Dogs

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We adhere to the Code of Practice for Boarding Kennels in Victoria.

Managing breeds & temperaments

Welcome! We’re here to discuss our unique play style, yards, kennel (room) facilities, puppy rules, and nutrition.

Yes, our style is different.

Nathalia Boarding Kennels and Cattery was Australia’s first to introduce an ‘open-plan socialisation’ system, where dogs spend most of the day playing in small groups, weather permitting, rather than being kept in traditional kennels.

At our disposal, we have 40+ yards in which to sort our packs. Each yard varies in features—size, shape, and fencing—so we can select the most suitable yard for each pack’s needs.  All yards have water troughs, sprinklers, beds, toys, shade, and shelter. 

Multiple factors underpin pack decisions. Age, size, breed and specific needs are all primary considerations. Much like an evolving Tetris game, our experienced team will frequently adjust yards and packs. They add or remove dogs as needed for arrivals or departures. While cleaning, staff play games with the guests and take photos (if they keep still). Yard visits help assess body language and determine if a dog needs a change of scene.

Large breed dogs are rarely mixed with small dogs; however, some older, shy, large dogs might be more comfortable with small or medium-sized geriatric buddies. Conversely, lovable and active small dogs often behave better with goofy labs or retrievers.

Ultimately, we are guided by the customer’s detailed pet information and years of experience.

Blending & Balancing

To ensure our system functions happily and safely, here are the key ingredients for our business:

  • We prefer guests who are sociable and can easily blend in with others.
  • New dogs undergo an assessment stay, and this has a complete set of rules. Read more here.
  • For pack management purposes, new Bully Breeds are not currently accepted.    
  • Hormones can cause issues, so we require desexing. Read more here. All dogs over nine months must be neutered or spayed to join us or attend play sessions.
  • To maintain pack equilibrium & management, we adopt an in–house ranking system. From Rank 1 (Easy to mix) to Rank 5 (must have a private yard).  Find out more here: Ranks and Caps
  • Correctly fitted collars (with plastic clips) are our primary form of identification, as we clip IDs onto every collar. (Imagine sorting four collar-less black labs without any ID!).

Things We Need from You.

  • Dogs require C5 vaccination with up-to-date proof. See the vaccination page.
    • All vaccination proof MUST show the pet’s full name.
  • All customers have an online account with us for booking and data storage purposes. This system provides us with the necessary information for informed decision-making. Please refer to the booking page for more details.
  • Read emails—they are our primary means of communication.

Things you must know:

  • Before making a booking request, please ensure you are comfortable with the risks associated with our open-plan socialisation system. See risks here.
  • We strongly recommend a tour; it’s free (noon is our preferred time).
  • We can host up to 150 dogs at Christmas, New Year’s, & Easter. We never accept new dogs during these times – and there is also limited capacity for certain breeds and dogonalities.
  • We strictly follow our posted operating hours.
  • We do not offer a free, ad hoc photography service; however, paid options are available.
  • Payments are made at the time of booking. Quotes, valid for 7 days, can be arranged first.
  • Credit cards are securely stored on accounts.
  • All items on our property are shared (e.g., balls, toys, beds, blankets), so please leave personal items at home unless you wish to contribute to our stock. Sniff here.
  • Prices are per night and based on the age & weight of the dog (and other variables). See price page.
  • Dogs enjoy a complimentary bath at the end of their vacation (unless you tell us otherwise).

Sleeping Quarters

  • We offer a variety of sleeping quarters for dogs, including traditional rooms for medium to large dogs and comfy giant crates for small breeds.
  • A combination of evaporative coolers, reverse-cycle air conditioners, fans, underfloor heating, blankets, and jackets can help our staff adjust to temperatures accordingly.
  • Kennels undergo daily cleaning and disinfection.
  • Each dog has a dedicated room or kennel. If the owner permits, dogs from the same family can sleep in the same room. When dogs share a kennel, staff will supervise them while eating.
  • Guests are lulled to sleep with classical music, designed specifically for the canine ear.
  • We are currently renovating and adding new rooms (ongoing).

Puppies

  • Regulations stipulate that puppies must be at least 14 weeks old for daycare and 16 weeks old for boarding.
  • Puppies are kept close to the office area for careful monitoring.
  • A full day of play is tiring, so a ‘paws’ is provided mid-day—usually in the office.
  • Every puppy has breakfast to meet its energy levels and growth requirements.
  • Puppies must follow the advised puppy vaccination schedule to board or play. Twelve days must elapse after their second puppy vaccination (allowing time for the antibodies to become effective) before they set a paw onto any Boarding Kennel ground.
  • When puppies reach nine months, our booking system recognises them as adults. Adults must be desexed. Paws here. Our booking system will block bookings if the above requirements are not met.

Food & Feeding

The evening meal is included in the boarding rate. You can bring your own, but there is no difference in the boarding rate.

Dogs are fed in their rooms at night (never as a pack). If family members sleep in the same room, they are supervised or separated at mealtime.

We choose Royal Canin® Premium Nutrition because of its quality and tailored formulas. This ensures that your pet receives the best possible nutrition while in our care. royalcanin.com/au

We also feed BlackHawk grain-free kibble, Prime100 rolls (made with human-grade ingredients), and Hazeldene’s Fresh chicken wings and fillets.

Evening meals are nutritious and generous. However, to avoid GVD (gastric issues), we don’t serve overly large feasts, as this is not a safe way to manage calorie intake. There are other fun ways to increase calories, including adding a breakfast (see below).

Home-cooked meals (warm chicken dinners and meat feasts) are optional extras. However, because these meals are lean, we suggest viewing them as an occasional ‘fine dining experience’ rather than a nightly meal replacement.

All our products contain chicken or traces of chicken. If your dog is sensitive to poultry, please bring your own.

A Dogs Breakfast

Because not all dogs require a second meal, breakfast is excluded from the base boarding rate for adult dogs.  Breakfast, if booked, is an additional $5 per day. We implicitly trust the owner’s discretion and instructions regarding their pet’s dietary needs, including calorie intake. Although this can sometimes be a precarious tightrope.

Dogs can (regardless of age, breed, or size) expend more energy (physically, mentally or via the nervous system) while staying with us.  We can ‘up’ the calorie intake once we see a dog has dropped weight; however, this is much like locking the gate after the horse has bolted.

We highly recommend adding breakfast if you have a calorie-burning breed, such as a Vizsla, Kelpie, Pointer, Whippet, or Jack Russell (to name but a few).

One meal a day might be insufficient if your dog:

  • Is staying for an extended period
  • Lost weight during a previous stay with us.
  • Takes morning medications that require food.

There are other delicious ways to ‘up’ the calorie intake. You can choose the number of breakfasts (e.g., every second or third day) or book a ‘time-out’ with a platter of poached chicken or a Kong or Licky Mat (peanut-butter/cream-cheese/Prime100).

Silver service breakfast options include poached chicken, bacon and eggs, or porridge with blueberries.

Supplying your food – As mentioned, there is no discount for supplying your food. Instructions are provided during the booking process on how to package your food for dropping off to us.

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