date. This helps reduce the risk of having dogs become sick during or after their stay. Ask about vaccination requirements, and choose a facility that requires rabies, distemper, bordetella and other vaccines to be current. Places that are strict about their vaccination requirements have your pets’ best interests in mind.

Qualified Staff

Dog kennels should have staff members who are skilled, experienced and qualified to care for dogs of all breeds, sizes and temperaments. Knowing that your pets will be watched by staff members who are good with dogs and have the skills needed to handle certain problems provides you with peace of mind. Keep in mind that some places also have dog trainers available for classes.

Special Requirements

If your pets have special needs, such as a specific diet or medications, it’s important to find a place that can accommodate them. Ask how special requirements are handled by staff members at any local dog kennels you look into. These places should keep a record of when and how these requirements are met and whether or not there were any problems.