05/29/2026
🐾 Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers! 🐾
Thinking about booking a stay at Bark Inn Boarding and Services? 🏨 We know your pups are your babies, and it is completely normal to feel a little nervous about leaving them! 😟 Because we are an intimate, boutique facility, we specialize in high-care, individualized attention. ❤️
Here is everything you need to know about how we roll, including answers to the questions that keep loving pet parents up at night! 🦴
🗓️ What a Typical Day Looks Like
We maintain a highly consistent, structured routine to ensure every dog feels secure, balanced, and free from overstimulation:
Morning ☀️ Hourly bathroom rotations begin at 7:00 AM, followed by breakfast at 8:00 AM. To ensure your dog's safety, we enforce a strict 30-minute rest after eating to prevent bloat before heading out for a 1-hour supervised group play session. 🎾
Lunchtime 🧠 Quiet rest time in their individual pens with a frozen, stuffed Kong snack for mental enrichment. 🥜
Afternoon 🐾 Time for brain work! Individual enrichment sessions tailored to your pup like puzzle toys, sniff courses, couch cuddles, or individual walks, followed by a second supervised group play session. 🌲
Evening 🌙 Supper is served at 6:00 PM, followed by another mandatory 30-minute rest period to avoid bloat and a potty break. Afterward, dogs wind down in their pens watching Dog TV or a movie with a long-lasting chew. Hourly bathroom breaks continue until the final turn-out at 10:00 PM. 💤
(Note: Outdoor play is extended in the summer and strictly limited during harsh winter conditions for safety, utilizing our indoor play space and extra mental puzzles!) ❄️
🏡 The Stay and Environment
What is your total capacity? 📈 To keep things calm, intimate, and stress-free, we cap our total capacity at a strict maximum of 6 dogs total at a time. This guarantees your pup receives unparalleled individual attention and a quiet environment compared to high-volume commercial facilities. ✨
Where do the dogs sleep? 🛌 In their own designated, secure private pens within our indoor dog room, which is located just rooms away from our bedroom so we can monitor them overnight. 🚪
What are the pen sizes and capacities? 🐕🦺 We offer spacious 5x5 pens reserved for large breeds and sibling groups and cozy 4x4 pens strictly for small and medium dogs. 🐩
Can sibling dogs share a pen? 🐶🐶 Yes! If your dogs live together and comfortably cohabitate without any resource guarding, they can share a pen at a discounted family rate. However, if any stress or conflict occurs, they will be immediately separated into individual pens for their safety, and billing will adjust to the standard single-dog rate.
Can I bring my dog's bed or blankets? 🧸 Absolutely! Having a scent from home helps them settle in. We highly encourage machine-washable blankets, beds, toys, and chews. 🧺
❤️ Nervous Parent FAQs: Comfort, Care and Safety
What if my dog won’t eat because they miss me? 💔 It's common for nervous dogs to skip their first meal due to excitement or anxiety. We monitor food intake closely. If a pup is hesitant to eat, we can use safe, high-value enticements like warm water, low-sodium bone broth, or wet food toppers with your prior permission to get them enthusiastic about breakfast and supper. 🥣
Will my dog be left alone or unsupervised?
