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.
My whole life revolves around the care and love for animals of all kinds. I've been working in the veterinary field for over 5 years and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am well versed in the specific needs of all pets, whether it be a simple walk to go potty, or administering insulin to a diabetic cat. I am currently employed as a Certified Vet Tech in the Tampa area. My job allows me to be around all types of animals, which in turn has helped me become very comfortable with watching pets that have different behaviors and needs. I am also very active and have no issues giving the exercise needed pet specific. I know how hard ... View Profile
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.
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
Fun: At Dogtopia, our mantra is to provide your pup with the Most Exciting Day Ever! In addition to playroom activities, your dog will enjoy a variety of themed parties and doggie photo ops throughout the year! Dogs are a really big deal around here, so your pup can expect to play, run, learn and rest – and most importantly, they will meet their BFFF (Best Furry Friend Forever)!
Our boarding facilities are fully equipped to handle dogs of all shapes and sizes. We encourage you to bring your pup to our location for daycare prior to an overnight or extended stay. We recommend at least one day of daycare prior to your dog’s overnight stay – three days of daycare is ideal – to allow your pup to get used to the facility and have a better overall experience. Your dog will become comfortable with our staff, and learn that you will be coming back to bring them home. It will also give our staff an opportunity to learn your pup’s personality and play preferences.
Your pet starts his day every morning at 7:30 am when we let all our guests out into our two play yards for large and small dogs, where they run and play for the next 2 hours while the resort staff gathers all the old food, water & bedding, thoroughly cleans your pet's suite and then puts down clean bedding, fresh food and water. At this time, everyone comes back in for breakfast, which is usually followed by a mid-morning nap. Throughout the rest of the day your pet is outside playing another 4 to 5 times during the day, usually at least for a half-an-hour, with the last play session usually around 10:00pm. (We play T.V., DVDs or the radio, especially in the evenings, to soothe your pet and give him the sense of home.)
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.