1. Your dog will have a chance to see, smell, and interact in our facility after which they will get to go home with you without an overnight stay. This allows the dog to recognize that we are not a veterinary office and that you will return for them, alleviating separation anxiety.

2. Our staff gets a chance to see the dog away from the owner and rate the dog's personality. This means that during your dog's stay the chance for an unexpected behavior issue is greatly reduced. It also allows us to pick a social group for the type of play your dog will enjoy.

3. You as an owner will feel much more comfortable when you return to pick your pet up from the test and see that your dog is excited, happy, and sometimes tired from the fun of socialized play!

If your dog already enjoys playing at a local dog park, then you can rest assured your dog will enjoy staying with us!

Do I need an appointment for my dog's temperament test?
Yes, we require appointments for temperament testing. All temperment tests are administered by Darci, so you will want to schedule your appointment 24 hours in advance to clear her schedule. The test takes two hours to complete. You will be required to bring proof of annual vaccinations as well as proof of a Bordetella vaccination within the last six months. Should you need to leave your dog longer than two hours, you will be charged the appropriate day care rate. Otherwise, there is no cost for the test.

How far in advance do I need to make reservations for boarding?
We generally book seven to ten days in advance of non-holidays and up to twelve weeks in advance of holidays. Please make reservations as early as possible so as to schedule your temperament test in advance.

For boarding, what time is check-in? What time is check-out?
You may check-in anytime during our business hours. Check-out is 10AM. Dogs are welcome to stay past the 10AM check-out time and enjoy doggie daycare; there will be a $15.00 daycare charge, per dog.

How much is boarding per night?
Beginning February 1, 2007, prices are as follows: All runs = $35.00 a night for the 1st dog, $28.00 2nd, $25.00 3rd & $22.00 for the 4th dog.

Is there a discount for boarding stays over a certain length, such as per month?
Due to space limitations, our prices for boarding are per night. We have had dogs stay as long as three months, so we can assure you we will make your pet's stay as much like home as possible.

When do I pay for my dog's boarding stay?
You are welcome to pay at the end of your dog's stay with us. We accept cash, local checks with proper identification, traveler's checks with proper identification, Visa, and MasterCard. We do not accept Discover or American Express. For dogs staying longer than 30 days, you will be required to pay at the end of each 30 day period. For major holidays we require 100% non-refundable deposits, which are due at the time you book your reservation.

What is Doggy Day Care?
We offer day care for our clients Monday through Friday, 7AM to 7PM. It follows our same philosophy that dogs enjoy socialization and need play during the day when Mom and Dad are away and busy at work. Our space is limited for daily and monthly daycare and requires an appointment.

Monthly day care is $225 per dog and requires pre-payment on the first of each month. Individual days of Doggy Day Care are $20/day.

What vaccinations do you require?
We require Rabies, Distemper, and Parvo be administered per your veterinarian's advice (generally annually, puppies under two receive Parvo boosters every six months). We require Bordetella to be administered within the last six months.

What do I need to bring when boarding my dog?
FOOD
You must bring your dog's food. You will be charged an extra $10/day per dog if we are required to provide food for your dog. This cost is to cover feeding a prescription level food to account for rapid changes in your dog's diet.

BEDDING
We have all necessary bedding for your dog, including beds, pillows, and blankets. You may bring your dog's bedding should it will make your pet's stay more comfortable! Please take notice of the size of our runs; please do not bring bedding larger than your pet's expected run.

TREATS / CHEWS / TOYS
We have plenty of each for your pet, all included in the per-day price. Please feel free to bring any of these items that you feel will make your pet feel more at home!

What about fleas and ticks? Will my dog get them at your facility?
We maintain a strict regimen for pest control. Unfortunately, it is impossible to exterminate all fleas and ticks, especially because many grooming dogs arrive in need of flea baths. Effective June 1, 2006 all boarding dogs must have Frontline Plus or Advantix applied in our presence! If you've previously applied or you use a different brand, your dog will be given a Capstar tablet to immediately kill any fleas & will be examined for ticks. There is a $6.00 per dose charge for Capstar. We will not be responsible for any new fleas and or ticks your dog may go home with.

