In-a-nutshell-info
We paws on this page to provide a snapshot of the essential tidbits about our assessment stays for new dogs. (If you are a new cat, this is irrelevant; you can pad away to explore other pages on this website).
REMEMBER: To reduce pack excitement and the potential for injury, all dogs older than 9 months are spayed or neutered. Please see this page for more information.
Hormones Removed
Assessment Stays – New Dogs
We have stringent minimum requirements for new dogs. If you are an existing customer with a new dog, these rules also apply to you.
A dog’s first stay with us must be during off-peak times and for a minimum of FOUR FULL DAYS. (See our calendar for off-peak times).
We understand that a minimum four-day assessment stay is perhaps inconvenient and an added expense for many owners. However, we are very serious about providing our guests with the best and safest experience. Our operational style is very different from the norm, so we have developed a program that helps us balance our needs with our guests.
If you choose the minimum 3-night/4-day stay (remember it CAN be longer), then:
- You drop on the morning of the first day and
- You can collect your pet during the afternoon of the fourth day
- (Saturday afternoons are excluded, as we are closed). We suggest adding another night to your booking and collecting your pet on Sunday morning (or starting a day earlier).
- From the fifth day onwards, morning collects are fine.
Remember, all dogs with us are social and can mix with others. That is our jam.
Why four days?
Kennels can be a daunting place for new dogs, and years of knowledge and experience tell us that it takes two or more days of ‘settling in’ before first-time guests can genuinely relax enough to start enjoying their adventure.
Hosting new dogs during quieter periods allows us quality (uninterrupted) time to get to know them. We can focus on mixing and matching play buddies, reading body language, figuring out play styles and settling nerves. Scheduled observations are locked in to watch them from near or afar – and take notes about their stay.
We cannot do this kind of targeted, focused care during a shorter stay or peak times when there are 596+ other paws to care for.
More importantly, a 4-day stay gives your pet the time to get to know us, our routines, their yards, food and friends. When they realise that we provide a safe and fun place to be, it is time to go home. Their next visit (if they pass their assessment) will be calmer and less stressful for them. Thus, it is easier and less stressful for the owner, too.
Assessment Reports
We observe, write, and email an assessment report at the end of the stay. The report is comprehensive and always written in a fun and quirky way (usually from the dog’s perspective).
Guests who ‘pass’ their assessment can request bookings for peak periods (space dependent) and book shorter stays in the future.
Some dogs don’t fit in with our culture; if so, we will explain why.
Are we a bit fancy?
Human expectations of a doggy resort vary considerably, so this paragraph clarifies any preconceptions. We aren’t the Hyatt but offer an excellent old-fashioned, warm, and welcoming farm-yard-country-style stay. Rooms are basic but spotless and comfortable. Dogs cannot watch TV in their rooms or admire Van Gogh on the walls, but they can have added extras such as bedtime stories, lunch dates, nature walks, etc. Classical music is played at night, and this helps lull our guests to sleep. We feed premium quality food, and, above all else, our open-plan socialisation system sets us apart from other kennels. Discover more here.
Booking for the first stay
The first time you make a booking request, you will be restricted to selecting specific rates. If in doubt (because there are so many rules to remember), select the ‘uh oh jungo’ rate. We will consider your request, add the boarding rate for your dog/s and send you a quote (email) for consideration and response. The turnaround for a quote is usually within 24 hours. Instructions are provided throughout the booking process.
Christmas & New Year Stays
We know EVERY dog who stays during the festive season—as they are either regulars or have completed an assessment board with us—so we understand their perks and personalities. Because we host 150 canines, dogs familiar with our environment and routines are more easily blended into packs.
We are always full at Christmas and prefer to offer beds to our dedicated regulars rather than fill our spaces with dogs who have yet to build a loyal relationship with us. However, if you can organise a pre-stay BEFORE the end of July, we are happy to consider a spot for your dog for Christmas (if they pass their assessment and if we have the space).
We can hold spaces for Christmas while waiting for evaluation stays, but spots are not held indefinitely.
Easter Stays
We are always full at Easter. Pre-stays must occur at least one month prior.
Tours
Tours are a great way to sniff out how we operate. 10.15 am is the best time for us to show you around. Tours must be pre-booked (via your online account under ‘other services’ – or call to discuss)
How to book
All customers have an online account with us. This is where we store owner and pet profiles, vaccination details, and booking requests. We strongly encourage customers (or family members) to create accounts and use them to make booking requests. By doing so, we can cut administration time and continue to offer our valued customers reasonable boarding rates. Visit our booking page for further information.
