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
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.
What is the difference between dog sitting and boarding?
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.)
How many dogs can you have in a dog daycare?
With Dogtopia, your furry family member will learn how to be a well-balanced canine citizen. Each new dog gets a report card at the end of the day detailing their behavior, who they made friends with, and how well they interacted with the team and other dogs. We also provide our regular customers with frequent updates on their dog’s temperament, as well as advice on how to replicate their training at home.
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
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.
At Dogtopia, your dog’s safety and wellbeing is our first and foremost priority. That’s why we have a number of safety protocols in place such as full walls, certified Canine Coaches, pet-friendly cleaning supplies, floors made from compressed rubber to reduce the impact on the pads of dog’s feet, joints and hips, soundproofing throughout to keep nervous dogs at ease, separate HVACs to maintain fresh air circulation and a climate-controlled environment.
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.
Do dogs miss their owners?
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.
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Our safe and fun playrooms are designed to encourage exercise and comfort. You won’t see any chain link fences at our facilities. Instead, we separate our playrooms with walls to prevent the spread of airborne contagions and reduce noise. This also provides a relaxing environment for our dogs since the sight of other dogs between rooms may lead to barrier frustration.
Your pup isn’t just your best friend, they’re also your family member! And as family members, you want the best for them. I’m here to make sure that your pup has all the love you give them and all the expertise that comes with a licensed professional! My professional career started when I was 19 years old, when I got my first certification for dog training. From there, I wanted to know as much as I could about animals and taking care of them! I went to animal grooming school, took classes on animal behavior, and am even certified to train service dogs as well. Needless to say, your pup will be in good hands when they&rsquo ... View Profile
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.