Ensuring That Your Dog Will Fit in Well at Happy Hound

At Happy Hound, all pets are interviewed and assessed to make sure they are friendly and will work well in our social environment.

Also, to ensure a good fit and a comfortable stay, we require that all of our boarders have a minimum of two days of daycare prior to overnight boarding. Depending on the assessment outcome, we may require more than the minimum two days. This will be discussed during the initial interview.

What to Expect on Your First Visit to Happy Hound

When you and your dog enter our facility, you’ll both be a bit excited. When your companion finds that there are 80 to 100 dogs in our various playgroups, in different rooms, he or she will probably be shaking with excitement about the possibility of joining one of these groups. Sometimes parents feel that this shaking is from fear or nervousness—but take our doggy-clients’ word for it: it is sheer excitement! It’s like a little child walking into Disneyland for the first time.

You’ll probably also experience a high level of dog communication within our facility. As you come in, our dogs will be very pleased to see both of you, so you might hear some barking. All of this is normal. Just come into our reception area with your dog, and we’ll direct you both from there.

At that point, we’ll want to make sure that all of your interview packet paperwork is complete, and that you have your vaccination records with you. The assessment interview takes about 40 minutes; we will interview both you and your companion.

To save time you can download our interview packet.

Then, hold on tight, the adventure is about to begin.

Requirements for New Playmates

Here are the requirements we will be looking for when enrolling new doggy playmates.

Age
All dogs enrolled in basic daycare must be at least three months of age or older. Puppies in the Play Pen Program must be at least 8 weeks old.

Sex
All dogs enrolling in basic daycare must be spayed or neutered (except for puppies under six months who are enrolled in, or have completed, the Play Pen Program).

Canine Vaccinations
Owners will be required to provide proof of current vaccinations (bordetella, rabies, and DHLPP vaccinations). Flea and heartworm preventatives are encouraged but not required. This should be discussed with your veterinarian. We also support and encourage Titers blood test for all dogs as an alternative to proof of vaccinations.

Pet Health
All dogs must be in good health. Owners must certify that their dog(s) are in good health and have not been ill with a communicable disease within the last 30 days.