🎥 Never during group interactions. All play sessions are 100% supervised by trained staff. When dogs are resting in their pens or when staff must step away briefly, the entire facility is monitored via high-definition, sound-and-motion-activated cameras. Because our facility is attached directly to our home, we are right next door 24/7. 🏠
What if my dog gets overwhelmed by the other dogs? 🚪 We strictly manage energy levels. If a dog shows signs of stress, overstimulation, or just prefers human company over canine company, they are instantly given a quiet break in their private pen. Group play is entirely optional; if your pup prefers individual fence-line sniffing or one-on-one cuddles with us in the office, that is exactly what they will get! 🤗
Do you have a "helper" dog to comfort nervous guests? 🐕 Yes! We have our own resident Husky mix, Astrid, who is our absolute secret weapon. She is incredibly intuitive and excels at reading body language. She acts as our "sacrifice dog"—helping shy, anxious, or nervous boarders slowly come out of their shells at their own pace without pushing their boundaries. 🦊
What qualifications do you have to handle medical or behavioral issues? 🎓 You are leaving your baby in highly trained hands. We are fully certified in pet first aid, canine care, and dog behavior. We know exactly what signs of distress, illness, or bloat to look for, ensuring professional intervention the second it's needed. 🚑
🐕 Behavior, Eligibility and Introductions
Do you offer meet-and-greets? ✨ We require a mandatory Trial Overnight Stay ($50/night) for all new clients instead of a brief meet-and-greet. This gives us the truest look at your dog’s comfort with kennel containment, house manners, noise levels, and overall temperament before committing to an extended vacation booking. 🌙
How do you handle introductions? 🤝
Always slowly and safely. We start with "fence-line" greetings or one-on-one sessions with a calm, balanced dog to ensure everyone feels confident. 👍
What if it's not a right fit? 🚫 Because we operate out of our home, we cannot accept dogs with undisclosed aggression, serious separation anxiety, severe containment distress, or excessive/continuous barking. If safety or behavioral issues arise during the trial, we will provide honest feedback so you can find the best care environment for your pup. 🗣️
Do you accept farm or acreage dogs? 🌾 Free-roaming outdoor dogs often struggle with structured indoor containment. If your dog is used to roaming, please consider their lifestyle carefully to ensure an indoor, kennel-trained environment is a good fit before booking. 🚜
📋 Logistics, Hygiene and Requirements
What are the strict boarding requirements? ✅
Social and Fixed: Must be non-aggressive to humans and other dogs. Dogs over 1 year of age must be spayed or neutered. 🐾
Cat-Friendly: ⚠️ Essential! We have resident cats on the premises with outdoor catio access to the yard. All boarding dogs must be 100% cat-friendly. 🐱
House Manners: Dogs must be fully potty trained with no indoor marking and fully kennel trained. 🚽
Health and Vaccines: Must be fully immunized against Bordetella, Rabies, and Distemper administered only by a licensed veterinarian with no self or breeder vaccines. Digital records with a visible vet signature must be submitted before arrival. 💉
Parasite Prevention: Dogs must be actively treated and verified free of fleas, ticks, and worms prior to arrival. 🐛
Grooming and Hygiene Mandate: To keep our in-home facility immaculate, all dogs must be professionally or thoroughly groomed and bathed the day prior to arrival. Dogs must arrive clean and free of dirt, odor, and heavy shedding, or a mandatory daily 5% cleaning fee will be applied to the bill. 🧼
What to pack: 🎒 Food must be pre-portioned into individual meal bags or brought in a labeled, airtight plastic container with a scoop (no loose, giant open bags). Bring their regular leash, flat collar, and any medications in their original veterinary packaging with clear labels. 💊
🕒 Office Hours and Booking Rules
Hours for Drop-off and Pickup (By Appointment Only): ⏰
Sunday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: CLOSED (Drop-offs and pick-ups are completely unavailable on Saturdays). 🙅♀️
On-Time Policy: Your selected booking time is your exact appointment. Arriving outside your confirmed window may mean staff is actively handling animal care and is unavailable to greet you. 🛑
Minimum Stay and Booking Windows: 📆
All standard bookings require a 2-night minimum stay year-round. 🏖️
Advanced Bookings (Greater than 30 days out): Stays booked more than a month in advance during peak seasons/holidays require a 4-night minimum. Short stays under 4 nights open exactly 30 days prior to the start date via our Priority Short-Stay List. ⏳
❓ Other Things You Might Wonder
What are your payment terms? 💳 Full payment is required at the time of drop-off via Cash or E-transfer only. We do not carry change on the premises; any cash overpayments will be automatically applied as an account credit. 💵
What is your cancellation policy? 🛑 Cancellations made 3+ months in advance have all fees waived. Cancellations made within 48 hours of initially creating a booking face no penalty. Late cancellations are subject to a tiered penalty fee (50% for the first, 100% for the second) because our boutique capacity means a late cancellation directly impacts our business. We do not issue cash/card refunds—all valid balances are issued as account credits valid for 1 year. 🗓️
Do you send updates? 📸 We respect your privacy and vacation peace, but we are always happy to send detailed photo or video updates of your pup's adventures upon your request! 🤳
What if my dog requires medication? 💊 We are trained animal care providers and happily administer oral or topical medications at no extra charge. 🧴
What happens in an emergency? 🚨 We keep your vet information on file and have a direct Emergency Medical Expenditure Cap on our sign-up sheet so we are pre-authorized to act instantly. We will contact you or your emergency contact immediately while securing urgent veterinary care. 🩺
Ready to book? 🗓️
The absolute best way to reach us is via text! 📱 We prioritize hands-on pet care and do not return voice calls to unknown numbers without a voicemail. 📞
Send us a text message at 306-941-1819 to chat about setting up your pup's mandatory trial stay! 🐾
