Note: This is an exhaustive list of questions. You don't need to answer every question, it's just some suggestions to get your brain going when describing your dog to us. (Also, do not be scared that these questions will make us not want to care for your pup. We can handle anything, and in fact we have a special love for what others might consider "problem dogs". We believe they deserve just as much love and even more careful attention than a perfectly-trained dog.) But we need an honest assessment of what your dog is really like; good, bad, & smelly lol. Not only will this help us make your dog as comfortable as possible, but it is necessary for us to know how they will relate to other dogs. We want to be able to honestly tell all of our clients what other dogs will be here with their fur-babies. Since we accept rescue dogs, puppies, and in-tact doggos, we need to ensure the best fit with other dogs that will be here. Thanks for understanding! 1.) Tell Us About: Behavioral Tendencies Is there any dominant behavior that they do? Any protective / guarding / territorial behaviors they do? If they are rescues: what do you know about their history that is important for us to know? Have they ever attacked another dog? Have they been attacked by another dog? Are they afraid of anything in particular? Does he mark? Inside, outside, or both? Do they mount or hump? Other dogs, people, objects? 2.) Tell Us About: Their Toy Preferences Do they have a favorite type of toy? Are they any styles of toys that they can’t have? Do they know how to share? Are they heavy chewers that we shouldn’t give a certain type of toy to? Do they become possessive of any toys? Do they have any toys / blankets that are like a “security blanket” for them? 3.) Tell Us About: Dietary Restricitons Can we give them treats, bones, rawhides? Can we mix peanut butter or pumpkin purée into their food if they don’t want to eat due to being nervous about being in a new environment? What is their feeding routine.... How many times a day do they eat, and how much do they eat? Or do you free feed?* *Note: we feed all dogs individually, unless you book multiple dogs and they are used to sharing food. If your doggo free feeds, they will need to be isolated from any other dogs we have until they’ve eaten, as most other dogs will immediately eat any food that is freely left out. When we say they will be isolated, we base our system off of what Sam learned at the boarding facility she worked at in the past. What exactly does this mean?: We have an old 1940’s home that is not “open concept” so all rooms are separated with doors. We have gates in almost every door frame, making it possible for us to compartmentalize our home into many different configurations. This way, your free-feeders can still see / talk to the other dogs, and will have multiple rooms to play in while isolated. 4.) Tell Us About: Bathroom Habits Describe their current level of potty training. How long have they been fully trained? How do they let you know when they need to go to the bathroom, or what is their potty schedule? Any particular situations that trigger accidents? 5.) Tell Us About: Their Sleep Situation Do they sleep on your bed with you? We don't mind if they snuggle up with us. Since we accept multiple dogs, it may not be possible to have every dog on our bed. If that's the case, how else are they comfortable sleeping? We have 2 crates one is 36" and one is 48". Do they sleep through the night? Do you do or say anything in particular to help them understand that it's bedtime? 6.) Tell Us About: Their Activity Level Would you like them to go on 2, 1, or 0 walks a day? What do we need to know about them in regards to walks? QUESTIONS FOR PUPPIES & NEW-TO-YOU DOGGOS How long has he/she been a member of your family? Do they know their name? What commands to they know? Describe their potty training... if they are untrained is there any part of potty training that they do have mastered, such as knowing to go on a pee pad? Do they nip at people or dogs? What would you like us to use as corrective words or actions when they have accidents or do things like nip or excessively bark? Are they too young to go on walks or to a dog park? Are they too new to you that you’re unsure of how they will react to us, other dogs, car rides, walks, going to a dog park, etc.?

We will play games that will keep their minds stimulated so that they don’t get bored! We have dozens of fun toys ranging from traditional toys like balls and ropes to more modern toys like a ball launcher and puzzle toys. We accept up to 5 dogs at a time, and since we prefer large dogs that like to play, the dogs typically get a lot of exercising simply through playing all day. Sometimes the dogs run laps around the house and yard all day and chase each other up and down the stairs. If they do this for hours and hours, we don’t force them to go for walks, as we don’t want to overly exhaust them. If it’s a more lazy day, we have an extensive labyrinth of neighborhoods around us so we can go for fun walks, taking a different route every time. We live within walking distance to the D&L trail which is 142.2 MILES long so that’s a never-ending source of fun running along the river too! Please let us know if you do not want your dog to have the opportunity to swim. In the warm months we try to give them lots of time to swim whether that’s down at the river or in the kiddie pool we have in the yard!