May I have my dog groomed at the end of boarding?
We are a full-service grooming shop. Our grooming prices vary by breed, size and condition of coat. Please be aware that our boarding is socialized boarding, which means your dog may get dirty, smelly or matted during the course of the boarding stay. We will happily groom your dog prior to departure, but prices might escalate due to the nature of your dog's play. Please ask us if you have any questions or concerns.

How much does it cost to have my dog groomed?
Grooming prices vary by breed, size of the dog, condition of coat, and temperament; we cannot give exact grooming prices without seeing the dog to evaluate these criteria. Our prices begin at the following levels for these common breeds:

Toy Poodle = $55.00
Miniature Poodle = $75.00
Standard Poodle = $110.00
Golden Retriever (trim) = $60.00
Shih-tzu = $52.00
Bichon Frise = $80.00
Cocker Spaniel = $60.00
Springer Spaniel = $70.00
Yorkshire Terrier = $52.00
West Highland Terrier = $52.00
Miniature Schnauzer = $52.00
Hand-stripping = $85/hour
Deshedding = add $30/hour
Dematting = add $60/hour

Do I need an appointment for grooming?
Yes - Our groomers always have a full plate of grooms! Generally two days notice is enough time to get a reservation, but often popular days such as Mondays and Fridays book several days in advance.

How long will it take to groom my dog? When can I pick-up?
Our check-in times for grooming are: Monday - Friday: 7AM to 10AM

Pick-up times are offered in a first-in, first out fashion, but many times our clients choose to drop their dogs off on the way to work and pick them up on the way home; this means many times clients arriving in the middle of the morning still have the opportunity for the first pick-up slot. We strive to work with your schedule, so should you require a special pick-up time, please let us know when you schedule your appointment.

So if I drop my dog off for grooming at 7AM and pick-up after 5PM when I leave work, does this mean my dog has to be in a cage all day?
No! That is the beauty of our facility and mindset. Your dog can be temperament tested and allowed to play while waiting to be groomed. Our goal is to make grooming a process that the dog enjoys - often times this means allowing the dog ample playtime prior to grooming! We think nothing is better than picking up a well-socialized (and tired!) pet who also is clean and beautiful! There is, of course, no additional charge for this playtime! Call around and check - we know of no facilites that offer this "day spa" service!

What is "hand-stripping"? Why does it cost so much?
Many dogs with wire-hair coats are meant to be hand-stripped, a process where the hair is pulled and broken rather than cut. It is a very labor intensive process, one which also requires keen skill. The benefits to hand-stripping are many, mostly related to the hardness of the coat that results when the hair grows. Breeds such as Schnauzers, Airedales, Wire-hair Fox Terriers, West Highland Terriers, Brussels Griffons, etc all can be hand-stripped. We recommend starting this when your dog is a puppy, so that their hair will grow properly from the get-go.

My last groomer deshed my dog and it didn't cost anywhere near what you guys charge. Why?
Our deshedding process is generally vastly different than what many other places call deshedding. The differences revolve around the tools used, the expertise in using them, and the final result. Many groomers consider deshedding a process of using a "whip" deshedder which can often be purchased cheaply at most pet stores. These tools are fine for home groomers to use and we recommend breeds such as Labrador Retrievers have this done weekly during shedding season. Our process uses several specialized grooming tools, such as the Coat King or the Furminator. These tools are specialized grooming tools that work by removing the undercoat. It provides a vast improvement for dogs that shed and is a great treatment to have done during shedding season.

I see some places advertise that their groomers are "certified master groomers." What does that mean?
In reality, not much. Unlike the human hair stylist counterparts, dog groomers are not licensed in many states, including Texas. While grooming schools can develop a curriculum for students, there is no "skill" oversight by the state. We've seen courses that offer certification where the groomer colors in a grooming "coloring book" for the first two weeks of an eight week class! Ultimately, don't be fooled that someone advertising as "certified" or "master groomer" posseses any special, state-tested skills. The only proof is in the groom.

What vaccinations do you require?
We require Rabies, Distemper, and Parvo be administered per your veterinarian's advice (generally annually, puppies under two receive Parvo boosters every six months). We require Bordetella to be administered within the last six months.