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Important Questions about Dog Daycare and Boarding at Central Bark
Frequently Asked Questions |
| Health and Safety Questions
Basic Requirements Questions
Facilities/Environment Questions
Boarding/Daycare Questions
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What shots are required? Your dog should be current on Rabies, DHPP or DA2PP, and Bordetella (“kennel cough”). We will need written proof of vaccinations. You can bring them with you for us to copy, or you can have your vet fax them to us at 719-592-1493. Please plan ahead, so your dogs are vaccinated at least one week prior to coming to Central Bark as a new client. Since vaccinations stress a dog’s immune system, it’s best not to also stress them with a new environment. As of June 2009, there is a vaccine available for Canine Influenza! We do not require it at this time, but urge you to discuss this vaccine with your vet. My own dogs, at the advice of their veterinarians Dr. Fowler and Dr. Marsden, have also been vaccinated for Leptospirosis. The Lepto vaccine used to be associated with numerous side effects, and cases of Lepto were quite rare – so in the past, this vaccination was not recommended. However, Lepto cases are on the rise locally, and the vaccine is now improved. I personally am conservative when it comes to vaccinations, yet felt that this was necessary for my dogs. We do NOT require it, but I do recommend it if wildlife is abundant near your home. Lepto is spread via urine of infected animals, such as local wildlife or possibly an infected dog. This disease is much easier to prevent than to cure. You might also discuss the giardia vaccine with your veterinarian. My own dogs have not had this vaccine, but every case is different so please consult with your vet. I do not plan on vaccinating my own dogs for Canine Flu at this time.Back to Top
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Do you require the Bordetella vaccine every 6 months? Not necessarily. If the shot record provided by your veterinarian shows a due date that is a year after it was given, we will honor your veterinarian’s recommendation. We are not vets, and quite frankly over-vaccination can be as harmful as under-vaccination. However, if we are only provided with records showing when the Bordetella vaccine was given, we will assume it is due in 6 months. Please keep in mind that “Kennel Cough” protection is provided by both the Bordetella and the DHPP vaccines, depending on whether it is bacterial or viral. One of my "pet peeves" is the other kennels who refer to Bordetella as a "viral disease" when it is in fact a bacterial disease. Also, there are many strains and the vaccines are not effective against all of them (similar to the flu shot for people). Sadly, most of the dogs that get “Kennel Cough” at Central Bark are our new client dogs… not a wonderful first impression, but it happens – just like the new kid at daycare who gets sick. Our “regulars” rarely get sick, as their immune systems have adjusted to the challenges. Please be aware that as of June 2009 there is a vaccine available for Canine Influenza. We do not currently require this vaccination, but urge you to discuss it with your vet.Back to Top
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Do you require the Canine Flu vaccine? No, not at this time. Please understand that I am not a veterinarian, but I do breed and show AKC champion Bernese Mountain Dogs, and I have an undergraduate degree in Biology. So, I am more informed than the typical dog daycare manager - I understand that Bordetella is bacteria not a virus, for example, and I understand that Canine Flu is actually an easier disease to manage because it is a virus with a relatively short contagious period. This is a new, conditionally approved vaccine, and I simply cannot require my client dogs to be guinea pigs in order to attend Central Bark. If Canine Flu were often fatal, my decision would probably be different. However, we have seen about 100 cases at Central Bark with no fatalities. True, it was very bad for business, and a small percentage of dogs had vet bills over $500 - usually it costs less than $100 to treat. Also, because of a concept called "herd immunity" we have only had one extreme outbreak of Canine Flu (July 2008). We had a couple of dogs out of 50 with Canine Flu associated with the New Year's 2009 weekend, and then we had a few more get sick in early May 2009. Neither of these situations resulted in all susceptible dogs getting sick - although a few did. This is because such a large percentage of our regular client base is currently immune, based on their July 2008 exposure. Due to the circulating virus in January and May, many of these immune dogs probably received a boost to their immunity. It does not make sense for these dogs to be vaccinated for a disease they are already immune to! Vaccinations are not risk-free (google "Jean Dodds DVM" or "canine vaccine reactions") although the core vaccinations (Rabies, Distemper/Parvo combo) have certainly been lifesavers. Bottom line - PLEASE DISCUSS THIS VACCINATION WITH YOUR VET and make the decision that is best for your dog and for you. If you are going to "freak out" if your dog gets a cough, please reduce the chances by vaccinating your dog for Canine Flu (but also understand this vaccine is not 100% effective, your dog may still get the flu but it will be milder and your dog will be contagious for a shorter time). If your dog is going to be here during a high volume period such as Thanksgiving or Christmas and has not already had Canine Flu, I lean toward recommending that your dog get this vaccination well in advance (so it has had the series of 2 vaccinations before coming here during a busy holiday).
