What do the dogs do all day?
Eat. Sleep. Play. Repeat.
Breakfast starts at 7:30 am. Each dog or dog family is let out to the dog yard while their room is being tidied and their breakfast is served. Dogs come in to eat. After all dogs have been fed, we all go out again. Then the dogs rest to digest!
Mid morning, playful dogs can have some social time. If your dog is social, then they can go out with an appropriate social group for play time, once again. If they prefer alone time, your dog will go out with people only. At noon all dogs go out again. Then siesta until mid afternoon.
Dinner is served at 4:30 pm. We run the same process as breakfast: dogs go out, food is served, dogs eat and then go out again.
Our final turn out of the night is at 9:30 pm. All dogs go out one more time before cookies and lights out. Good night dogs.
Where do the dogs sleep?
We have seven rooms total. Four rooms are single rooms, about 5 ft by 6 feet. Three rooms are multi-dog family rooms, about 6 ft by 10 feet. All rooms are a combination of cinder block half walls for privacy and heavy duty chain link tops and fronts.
Each room has a Kuranda elevated dog bed for each dog. We find some dogs lounge on it often. Others go back and forth between the floor and the bed. All dogs who don’t eat their blankets, are welcome to bring a washable blanket from home. We do not take dog beds, larger than a standard bed pillow, from home.
Do I need to bring my own dog dishes?
Unless your dog requires special accommodations, no. We have stainless steel food and water buckets. All dishes and buckets are regularly washed and sanitized.
What do I need to bring?
Please bring your dog on a leash, your dog’s current vet records with vet contact information and enough food for your dog’s stay. If your dog is staying for a weekend, please measure out enough food for the duration and send it in a ziplock bag or appropriately sized plastic bin. Only send a large full manufacture’s bag of food for extended stays (two weeks or longer).
We do provide Diamond Naturals Chicken and Rice adult dog food at an additional fee for those that forget food or run out of food. It is $1.00 per cup.
Do you have cameras so I can see my dog anytime?
We do not. We will, however, send you periodical text updates and pictures.
My dog isn’t neutered/spayed, can they stay?
Yes, your unaltered dog can stay, however, we cannot take a female in heat. If your dog has not had her first heat cycle, we ask for you to watch for signs of going into heat before her visit. Should your dog go into heat while she is staying with us, depending on the kennel population and the length of her stay, we may require her to be moved to your veterinarian’s facility or picked up by your emergency contact if you cannot pick her up yourself. Should your dog go into heat before a scheduled stay, we require you to provide us with the date of the first day in heat. She will be allowed to stay one month after her first day of heat cycle. Any dog less than two weeks after the last day of bleeding and swelling will not be allowed to stay. Any dog bleeding or with visible swelling will not be allowed to stay. We will gladly welcome her back afterwards!
What vaccines do you require?
We require a current Rabies, Bordetella and Distemper (or Leptospirosis, if your vet alternates between Distemper and Leptosirosis) vaccine. We also require your dog be on Heartworm prevention and flea and tick preventative. Both topical and/or oral flea and tick prevention methods are allowed. We do not allow natural flea and tick prevention measures.
You can have your veterinarian email copies to nicole@bigriverkennels.com or bring a paper copy when you arrive.
My dog takes medicine. Can you administer it?
Yes. If your dog takes medication, daily, weekly or only once during their stay, we will make sure your dog gets their medicine as prescribed. Medicine needs to come in original packaging with dosing instructions. We ask that if your dog takes their pills in a pill pocket or cheese that you provide whatever delivery means they prefer. Should your dog need to be administered medicine manually, that is fine.
How do I make a reservation and how far in advance do I need to request dates?
The easiest way to book is through our website. Go to www.bigriverkennels.com, click the BOOK NOW button. It will take you to our booking software program where you can then add your dates, details, extras, etc. No booking is guaranteed until you receive an email confirmation back from us.
We suggest you make your dog’s reservation at the same time you make your own travel plans. Holidays, summer and football weekends, we book up early and fast. We will take reservations no further out than one year. Some holidays we may require a non-refundable security deposit of $50 per dog.
Are you open on holidays?
We are always open to dogs, but closed to people on major holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day & the following Friday, Christmas Day.