All dogs must be crate trained, which means they are easy to get in the crate and are quiet while crated. Howling, barking, or trying to break out is not considered crate trained. I will accept some older, proven safe dogs that are not crate trained. The crateing is for their protection and safety if I have to leave, or if a dog is not getting along with the other dogs and has to be confined. All dogs that are not compatible with cats must sleep in their crate at night. If your dog is a counter surfer or destructive in any way, I cannot accept it for daycare or boarding. Jumping on the bed or sofa is allowed. Jumping on tables and countertops is not allowed. If your dog is aggressive in any way towards other animals or humans, I won’t accept them. The dogs I care for are like one big happy dog family and must have a dog friendly temperament for that reason. They make friends and are eager to come back.

There are four brimming toy-boxes of toys for the dogs to play with and a dog friendly sofa with waterproof cover for them to relax on. I have a well fenced dog yard for when they go outside. We go outside for play time and exercise as much as possible, depending on weather and the dogs and I am always out with them. In hot weather outside time is usually an hour in the morning and for boarded dogs, another outdoor playtime in the evening if it cools enough. During the hot part of the day we just go outside for potty breaks. Indoors, besides the toys, Dickens has a talking button pad and several dogs have shown an interest in the buttons.