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Do you require dogs to be on a flea prevention program? Not at this time. In the past, fleas have not been a major problem in Colorado Springs. However, there are signs this is changing. I’m seeing more local dogs with fleas. We have even found dog lice on a few dogs. We are a very clean facility, but if a dog comes in with fleas or lice, they may spread from dog to dog. If you want assurance that your dog will NOT come home with fleas, please use a product such as Front Line or Revolution. Back to Top
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Can my dog get sick at Central Bark? We cannot guarantee that your dog will not get sick at Central Bark. Just as with human diseases, many dogs are most contagious BEFORE they are showing symptoms of illness. Your best safeguard against serious illness is to make sure your dog has the required vaccinations at least one week prior to attending Central Bark. We have occasionally had dogs come down with “kennel cough” and gastroenteritis after attending our facility. The gastroenteritis is much less common since we installed our seamless, non-porous epoxy floor. We are very open about “kennel cough” – when we have had cases reported, we let the “parents” know, just as a children’s daycare would. Due to the incubation period for “kennel cough” it is rare for dogs to be symptomatic while they are with us – so we depend on the owners to report any illness after their dog gets home. There is a new disease called Canine Influenza; as of June 2009 there IS now a vaccine available! The symptoms are similar to “kennel cough.” There have been numerous cases of Canine Flu in the Denver area; some estimates are that 55% of the dogs up there have been exposed. Colorado has the highest number of confirmed cases in the country. As of July 2008, this disease has been confirmed in Colorado Springs. Please do not panic about this disease. The incubation time is very short, 2 – 5 days. Dogs are most contagious shortly after they are exposed, compared to “kennel cough” where the dogs can remain contagious for longer periods. Some dogs that are exposed will never develop symptoms at all, most will develop symptoms similar to “kennel cough,” and a few will become seriously ill. Our most serious outbreak of “kennel cough” ever was in February 2007 and I suspected it might be Canine Flu so I paid to have one of the dogs tested. It turned out to be “kennel cough” after all. We had a similar "cough" outbreak in early July 2008 - this time testing confirmed Canine Flu. The last contagious dog was at Central Bark on July 14 and we were back to normal by July 28 (actually sooner, but I allotted extra time for a safety margin). PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND DOG PARKS FOR 1 WEEK PRIOR TO BOARDING IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE CANINE FLU RISK - unless your dog has immunity to Canine Flu, via prior exposure (preferred) or vaccination (not 100% effective). I recommend not attending dog parks for 2 weeks prior to boarding to reduce the bordetella risk - but I am not as emphatic about that because many dogs have better immunity to bordetella, either from the vaccine or prior exposure or both. If your dog has already had Canine Flu, you may attend dog parks without risk of flu for 2-3 years. The good news is that many of the Central Bark "regulars" are now immune to Canine Flu. More good news is that as of June 2009, a vaccine for Canine Flu is available! At Central Bark, we believe knowledge is power, so we will always strive to keep owners aware of risks so they can make an informed decision as to the risks they will take. Back to Top
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How can we minimize risks of dogs getting sick? Obviously, make sure your dogs are current on their vaccinations, at least one week prior to attending Central Bark. We use a variety of disinfectants and we are a very clean facility. However, we can’t disinfect the dogs themselves, and we have dogs sniffing various body parts while they’re here! Please be cautious about taking your dog to the dog park within 1 week before it comes to board with is; your dog could be exposed at the dog park and not show symptoms until staying with us. Please consult with your veterinarian about the Canine Influenza, leptospirosis and giardia vaccines, and for general advice on keeping your dog in optimal health. Please consider the use of Front Line or Revolution for flea control, particularly during the summer months. Feeding a premium diet from a natural pet market may also help your dog stay healthy. Also bear in mind that the fewer dogs at a facility, in general the lower risk of exposure. The source of disease at most facilities is a dog that was exposed elsewhere and may not yet show symptoms, not a "stockpile of left-over germs" due to inadequate cleaning! If you really do not want your dog to get fleas or Canine Flu, then please make sure you have done everything you personally can do to reduce the risk - that is, use a vet-approved flea treatment and have your dog vaccinated for Canine Flu. Back to Top |
