Doggie Daycare
How It Works
-
We provide naptime daily between 12 – 2 PM. Please no drop-offs or pick-ups during naptime.
- Early Drop Off $10.00: We can accept dogs Monday – Friday at 6:30AM and Saturday at 7:30AM. This is by appointment only.
- Late Pick Up $20.00: For those running late and cannot get here for closing. Give us a call; often, one of our staff will stay after close to wait for you for an additional fee. After 7:30PM your dog will board for the night and we will feed them dinner and breakfast. Payment for overnight boarding will be due at pick-up.
- Drop off Monday-Friday is 7:00-11:00AM, pick up is 2:00-7:00PM
- Drop off Saturday is 8:00-11:00AM and pick up is 2:00-6:00PM
- Half day Mon-Fri is either 7:00-11:30AM or 2:00-7:00PM
- Half day Saturday is 8:00-11:00AM or 2:00-6:00PM
Specialized Daycare for Puppies
- At TBL, all dogs under 1 year of age automatically start daycare on our specialized program. This program provides each puppy with the attention and structure necessary for shaping a successful daycare dog as they mature.
- Your dog will spend the day rotating between playtime and downtime, teaching them how to regulate their energy levels and eventually give themselves breaks in the group. This will help prevent them from becoming overstimulated. Once your dog can regulate him/herself and thrive in the playgroup without structured downtime (aside from the 12-2PM naptime), they will be moved to our traditional daycare program!
- During their playtime rotation, our handlers will work on impulse control, encouraging balanced playstyles, correcting rough play, redirecting unwanted behaviors, and practicing basic commands to hold the puppy’s focus. We find that with more frequent rest, the puppies are able to focus better on learning these dos and don’ts of socialization in a daycare setting.
- All puppies must still pass our temperament evaluation for basic obedience and social skills in order to start daycare.
- Please note that all dogs must be spayed/neutered by 9 months of age in order to continue daycare and traditional boarding.
Playgroups
Our traditional daycare dogs are split into three playgroups of “big” dogs and one playgroup of “little” dogs. They are separated by size, but also by personality and energy. We separate our groups to create an experience of comfortable energy levels and safe play. The three “big” dog groups rotate between 2 indoor playspaces and our outdoor playspace. The “little” dog group has their own indoor/outdoor playspace!
We focus heavily on maintaining balanced play, working on gate control training and commands such as sit, stay, come, off, etc. Throughout the day, your pup always has access to fresh clean water and has the opportunity to play on jungle gyms and even take a dip in the pool!
Traditional Daycare
- $41 Full Day
$30 Half Day
PACKAGES
- $195 5 Days ($39/Day)
- $365 10 Days ($36.5/Day)
- $685 20 Days ($34.25/Day)
- Additional Family Dog $30/Day
2 Dogs
1/2 Day $60
1 Day $71
5 Days $345
10 Days $665
20 Days $1285
3 Dogs
1/2 Day $90
1 Day $101
5 Days $495
10 Days $965
20 Days $1885
4 Dogs
1/2 Day $120
1 Day $131
5 Days $645
10 Days $1265
20 Days $2485
EXERCISE THE BODY! This is for dogs who get along well with other dogs and pass our temperament evaluation.
Specialized Daycare
$46 Full Day
$38 Half Day
- PACKAGES
- $220 5 Days ($44/Day)
- $430 10 Days ($43/Day)
- $800 20 Days ($40/Day)
For all puppies under 1 year of age. All puppies still must pass our temperament evaluation for basic obedience and social skills.
But we are more than just play!
Here at TBL, we pride ourselves on creating and maintaining safe, balanced group energy through a combination of mental and physical exercise. For all daycare and boarding dogs, we spend each day practicing commands and group activities. These include gate control, group sits, “Place,” recall, and more! Scroll through the gallery below for a glimpse into the fun.
Extra Services
Daycare & Boarding∗EXPAND THE FUN!∗
- $10 1-on-1 Playtime (Snuggles and playtime with one of our professionals; helps to reduce stress and boost confidence with dog-human bonding!)
- $18 Enhanced 1-on-1 (in addition to the 1-on-1, also includes treat puzzles, games, and searches; energy outlet through mental stimulation)
- $10 Leash Walk (10 min adventure outdoors)
∗SPA DAY!∗
- $25/$30* Bath* ($25 for dogs in littles' group, $30 for all dogs in the bigs' group)
- $15 Nail Trim (full set with Dremel)
- $10 Brush Out
- $2 Eye Cleaning
- $2 Ear Cleaning
∗WANTS AND NEEDS∗
- $4 Homemade Stuffed Kong
- $2 Lunch Service
- $2.50 Medication (per dose)
Pet Requirements
All dogs must have proof of current vaccinations
- Rabies
- DHLPP (Distemper) *Puppies must have completed the entire puppy series
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough) *Must be administered at least 7 days before staying with us
- A negative stool sample (including Giardia) *Required every 6 months
- Influenza (recommended, but is not required)
Must pass temperament interview
All dogs must pass our temperament evaluation prior to coming in for daycare or boarding. During the evaluation day, dogs spend a full day of daycare with us so that we are able to slowly introduce them to the environment and the other dogs. The goal is to start them in a small group for the first half of their day and transition them into the daycare group at their own pace. We do such a thorough evaluation to ensure that each and every dog is a good fit for the group play environment. Our priority is the safety and happiness of all dogs in our care. Since all dogs are off-leash in the play areas, aggressive behavior is not tolerated or accepted. However, we also test for overstimulation, inappropriate play, anxiety, and overall comfortability. Once the evaluation is passed, they are welcome to start at The Barking Lot with daycare and boarding. Or, they may pass the evaluation with placement on our Individualized Boarding program.
