Does Your Puppy or Dog Qualify?

 At the Dog Ranch we take pride in a clean, personalized, and safe environment. Because this is my primary residence, my home; puppies and dogs need to be able to respect the quaint accommodations they will be living in.

***PLEASE NOTE: ONLINE APPLICATION + VET RECORDS ARE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE OF YOUR EVALUATION. I WILL NOT DO VIRTUAL EVALUATIONS.

Intact males and females

I do not have an issue with dogs who are intact as long as they have an appropriate temperament and manners. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE TAKE A FEMALE IN HEAT. This means if there is a chance your female may go into her cycle, we suggest finding a sitter who can come to your home during that time. We will not accept any dogs who mark indoors or outdoors on personal property, other dogs, or items that should not be peed on. We encourage teaching your intact dog (especially males) what is appropriate to be marked on and what is not. If your dog heavily marks on anything and everything, we may not be a good fit.
Behavior with other dogs:

Puppies and dogs should have the ability to coexist around other dogs and they should be social (enjoy being around other dogs) or neutral (indifferent or do not care about interacting). Dogs who are extremely social also need to exhibit self control and the ability to settle. For dogs who struggle with this, training may be recommended. Dogs who have the inability to get along with other dogs (may attack unprovoked) are not a good fit for my home. We do not take aggressive dogs (this includes dogs with a bite history or previous altercation histories with other dogs).

Dogs who may be reactive (may react to a stimuli such as lunging on a leash during a walk) generally are okay outside of the presence of their owner, off leash. To determine if your puppy or dog is a good fit, an evaluation is required. If you are unsure, please ask in advance.

Behavior with people:

I must be able to interact and handle your dog (approaching, touching, taking on and off a leash, in and out of a crate, etc.). Dogs who exhibit extreme fear (fear based aggression or reactivity) may be required to complete training in advance of and/or during their stay if they are a candidate. It is also important for dogs to be accepting of strangers as there are times when I have pet-sitting assistance and your dog may need to be handled by an alternate sitter. Puppies and dogs should also be open to the idea of guests (family or friends) and/or maintenance workers or contractors being present in the home. If your dog has a history of the inability to accept new people, we may not be the right fit.

House Manners:

No, your adult dog is not required to be crate trained or to utilize a crate at all during their stay, but if they are not to be crated during their stay at any time it is important they are reliable and can adapt to a new environment with a new handler and other dogs. This means they are not at risk for chewing, stealing items, destroying property, scratching at windows/doors, excessive panic/pacing or anxiety ridden behaviors, and can easily coexist in the presence of other dogs and people.
We do not allow scent marking indoors; so if this is a possibility, a crate may be needed for management. We understand puppies may be in the potty training stages which is why we offer a training option for young puppies still learning. Dogs who may pee out of fear or excitement may also be candidates for training during their stay, if accepted. We do not utilize pee pads under any circumstance. Dogs need to have the ability to eliminate outdoors, and preferably have an understanding of going to the bathroom while they are off leash.

Puppies and dogs also need to be able to sleep through the night without constant pacing, barking, or whining. We understand puppies may be training and working on this process which is why we also have an informal board and train option for youngsters working through this.

It should also be noted that if crates are requested or needed, crate reactivity needs to be minimal: including lunging/barking at other dogs who may be loose in the home or walking by the crate, the ability to accept a vacuum or mop coming near their crate, etc.).

While we may be a much cozier environment than a standard boarding kennel, we are particular in our “doggy demographic” as this is a primary residence and a place of peace and comfort. We are not the place for dogs who do not tolerate other dogs or cannot exhibit self control.

Outdoor manners:

Dogs need to be able to respect the boundaries of fencing. We will not take dogs who are potential “flight risks” or are seeking a route to escape (primarily due to anxiety or fear). This includes fence challenging by trying to dig under or going over. Dogs are always supervised during outdoor breaks or during exercise. Dogs also should respect being recalled (coming when called) or it is advisable to consider adding training onto your dog’s stay to improve this behavior.

Dogs who may be a bit challenged when “coming when called” should have the ability to be approached and leashed. If your dog will not accept a new handler approaching them to leash them — but also will not recall when asked, we will need to discuss this in advance of the evaluation.

Puppies or Young Dogs:

We welcome puppies and young dogs — however, pending age, an informal board and train may be required so we can provide your puppy with exactly what it needs in guiding it during its stay. Typically puppies as young as 12 weeks may be able to stay with us and/or begin the training process.

Dogs Must be in good health:

I try to keep my home and yard as clean as possible so would like your puppy or dog to also be free of ticks, fleas, or excessive mats (bring your dog in healthy condition!). Your puppy or dog is required a negative fecal and must be free of worms or any other potentially contagious illnesses (including some types of warts, pink eye, coughing, etc). We do try to encourage avoiding dog parks and daycares before their stay to lessen the chance of anything that can be spread. If a dog is brought to me in poor health (diarrhea, coughing, or any observably questionable issue) I will not take it for an evaluation or overnight stay. Please communicate in advance any concerns you may have.