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What if my dog gets sick or injured while at Central Bark? We will first attempt to contact you, unless it’s a serious emergency in which case we will rush your dog to the vet immediately. If we cannot reach you, we may still opt to take your dog to the vet if we feel that is best for your dog. Whenever possible, we will take your dog to its regular veterinarian, even if this means driving across town. If your dog has symptoms of a contagious disease, we WILL take it to the vet as soon as possible, whether we can reach you or not. You WILL be responsible for any veterinary bills, unless you have signed up for our optional Health Care Warranty program. Back to Top |
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Why do I pay the vet bill when another dog injured my dog? Due to the screening process, we basically do not have unprovoked attacks at Central Bark. There is always risk of injury when dogs interact with each other. Although the handlers are the ultimate “alphas” this does not totally negate the dogs’ own social hierarchy. When a dog is injured by another, it may have been completely unintentional. Dogs often play with their mouths, and sometimes a tooth or claw causes injury. Some injuries are the result of a brief scuffle. It is rare for more than one dog to be hurt, since handler intervention is swift. The dog that is hurt is not always the innocent one. For example, we discourage “humping” behavior but some dogs will still try – and sometimes the other dog objects before we intervene. A seemingly “cute” behavior is one dog resting its head on another’s shoulders – this is actually a dominant behavior. When done by an acknowledged “alpha” this may not cause problems, but when the established hierarchy is challenged, it may cause an argument. In most cases, it is difficult to establish “whose fault” it was. The dog who was bitten probably did something to provoke the reaction. For this reason, the owner of the injured dog pays the vet bill (unless the owner has paid for the optional Health Care Warranty). Back to Top |
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What is the optional Health Care Warranty? Central Bark’s prices for daycare and boarding are on the lower-to-middle end of the scale compared to similar professional facilities with paid adult employees. When a client’s dog is injured or becomes ill, this stresses the client who typically does not remember signing the agreement that they are responsible for any vet bills. I found it very uncomfortable to remind “parents” of this detail when their dog was sick or hurt. To remedy this, I had two options: 1) charge everyone higher rates, and cover all vet bills; or 2) offer an optional Health Care Warranty at extra cost, to those who wanted Central Bark to assume some of the risk. We have offered the optional Health Care Warranty since May 2006. It works well because every client has to make a conscious decision as to whether they want to pay more and have less risk, or pay less and have more risk. There are some exclusions (such as bloat and Canine Flu) and this warranty only applies to conditions directly related to the dog’s stay at Central Bark. Also, Central Bark’s liability is limited to $500 per dog per year. For more details, come talk to us! Back to Top |
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Does Central Bark provide Bordetella vaccinations? NO. Although some dog daycare facilities administer Bordetella vaccinations on site, unless they have a licensed veterinarian present this is a dubious practice. It may be legal to do so if a certified vet tech is present, or it may be acceptable if the facility sells the vaccine to you for you to personally administer. Otherwise, it is practicing veterinary medicine without a license. There is a possibility of adverse reactions to vaccinations so these really are best given by a vet. If you cannot get an immediate appointment with your vet, you might want to try Hamlett Spay and Neuter Clinic. They have vaccination clinics with no appointment needed Tues-Fri, from 9-11:30 am and 1-3:30 pm. Their phone number is 719-475-1800. Back to Top |
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Why do you remove the dogs' collars? This is a subject of debate among dog daycare managers. After reading an article in the ABKA journal on the debate over whether daycare dogs should wear collars or not, we had two situations within the month where one dog's jaw got caught in another dog's collar, twisted, and nearly suffocated the other dog. We had to cut the collar off with scissors, while both dogs were terrified. I basically considered these incidents as signs to go collarless! As a dog breeder, I have heard horror stories from other breeders about coming home and finding their own dogs caught by the collars, with one of them dead. When the dogs are supervised, there is less risk of fatality. However, it is very traumatic for the dogs. Going collarless means that the staff absolutely must know the dogs' names, and we use loop leads when necessary to guide a dog to its kennel. We have never lost a dog, but should that happen the dog would be collarless. I strongly recommend that all dogs be microchipped. As a show dog owner and breeder, my own dogs only wear collars when I am on the other end of the lead. I strongly believe that collarless is the professional choice. I also am a strong believer in the importance of microchipping your dog. Collars break, can get caught on things, or can be removed...tags can come off the collar... although rarely a microchip may not be permanent, in most cases this is a permanent form of identification that will always be there to ensure your dog's safe arrival back home. Back to Top |
