A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

When my dog gets home from the boarding, he acts very hungry and thirsty. Should I feed him and give him water right away?

NO. Your dog will be happy and very excited to see you. It is very important for you not to feed or give large amounts of water for at least 3 hours upon returning home. Excitement causes your dog to pant more. Panting will make your dog thirsty. Offer a few ice cubes instead of a bowl of water. Gulping water and/or food may cause digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, or bloat. Bloat is fatal if not treated immediately as an emergency.

My dog sleeps for a day or two after coming home from the Resort Is this normal?

Yes, this is normal. There is more activity throughout the day here at the Resort. Even though your dog sleeps at night, he/she is awake most of the day, instead of curled up on your favorite sofa at home, while you are at work.

Should I bring toys and a bed?

A toy or two is fine, though we prefer you do not bring anything your dog cannot live without. Interlude supplies all dogs with ample bedding. Due to the volume of laundry we do daily, we prefer you do not bring bedding from home. If you decide to bring something from home with your scent, we suggest an old towel in case it is not returned to you. Due to the volume of laundry, we cannot guarantee the return of bedding items.

Are the accommodations air conditioned and heated during the appropriate months?

Yes. All pets’ rooms are fully heated during the winter months and fully air conditioned during the summer.

What size are the pets’ accommodations?

Most rooms are 4 feet by 6 feet. All suites, condos, and regular accommodations start at that size. We do have some larger rooms for multiple pet families.

Is someone on the property all the time?

Yes. Someone is always on the property 24 hours a day.

If I want extra playtime, does someone really play with my dog?

Absolutely! Interlude staff members seem to enjoy the playtime as much as the dogs do. Our staff will throw a ball or toy, or just romp with your dog for the duration of the playtime.

I left toys and rawhides for my dog and it looks like he/she did not touch them. Did my dog get his/her belongings?

Yes, your pet did have his/her toys and rawhides from home. However, because of the constant activity, the dog is usually more interested in the people and all of the other dogs to pay attention to their stuff from home.

I want my dogs to stay together, but they fight over food. Do I need to board them separately?

No. They can board together; we will separate them during feeding times.

I just picked up my dog from boarding/grooming facilities. Is it customary to tip?

Tipping is left to your discretion. It is appreciated, yet not expected.

Why don’t you let the dogs stay out all day?

Unless your pet is strictly outdoors, he or she will not adjust well. Additionally, this is an unsafe practice and is far from a home like environment. Our boarders adjust quickly to our routine, which is very similar to most home environments. Controlling the exercise helps to keep the animals relaxed and reduces noise and unnecessary excessive activity, which can cause stress levels to rise.

What are “Biscuits and Gravy?” Isn’t people food bad for dogs?

The biscuit refers to a dog biscuit, and the gravy is specially formulated gravy made for dogs. It has 8 vitamins and eight minerals, and it is highly palatable. The dogs love it. Not only are they getting a treat; they are getting something good for them, as well.

Why do you require first time boarders to come in two hours before you close?

This practice is for dogs or cats visiting with us for their first time only. Your dog is going to an unfamiliar place for the first time. Therefore, we would like to take the time to get to know him or her before we close up for the night. If we see that the new dog is nervous or showing signs or anxiety, we will have time to work with that pet, making him as comfortable as possible before putting everyone to bed.

What happens during bad weather?

It is rare that is rains long enough or hard enough that we don’t get the playtimes done. In the event that the weather is extremely poor and we are unable to take the dogs outdoors, we get in their rooms and play with them and brush them. Snow makes for really fun playtimes, but freezing rain and ice is unsafe. A good portion of the play yard is covered, providing both shade and shelter. We use extreme caution in the summer because of the heat.

Does my dog go outside if I don’t purchase playtime?

Absolutely! Three exercises are included in the basic boarding rate. All dogs are exercised morning, mid-day, and evening. Playtime, pool time, and walks are added services in which you sign up for at each visit.

I am uncomfortable purchasing extra playtime, I have heard of facilities charging for playtime and not doing it. Why is this?

Playtime is an added service to benefit the dog more than it is to make money. Any facility offering playtime must have ample staff in order to do so. Any facility not properly staffed will run into problems trying to grant their clients wishes.