ARRIVING AND COLLECTING YOUR DOG FROM DAYCARE
When you arrive
We are ready to accept your dog from 7.30am Monday to Thursday and from 8am on a Friday. On arrival please park and bring your dog into the main reception.
Please ensure your dog is wearing a collar and lead or harness, so we are able to transfer them safely to the daycare area. It is often a busy time between 7.30 and 8.15 so please be prepared to wait a few minutes if we are booking other dogs in. We understand the need to get to work on time and we will do our best to be with you promptly. If there is not a member of day care staff to greet you, please ring the bell in reception and we will be with you as quickly as possible.
We would be most grateful if you can ensure that your dog has had the opportunity to go to the toilet before he or she gets to daycare. It is not possible to take dogs for a walk on grass until all the dogs have arrived at 9am. We would prefer not to have to clean the daycare at the start of the day to avoid having wet floors.
We ask that all dogs are here by 9am at the latest, ready to go out for our first walk.
Bringing food in for your dog
If your dog is having a meal during the day please bring the correct amount of food in a suitable container or bag. We have facilities for storing raw food if needed. If possible please label your dogs food container with his or her name and time to feed.
Collecting your dog
You are able to collect your dog from daycare anytime after 3.30pm up until 6pm. We do not offer half or short days as we feel this is disruptive for all the dogs. However if there is an urgent need to collect your dog between 9am and 3.30pm this is possible, by prior arrangement. We ask that you arrive at the agreed time in this event.
If you have booked a daycare space that you need to cancel please give us as much notice as possible, at least 24 hours.
Cancellations made with less than 24 hours notice, you will be charged in full for the missed daycare session.
VACCINATIONS & GENERAL HEALTH
Vaccinations
The risk of your dog contracting a canine infectious disease is higher where dogs congregate. Due to the direct interaction between dogs from different areas a day care environment is a high risk situation. This risk is greatly reduced by vaccination.
Our license conditions state that all dogs must be fully vaccinated against: Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Adenovirus/Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, Leptospirosis. These are known as ‘core’ vaccines and will be given as a course of injections to puppies and then as yearly boosters for adult dogs.
We also strongly advise having the Kennel Cough vaccine. This protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Canine parainfluenza virus (Kennel Cough). This vaccine is not given routinely so you need to request this from your vet. Kennel Cough is not usually a serious condition unless a dog is very young, old or unwell. It is however, a highly infectious disease that causes a very unpleasant cough that can last 2-3 weeks.
We cannot accept your dog without proof of vaccinations.
Illnesses and Injuries
If your dog has had sickness and/or diarrhoea or has been unusually lethargic, please wait at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved before bringing your dog to day care.
If your dog has discharge and/or irritation of the eyes please seek advice from your vet as this could be conjunctivitis. This condition can be contagious.
If your dog is lame or sore in any of their limbs or paws and unable to walk and run without discomfort it is not appropriate for them to come to daycare until the issue has resolved or veterinary advice sought.
If we feel that your dog is not well or in discomfort during the day we will contact you immediately, so you can collect them from daycare.
In any health emergency or injury that requires immediate attention we use our own veterinary surgery, Court Vets of Stanford in the Vale.
NEUTERING
Our policy with regards to male dogs in daycare
We are not able to look after adult [over 12 months] unneutered male dogs in the day care facility. We appreciate that not every owner wishes to have their male dog neutered but we must also consider the welfare of the other dogs in our care.
We do accept unneutered male puppies/adolescent dogs but as soon as they begin to show signs of reaching maturity, we expect them to be neutered to be able to stay with their normal group of male and female dogs.
All male dogs must be castrated by 12 months of age
Our policy with regards to female dogs in daycare
We are not able to accept female dogs that are in season.
You must advise us if your dog is in season, maybe coming into season or has recently finished a season.
We suggest that female dogs should be spayed either before their first season or approximately 3 months after finishing their first season (your vets will advise a suitable time). This will vary greatly in female dogs as some may not have a first season until they are over a year old.