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Do you require all dogs to be spayed/neutered? No. I show my Bernese Mountain Dogs in AKC conformation shows, and am a conscientious breeder who is very comfortable around intact dogs and bitches. However, I do recommend that most dogs be spayed or neutered and am a firm believer that unless your dog is both of breeding quality and you are intending on breeding him/her in a responsible manner, he should be neutered or she should be spayed. Having intact dogs in the playgroups DOES require extra care, attention, and experience. Effective January 1, 2009 there will be an ADDITIONAL FEE for intact dogs and bitches over the age of 12 months - $2 per day for daycare-only, $3 per night when boarding. Even when an intact dog is quite mild mannered, the other dogs sense the presence of the extra hormones and it may cause escalated behavior. This is especially true of young dogs just becoming sexually mature. Almost all of our incidents requiring veterinary attention involve at least one intact male. If your bitch is intact, we expect you to record her heat cycles and plan your vacations around them. We cannot be responsible for unplanned pregnancies, although of course we do our best to avoid them! It is disruptive to have a bitch in season at our facility, because the scent results in escalated behavior in all dogs, neutered or not. This is why most daycare facilities DO require all dogs to be spayed and neutered. We work very hard to keep all dogs safe at Central Bark. Go to Top |
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Are all breeds welcome? Yes, I am adamantly against breed-specific bans. This means that we do allow well-behaved Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Chows, etc. to participate in daycare. One of our best-behaved and most social dogs is in fact a neutered male pit bull. Also, many of our “problem” dogs have been male Labrador Retrievers (but this may be because we have more Labs than any other breed, since in general the Sporting Group dogs tend to be good candidates for daycare). All dogs regardless of breed are monitored for negative behavior changes that sometimes occur.Go to Top |
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What is the application process? We have 4 pages of paperwork to fill out: 1) Basic Information such as name, address, etc.; 2) Pet Personality Profile which provides detailed information on your dog’s traits; 3) you must read and sign the Health & Temperament Agreement; 4) you must choose to accept or decline the optional Health Care Warranty. Also, you must provide proof of current vaccinations (Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella). We offer a free introductory day of daycare (without overnight stay) for all new clients. This is optional but “strongly recommended” except prior to a new dog staying with us for Thanksgiving or Christmas, when it is required. We do our temperament evaluation during the introductory day. It’s free because we really want you to do it – it’s best for your dog, which also makes it best for us! However, we realize that for many of our boarding clients, bringing their dog for a day only is inconvenient. To encourage all new clients to do this, there is no charge for the introduction/evaluation day. If your dog has to board with us on short notice and there is no time to do the introductory day, we will evaluate your dog when it stays with us – but there is a chance that the dog will not qualify for being in the playgroup and will have to be exercised separately. During the free introductory day, we get to know your dog, your dog gets to know us, and your dog finds out that you come back. This helps reduce the stress of boarding. Occasionally a dog does not do well on its first free day. Unless it is overtly aggressive, we will give a second free day. Most daycare facilities don’t do this. It takes extra care and work to help a dog that is not a “natural” for daycare, adjust to it – but in fact, these may be the dogs who benefit the most! Go to Top |
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Do you have an outdoor play area? Our new convenient location allows outside areas for the dogs as a conditional use, so we will have outdoor areas soon. In the interim we are an indoors-only facility. The advantages of being an indoors-only facility include: 1) very secure – dogs do not escape, especially with our 2-door system into every play area; 2) climate-controlled – we have evaporative coolers in the summer, so it remains cool enough for the dogs to exercise without the worry of heat stroke; 3) sanitation – it is much easier to keep the play areas sanitized, without harming the environment. We have a rubber play floor areas, which is easy on the dogs' joints as they run and play. We also have indoor turf areas, to simulate outdoor areas. For the small dogs, we have a turf tray. For dogs that simply will not eliminate indoors, brief “potty walks” are provided at no extra charge. We also offer 15-minute “real” walks for an additional $5 per walk.
