General:
1. How do I get my dog started with doggy daycare and/or boarding?
To begin daycare and boarding, we require an evaluation day so that we can temperament test your pup to ensure that we are a good fit for his/her needs. Our evaluation days are $38 prepaid and include a full day of daycare. You would drop off your pup the morning of the evaluation and pick up in the afternoon/evening. We tend to book up far in advance (approximately 2-4 weeks) for evaluation days, so please keep this in mind when planning your trip. The prepayment must be made over the phone or in person. If it has been 1 year since your last stay with us, we will also require another evaluation day.
2. What is the best way to contact you?
Although we strive to return phone calls as quickly as possible, we may not always be able to pick up right away. Please leave us a voicemail and we will return your call before the end of the business day. For a quicker response, you can email us at austinpupculture@gmail.com, or if you have a true emergency, please title your email “URGENT” and we will get to it as quickly as possible. Rest assured, we will notify you immediately if any issues arise in daycare, as our number one focus is the safety and happiness of our guests.
3. What is your cancellation policy?
For daycare, our cancellation policy is before 5 PM the previous day. Any notifications after this or no-shows will result in a penalty fee of a full day of daycare, or a day taken off your package. We often have a lengthy waitlist every day, and receiving notice on time will give those pups a chance to come play!
For boarding, our cancellation policy is similar to daycare (24 hours in advance) UNLESS it is a stay that includes a holiday. Our holiday cancellation policy is as follows:
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years: 3 weeks in advance
Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July: 1 week in advance.
If you do not cancel within the time frame above, your deposit will not be refunded or credited to your account.
4. What are your pickup and drop off times?
Daycare:
Mon - Fri: 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sun: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Boarding
Mon - Fri: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sun: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Daycare/Boarding:
1. Can I drop off my dogs for daycare/boarding without a reservation?
No, unfortunately due to limited space, we require a reservation for all daycare and boarding stays.
In the busy summer months, we are often booked up at least 2-3 weeks out for daycare. If we are unable to fit you in, we can put you on our waitlist and give you a call when there are cancellations.
2. What do I need to bring for my pup if he/she has a boarding stay?
We provide bowls and beds for all pups. We do not allow any personal bedding, but you are welcome to bring in a toy. Please be aware that we cannot be held responsible if the toy gets misplaced or soiled. We do not allow toys that are unsafe for a dog to be left unsupervised with (such as rawhides or stuffed animals if your pup likes to eat stuffing).
3. Can you give me a run-down of a typical day for my pup at your facility?
On weekdays, we start play groups and evaluations at 8:30AM, and on weekends we start at 10 AM. If your pup is boarding with us, he will be walked and fed prior to this. We rotate our groups based on temperament and size until noon or 1 PM, when everyone will be cozied up for nap time until 2 PM. From 2 PM to 5 PM, we will rotate play groups. Afterwards, boarding dogs will be fed their dinner and walked again before we leave for the night. On weekends, we have another staff member come back to walk the pups one last time. We do not have any overnight staff, but all dogs are safely tucked in their private rooms, and the facility is equipped with security cameras and motion sensors.
4. How much play time will my dogs receive? Are they out in play groups the entire day?
The evaluation day will help us get an initial feel for your pup’s energy levels and play style. We do rotating play groups, and dogs with high energy levels who get along with everyone will often get the most time. As much as we value play time, rest is also an essential part of a balanced pup, so we require down time during naps as well as after a session of play. We focus on grouping your pups with other dogs who will provide the best quality of play rather than just a set amount of time. We aim to have every pup out for at least 1 hr to 1.5 hours before nap and again after nap time. If at any time you are concerned that your pup is returning home too tired or not tired enough, please bring it to our attention and we can work to modify his/her schedule the best we can.
5. My pup does not enjoy social time with other dogs, can he still come to daycare or boarding?
While we have taken some pups who require specialized attention on a limited basis, our main focus is daycare and socialization. If your pup does not enjoy socializing, we recommend seeking out another facility that may be better suited for individualized play times. Our resources are limited to allow for personal time, and at the moment, we are currently unable to take any new guests who need specialized attention.
6. My dog has severe separation anxiety, can he still come to daycare and/or boarding?
If your pup often gets severely stressed when alone, or in new environments, our facility may not be the best fit for him/her. We strive to make daycare and boarding as fun and stress-free as possible, but we will not be the right fit for every pup’s unique needs. If your dog prefers being at home to be comfortable, we recommend having a professional dog sitter to minimize the stress of having their humans away.