BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

  • A few recommendations to help ensure that your dog has a pleasant stay:
    Ensure that your dog is wearing a standard non-slip collar. Please, no slip, prong, shock or training/ specialty collars or harnesses.
  • Avoid over-feeding your dog the night before check-in. Extra food is not necessary and may result in an upset stomach.
  • Inform our staff if your dog has any new/ special issues (fear of thunder, epilepsy, deafness, or similar issue) that were not covered during their enrollment Temperament Test.
  • Package all food in individual meal sized portions. Each package should represent one meal and each meal should be marked with your dog’s name and any special feeding instructions.
  • Refrain from bringing bulky (oversized beds, blankets, numerous toys) valuable or precious items; storage space is limited, and items may become soiled, chewed, or destroyed.

CHECK IN/CHECK OUT

We aim for a smooth and safe check-in process. You can help us with this process by:

  • Transporting your dog(s) to and from your vehicle using a sturdy leash and collar. For safety, all dogs in our lobby must be leashed.
  • Avoiding overly emotional departures (especially with first-time stays), that may be misinterpreted by your dog(s) and produce unwarranted anxiety during their initial experience.
  • Relaying all relevant updates at check-in.
  • Allowing an extra 10 minutes for the check-in; involves labeling all personal items, recording feeding & medication instructions, and noting any updates. We aim for a smooth and efficient process, but at certain peak times there may be a customer back-log in our lobby.
  • Retrieving all personal items at check-out. We encourage you to verify that all items & medications have been returned prior to departure.
    •Inspecting your dog at checkout and bringing any concerns to the attention of our staff prior to departure.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CHECK-OUT

A safe and enjoyable stay for all our guests is the goal. In our social model, open, supervised play is encouraged. Even with vigilant supervision, vaccination precautions, requiring heartworm regimen for all guests, and continuous access to water, certain occurrences and illnesses are inevitable with open rambunctious play. These may include:

  • Nicks, scrapes, and punctures
  • Sore joints and muscles
  • Fatigue & thirst
  • Transmission of viral & bacterial infections
  • Caloric deficit

THE “AFTER BARKS LULL”
PLEASE NOTE: Most dogs are unaccustomed to the level of continuous physical activity they experience during open play while at BARKS. While all stays include rest cycles, your dog may appear more fatigued when they return home.

  • It is not unusual for a dog to sleep for a day or two after some visits. This fatigue is a natural part of a healthy dog’s cycle and is no cause for alarm. Your dog(s) may also drink more water than usual upon returning home.
  • To reduce the risk of bloating, dogs should have a minimum of 30 minutes of rest before drinking water after exercising. If your dog was checked out during or immediately following a play cycle, he/she may not have had water prior to departure from our facility. These dogs will drink a lot more upon arriving home. This is normal and is to be expected.
  • Please inform us if your dog becomes ill after returning home. Some conditions take time to manifest symptoms, and your prompt notification may allow us to take preventative action and/ or ramp up certain precautions.