We have three large garage doors (all blocked by kennel panels which allow air flow but prevent escape) to allow fresh air and sunshine in. One of my customers had to rent a car recently and witnessed 3 dogs escape from a nearby dog daycare facility. The dogs ran across a busy street and nobody even tried to catch them. There is more risk of escape associated with outdoor facilities. (P.S. Although it is common knowledge that exposure to sunlight allows humans to synthesize Vitamin D, this is NOT the case for dogs, cats, mole rats and some bat species. Source: General & Comparative Endocrinology, Vol 96, Issue 1, October 1994, pp12-18.)Go to Top |
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Will staying at an indoors-only facility ruin my dog’s housetraining? If you have an older dog who is well housebroken, there should be no adverse effects. In over 6 years, I’ve only heard of one 4-month-old puppy whose housebreaking may have been negatively impacted by attending Central Bark. If a puppy has already made lots of “mistakes” in its own home, the scent of those past mistakes may encourage it to “mess up” again after being here. One of the secrets to housebreaking a puppy is to gradually increase the amount of time that it has to “hold” it, based on its physical maturity. Whether the pup is in an indoor facility, or an outdoor facility, or even in its own backyard all day, it can go whenever the urge strikes. Successful housebreaking involves not only the “where” but the “when.” We can actually help with pups by putting them on a schedule of playtime, crate time, feeding time, and “potty” time (not in that order, by the way), and we can walk them outside for the “potty” time if preferred. Go to Top |
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Where will my dog sleep? We have Priefert steel kennels ranging in size from 4x4 feet for small dogs, to 5x5 feet for most dogs, to 5x10 (or larger) for giant breeds or multiple dogs from the same family. Some of these kennels have privacy panels and some do not. We plan to build some 4x5 “cubby” kennels for dogs that prefer a more enclosed feeling. You may bring your dog’s own bedding. We have pet cots available for about half of our capacity (and continually buying more), so whenever available we put your dog’s bed on top of a cot. If your dog chews bedding, let us know and we’ll give him or her just a cot (which most dogs don’t chew). Your dog will sleep in a private run. Only dogs from the same family are allowed to share a run at their owner’s request. Go to Top |
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Is anyone there overnight? Not usually. Staff arrives at 6:00 am Monday-Friday, and the weekend staff arrives at 6:30 am on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Central Bark is open until 9:00 pm, and I am often there later doing paperwork. We do have an alarm system. My staff is very observant and they alert me to any possible concerns. If I am nervous about a dog’s condition, I will either take it to the emergency vet clinic to spend the night, or I will spend the night at Central Bark. For example, recently I was concerned about one of our geriatric dogs, so she spent the weekend (at my expense) at the Animal Emergency Care Center. I was able to sleep knowing that she was being monitored and cared for. Long ago, at the original location, I had 4 dogs with “stomach flu” symptoms on a Saturday. I spent Saturday night at Central Bark, monitoring the dogs hourly. By Sunday morning, 3 of the dogs were back to normal but one was not (so that dog went to the emergency clinic, where she was diagnosed with giardia which on top of the other “bug” made it more difficult for her to recover than the others). Fortunately, these situations are rare. Go to Top |
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Do you have webcams? Not yet, but we will soon. As an experienced dog person, I have some personal reservations about the webcams. For one, they should never be used in place of handlers. For example, if a facility has indoor/outdoor areas, there should be a handler present wherever the dogs are – if some dogs are inside and some are outside, there should be 2 handlers present. Also, viewers need to be educated that what may appear on the webcam to be a fight, is in fact play. Central Bark will soon have webcams in order to satisfy the customers’ demand for this service. We have started communicating with a vendor regarding webcams as of May 2010. Go to Top |
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How much playtime do boarding dogs get? They get the same amount of playtime that a daycare-only dog gets. During the week, the boarding dogs are let out of their kennels shortly after 6:00 am to relieve themselves. Then breakfast is served. Morning playtime usually begins no later than 7:00 am. The dogs play until 12:30 pm.. Naptime is from 12:30-3:00 pm. Then the dogs play again until 6:00 pm when dinner is served. The final playtime is from 6:30-8:30 pm. This schedule is more similar to a dog's normal routine, than the schedule at daycare facilities that close at 7:00 pm.
