Most kennels will have staff available 24 hours a day, though this can take several forms. One or two employees may be present on-site (in the case of a family-owned business on their property, for example), or the kennel may be monitoried by video and audio. Feedings are usually handled at the discretion of the owner; whatever food you prefer must be supplied, along with instructions on how much to feed and how often.
My name is Linda and my daughters name is Christine. Together we are a team together. We have two dogs, 5 yr old Shar Pei mix and a 9 month old Blue Nose American Staffordshire Terrier. We have a two step meet & greet process, First is in a neutral area where all parties can meet, then if all goes well (and we have no doubt it will) we will then schedule another meet or simply have you us follow to our house. This way you get a feel for us and our pups and see our home, which will be their home for your away time. If anyone needs special accommodations you just need to let us know and we’ll take care of them as if they are our own. ... View Profile
We use home-style crates during naptime (12 to 2 p.m.) because it gives the dogs a safe place to rest in, allows them to have some “me” time and allows the staff to safely dispense individual food for dogs who eat lunch and/or medication to each dog if applicable. Similar to children in a daycare, dogs tend to easily adapt to the naptime routine as it’s at the same time each day and all their friends are enjoying the, often much-needed, down time as well! During naptime, the staff also thoroughly cleans each playroom to ensure the room is safe and clean before another exciting round of afternoon play!
We care about your dog’s safety and comfort. We encourage you to bring your pup’s own food to maintain their regular diet and avoid any digestion issues. You may consider bringing a little extra food for boarding as they burn a lot more calories in play than they typically do at home! If you forget your food for meals – no worries! We have in-house food for your convenience.
Dogs don’t think about inside vs. outside the way people do. They view the world around them through smell, sight and sound in a different way. Their nose will be full of new scents to explore as they meet their new BFFFs. They will see many wagging tails and hear excited yips and words of praise for playing excitedly! Because the sights, smells and sounds of our indoor playrooms are different from what they experience at home, you don’t have to worry about it impacting your house training. After 15 years in the business, we can confidently say that open play at Dogtopia does not translate to dogs going potty in the house.
Hello, my name is Shawna, I am a licensed pet sitter, and the founder of Tampaws Pet Care. I am a pet owner and animal lover myself. I have owned a variety of pets in my lifetime, including cats, dogs, guini pigs, iguanas, turtles, birds,snakes, fish, and even a sugar gliders. Not only am I a pet owner, i am also very involved with local rescues in the Tampa Bay area and have been a volunteer/foster mom for Pug Rescue Of Florida for the past three years. This experience has allowed me to foster and care for a variety of pugs and given my first hand knowledge with dogs of all ages and conditions. I have experience with administering basic med ... View Profile
Start by arranging a tour of the facility — most will have specific tour times throughout the day. Be leery of any facility that doesn't want you to visit. The dog and cat kennels should be clean, bright, and show signs of care; rusty fences or broken windows are a sign of neglect for the property, which can indicate a similar neglect for the animals.
Our dog daycare facilities include a variety of fun playrooms that provide everything an active pup needs, including space and supervision. Our climate-controlled playrooms are grouped by size, personality and play style to make sure your dog is safe and comfortable. As your dog ages, grows, and develops, they may switch playrooms as their confidence builds and/or play preferences change.

What should I look for in a dog daycare?
After an exciting boarding stay at Dogtopia, it’s important to ensure your dog adapts well to being back home. While at Dogtopia, your dog received access to unlimited water in their playroom. However, it is still likely they will seem very thirsty upon returning home. This is a common reaction to the excitement of being back at home with their family. Please withhold water from them for the first 30 minutes that they are home. After they have calmed down from the excitement of being home, you should then give them a small bowl of water and continue to monitor their water consumption for the next few hours. Dogs that drink too much water too quickly may lead to vomiting, or in very serious cases, could lead to bloat.
Staff are just as critical. In speaking with staff members, a clear interest in animals should be evident. If staff seem annoyed by the dogs and cats surrounding them, are short-tempered or curt, you can expect their demeanor to be worse when you leave. Think of the kennel as a type of extended family — choosing the right service means balancing price with the comfort of your dog or cat.
While in-home dog care might feel uncomfortable to some because of giving a stranger access to your home, having someone stop by can be much less intimidating for the dog than having to stay in a crate or small room overnight with other dogs around. If you are one of those dog owners who would rather your dog be in his or her own home while you are out of town, you may want to check out local dog sitters near you.

How much does it cost to watch a dog overnight?