- It is important to note that our pack is constantly being evaluated; temperaments change as dogs mature.
- The cost for this evaluation day is $51.
Temperament evaluations are conducted by appointment only, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Please call to schedule an appointment (203) 764-2622.
Spayed/Neutered
- All dogs must be spayed/neutered by 9 months of age or earlier, unless it becomes a behavioral issue.
- All unfixed dogs are already automatically enrolled in our specialized daycare program for puppies, and we will ensure they are rotated in separate playgroups from other unfixed dogs.
Fleas & Heartworm
All dogs must be on an active Topical Flea Control program (Ex. Frontline, Advantage) & a monthly heartworm preventative
Must be over 10 lbs
All puppies and dogs visiting TBL for daycare and boarding must be over 10 pounds. We do this for the safety of the dogs in our care as they socialize in a group capacity.
Parasites & Illness
All dogs must be in good health and free from any contagious illness or internal parasites. If your dog is sick and has been to TBL recently, please let us know.
* If your dog is sick, please do not bring them to daycare.*
Collars
In order to ensure the safety of all dogs during group play, we are a collar-free facility. Upon arrival, your dogs collar/harness and leash will be labeled, hung up, and then returned to you at pick up.
Daycare Reservations
We require daycare reservations at least 24 hours in advance. Click here for our Client Login.
After submitting your reservation request, please check for a confirmation email.
Overnight Reservations
We highly recommend placing overnight reservations at least 2-3 weeks in advance, especially during peak seasons and holidays. Reservations are made on a first come, first serve basis.
We encourage first time guests to schedule their evaluations at least 2-3 weeks prior to when they need care, as it can be a lengthy process if vaccines are not up to date and we only have a limited number of evaluation spots each week.
We cannot book a room for your dog until they have been evaluated and are enrolled with us.
TBL has a strict 48-hour cancellation policy for boarding reservations.
Any reservation cancelled after the 48-hour mark will be subject to a $100 cancellation fee, or a $50 fee for stays totalling less than $100.
We also enforce an early pick-up fee.
Once checked in, any dog who is picked up earlier than their scheduled departure date will be charged through the remainder of their originally reserved stay.
Boarding Check-In & Check-Out
Monday – Friday
Check-in time is 2:00-7:00PM. If you prefer an earlier drop off time, your pup can arrive between 7:00-11:30AM and a half day of daycare charge will be added. The earlier you check in, the more playtime your dog will receive, which will make settling in at bed time much easier.
Check-out time is 7:00-11:30AM. If you prefer to pick up between 2:00-7:00PM, your pup will participate in a full day of play or individualized care, and this will incur a half day of daycare charge.
Saturday & Sunday
Saturday:
- Check-in: 8:00-11:00AM* or 2:00-6:00PM
- Check-out: 8:00-11:00AM or 2:00-6:00PM*
* A half day daycare charge will be added.
Sunday:
- Check-in: 5:30-6:30PM (If you request to check-in during the hours of 8:30-9:30AM, an extra night charge will be added.)
- Check-out: 8:30-9:30AM or 5:30-6:30PM
What to Bring for Boarding
When dropping your dog off for boarding, you will only need to bring their food and any necessary medications.
Food must be individually packaged up and portioned out per meal. We are not permitted to give food back to you once it has entered the building, for cross-contamination purposes.
Medications should either be in their original container, or in a separate bag. Please do not add medications to food bags.
We ask that you do not bring any personal items from home such as beds, blankets, toys, bowls, etc. We will provide all of these items for your pup during their stay!
What if my dog has not visited TBL in 6 months or more?
All dogs who have not visited TBL in 6 months or more must pass a re-evaluation before they return for boarding or daycare. The re-evaluation is scheduled and treated the same as their first evaluation day, with staff monitoring for any change in behavior, temperament, comfortability, or playstyle. We do this for the safety of all dogs in our care! Dogs may change over time in terms of sociability and we need to ensure that all dogs remain a good and safe fit for our playgroups!
Reserved Rights
In order to ensure the safety of our staff and all guests left in our care, we reserve the right to deny any dog at any time at our discretion
Get in Touch By Phone Or email
Our hours are:
Monday - Friday 7AM-12PM and 2PM-7PM
Saturday 8AM-11AM and 2PM-6PM
Sunday 8:30AM-9:30AM and 5:30PM-6:30PM
We close daily 12-2pm for naptime to give our friends some well-needed rest.