Heading out of town for the holidays can bring a lot of joy, but for pet parents, there's often one big question hanging in the air: Who's going to take care of my dog while I'm away?
With so many options, finding a place that truly feels like a home away from home for your furry friend can be tricky. Don't worry—we're here to share our expert insight to help you choose the perfect spot for your pup this holiday season.
Work With a Trusted Facility
Our number one tip is to work with an established pet care facility—and not just because we are one!
When you board your dog at a trusted facility, you can rest easy knowing that they are being cared for by licensed and trained professionals. This level of care also brings benefits such as:
- Increased stability and routine
- Full-time care
- Enrichment
- Attention
- Socialization
Another benefit is that facilities often have established safety protocols—for example, here at Room for Paws, we have our highly trained staff on-site 24/7, and relationships with our local 24/7 and on-call veterinarians.
Research the Facility and Ask the Right Questions
The first step in finding the perfect facility for your pup is to do your research. Ask friends/family about local facilities, read each facility's reviews, and check out their social media. If you're on any local community pages or forums, you can also ask about the facility there!
Once you have a few choices in mind, the next step is to ask questions—to yourself and the potential facilities.
The number one question to ask yourself is: What's most important to me?
For some, it's trained staff on-site 24/7. For others, it's factors like sleeping arrangements, or the ability to spoil their pup with extra treats. Whatever it is, knowing what your non-negotiables are when it comes to dog care can help you find the best fit for your pup!
When it comes to the facility, some key questions to ask are:
- What are the sleeping arrangements?
- Is all-day play included with boarding?
- How many play areas do they have? Are the pups supervised?
- Are there outdoor and indoor play areas?
- Where will the pups stay during the majority of the day?
- How do they determine play groups? How big are they?
- What add-ons or customization options do they offer?
- Do they have staff on-site 24/7?
- Do they ensure that all dogs are vaccinated?
- What happens if a dog gets sick?
The ultimate goal of these questions is to get a good understanding of the facility's best practices so you can determine if they align with what you're looking for. In our experience, most people are looking for a safe and comfortableplace that can become their dog's home away from home.
The best thing you can do is visit any potential facilities—but we know that isn't always possible. If you're unable to visit, we recommend giving them a call to ask your questions.
Know What Sets a Dog Boarding Facility Apart
Several key factors can take a facility from good to great. As you do your research on facilities (and visit them), some areas to pay attention to are:
Staff Friendliness and Care: When you’re trusting a facility with your pup, it’s important that you feel comfortable with the staff. Ideally, you’ll be warmly welcomed into the facility, and you’ll notice staff members happily interacting with dogs. It’s important that staff is gentle and caring with each pup!
Facility Atmosphere and Cleanliness: Pay attention to the facility's conditions and appearance. Ultimately, appearances aren't everything (after all, what matters most is how they treat the dogs in their care), but they can be an indicator of cleanliness or even the approach to dog care. For example, at Room for Paws, we chose to use Fear FreeTM colors throughout our facility; that way, dogs could enjoy a warm, calm, and cheerful environment.
Group Size and Play Options: Your dog will be spending lots of time with their new-found friends, and it's important that they're in the appropriate playgroup to do so. Some facilities do an intake procedure (such as our discovery day), which is generally a good sign that the facility understands that each dog has their own personality, play style, and energy level! Group size also plays a huge part in ensuring your dog has the best time. Smaller playgroups mean more supervision, personalized attention, and a happier experience for each dog.
Standout Features: Every facility will have something they pride themselves on—which is a good thing! As you visit facilities, take note of any standout features that come up (or any that are mentioned on their website or in reviews). Sometimes, a seemingly small feature can make a world of difference! For example, we have low-impact flooring and ramps throughout our facility to help our senior guests be more comfortable during their stay!
Packages, Add-Ons, and Amenities: Every dog is unique, and they deserve a place that recognizes this. As such, it's best to find a facility that takes a more personalized approach or offers thoughtfully curated add-ons and customization options that align with your dog's needs. This could range from add-on services (like training and full-service grooming), the option to add extra treats, even specialized micro playgroups. Most facilities will have a list of their options for you to browse!
The Room for Paws Approach
Before we opened Room for Paws, we struggled to find adequate care for our own pups. So, believe us when we say we understand how hard it can be to find dog care that you are truly comfortable with and confident in. And we’ve made it our mission to achieve this.
When it comes to our facility and services, we start by asking ourselves the same question we mentioned above—What's most important to us?
And, as it turns out, it's many things! But, at the root of it all, it's that we go out of our way to provide every guest with as much love, care, and fun as weprovide our own pups.
If you want to learn more about what we do, you can click here to read about the amenities our modern facility has to offer, or even view photos in our online gallery.
Book Tri-State Area Holiday Dog Boarding Today
With the holiday season flying by, now is the time to get your pup signed up for our daycare and all-suite boarding. To make it easier and more convenient for our pup parents this holiday season, we've extended our pickup and drop-off hours:
- Monday—Friday: 6 AM to 7:30 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
We also offer our valet service by appointment!
To start the enrollment process, please fill out a reservation form, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