At 8:30 pm the dogs are kenneled so the nightly cleanup can begin. On the weekends, the playtime is shorter (7:00 -10:00 am, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, and 6:30-8:30 pm). Please note that this is still more playtime (8 hours) than many of our competitors offer on a daily basis. Go to Top |
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When can boarding dogs be dropped off? Monday-Friday, dogs can be dropped off for boarding any time between 6:30 am and 9:00 pm. We do encourage early afternoon drop-offs. This way, your dog gets some exercise before being put to bed. However, if you need to drop-off at 9:00 pm, that's fine. On the weekends, boarding drop-off is between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm. Please check our Contact/Hours page for holiday hours.Go to Top |
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When can boarding dogs be picked up? Monday-Friday, dogs can be picked up any time between 6:30 am and 9:00 pm. If a boarding dog is picked up by noon, you save $7.00. On the weekends, boarding dogs may be picked up between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm. Please check our Contact/Hours page for holiday hours. Go to Top |
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Do you offer daycare on the weekends? Yes, but the naptime is 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Playime is 7:00-10:00 am, 3:00-6:00 pm. and 6:30-8:30 pm. Weekend daycare costs less than weekday daycare, due to the longer midday naptime. Although your dog is not getting as much playtime, you can be assured that your dog is comfortable and secure during the day. Go to Top |
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Why is naptime longer on the weekends? Because we all need a break! Dogs boarding with us for a week or more need the extra rest. My staff needs a break and change of routine. I need a break, too! The average dog sleeps 14-16 hours a day, but not at Central Bark. We're still here to provide exercise and care for your dog, since you, the owner, may need a break, too! Go to Top |
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| How many days a week should a dog attend daycare? Depends on the dog! Generally, 1 – 3 days per week work best for most dogs. Many dogs will become too tired if they attend daycare 5 days per week, and tired dogs become cranky dogs (just like kids!). Dogs that need less physical activity and are coming primarily to relieve the monotony of day after day home alone, may do best coming only one day per week, or every other week. Dogs that need more physical exercise may benefit from coming 3 days per week. If you have a dog that is destructive or a nuisance to the neighbors when left home alone, you may bring the dog 5 days per week, but we’ll provide extra rest if needed.Go to Top |
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| How many dogs are at Central Bark? It varies. We will eventually have 50 kennels for boarding. We are quite busy during the summer months with both overnight boarding dogs and daycare dogs, so we may have 40 – 60 dogs present. Once the kids go back to school, the number of boarding dogs decreases and we usually have 30 – 40 dogs present. Note that PACFA regulations state that no play group should exceed 60 dogs in one area. We can divide the play areas into 4 different supervised groups if necessary. We are also quite busy for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and District 20’s Spring Break in March. We are a smaller, more personal facility and have no desire to have more than 60 dogs here at a time. A smaller facility is easier to keep clean and sanitary. Also, we usually have enough dogs present that your dog will have many playmates but a more personal atmosphere. Go to Top |
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How far in advance should we make boarding reservations? We usually fill all kennels for Christmas and Thanksgiving more than a month in advance. Most of the time, with the exception of holidays, we are able to accommodate last minute reservations. Go to Top |
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