Frequently Asked Questions
Is the grooming cancellation policy just for salon services or daycare as well?
The cancellation policy applies to all salon services, even ones attached to doggie daycare. This is because you are still taking up an appointment slot that could have been filled by someone else.
What if I need to cancel in the winter because of bad roads? Would I be charged the cancellation fee if I have to cancel due to the weather?
We would much rather have you be safe and stay home than drive on winter roads that make you uncomfortable, so we would not charge you the cancellation fee.
What is your cancellation policy for boarding?
Cancel for free up to 24 hours ahead of your scheduled arrival day, otherwise you will be charged ONE night of boarding based on the room you selected for No Show/No Call or Same-Day cancellations.
What does my dogs day look like?
Daycare:
If they participate in group play they are escorted to their friends. If they are canine sensitive, they will enjoy lots of human attention and solo play in their own private area away from other dogs. All dogs will enjoy a scheduled run in our dog park as well. This run is completely off leash and lasts about 30 minutes. The rest of the day is filled with group play (or solo play) in our yards or snuggles on our couches inside. If you pack a lunch we will give them some alone time in a cabin with their lunch.
Boarding:
7am: Morning potty time
8am: Breakfast and rest
10am: Time for a run! Whether your pup is alone or with a group this is the time of the day where our Star Buddies start running our boarding friends. After the run they will participate in group play with their friends or some one-on-one snuggle time in our lofts.
If your dog has a lunch they will go back to their cabin around 12pm for lunch and a nap. Otherwise, if they don’t have a lunch, they will continue about their day uninterrupted. All lunch dogs go back out to play after their lunch and rest (about an hour).
3pm: Dinner and rest for everyone.
5pm: Evening potty time
7pm: Time for bed, sleep tight!
Are they outside all day?
Nope! Each dog in our care gets outside time as well as rest time to recoup. It all depends on your dog too. Some of our smaller friends prefer couch time over time outside, while our wild bigger breeds looooove basking out in the sun as long as possible.
What do you do when it's too hot or cold out?
We are very lucky in the fact that we can accommodate our dogs in any kind of weather! If it is too cold or too hot to be outside our friends spend more time indoors and in our arena. But don’t worry, they still get plenty of fun and playtime no matter the weather.
Do they have water all day?
Absolutely! All of our Cabins are equipped with automatic water and our Star Buddies are scheduled to refill waters in yards and rooms throughout the day to ensure your pup always has fresh water available to them.
What if I can't pick up by 7pm?
If you do not make the 7pm pick up time your dog will simply board until the next available pick up day. Monday - Friday if you miss pick up you’d be able to pick up the following day as early as 10am. However, if you miss your pick up window on Saturday your earliest pick up time would be Monday at 10am. Sunday departures must be prescheduled when our office is open and our Star Buddies are instructed to not allow any unauthorized departures on Sunday.
How does the pickup waitlist work?
You can join our waitlist by either following the link that is texted to you or at the top of our website or join with our Kiosk. Either way, you simply add your name, number and dogs name and we will let you know when we are ready for pick up.
Please only add yourself to the waitlist if you are in our parking lot, as adding early backs up our line and is unfair to our other clients.
Once we receive a text that we are next to pick up our pup, are we expected to also ring the doorbell once we have entered the doggie door area so you know we are there?
Nope! Once you are in the doggie door fence you can just wait there for us to bring your pup out to you. We don’t like to let your dog out until the gate is fully closed behind you to ensure there is no escaping.
Do you give tours?
We sure do! Tours must be prescheduled so we can ensure we have a teammate available. You can either request one by calling our office or schedule it through your Dog Star Ranch Portal.
What is a Temperament Test?
The Temperament Test occurs during the First Day of Daycare Evaluation and you can think of it as a simple “meet and greet.” Evaluation consultations are available by appointment. Please bring the necessary vaccination records. The First Day of Daycare is a 6-hour visit and during this time we will slowly introduce your dog to a few dogs at a time, this will ensure the highest level of safety, as well as allow them a fun-filled day to get acclimated to the Ranch. At the end of the day we will discuss your dogs results and how to proceed. This ensures the safety of all of our pet guests and staff. First Day of Daycare appointments must be completed prior to making any boarding or daycare reservations.
Are reservations required for Boarding and Daycare?
Yes, all services we offer at the Ranch must be prescheduled to ensure we have the correct amount of Star Buddies ready to take care of your dog while in our care.
Will you board my dogs in the same suite?
Of course, but only dogs from the same family can board in the same suite.
What if my dog doesn’t play well with others?
While group play is great for most dogs it is perfectly okay if your dog is a lone wolf. Their day will look different than groupable pups, but we ensure they still get the same love and exercise as our groupable friends.
What if my pet has medication?
We will administer any non-injectable medication. Please make sure medication is in original packaging, clearly labeled and dosage instructions are included. Please provide pill pockets, or a similar product, to make medication more enticing. You are welcome to bring any treats or food that may assist us in giving your pet their medication. Medications will be given while your pet is in their suite.
What if I have an intact female and she is in heat?
Let’s start with some interesting facts about heat cycles:
There are four phases of a dogs heat cycle:
Proestrus
Estrus
Diestrus
Anestrus
Remember — just because your dog is no longer bleeding does not mean she can no longer get pregnant. She’s much more likely to let a male mate immediately after the bloody discharge stops.
With that being said, we do take intact females while they are in heat. However, there is an additional charge of $10/per day for the length of your dog’s heat cycle.
Your dog’s daycare and boarding stay might change due to their heat cycle as well, such as limiting their group activity and keeping them separate and isolated from intact males. Male dogs will be attracted to a female dog entering her heat cycle before she is receptive, so while in our care they will be separated or have limited interactions with friends to curb defensive aggression.
If you would like to learn more about heat cycles and what each phase entails, click HERE.