About Dogtopia FAQ

A Meet & Greet will be conducted by one of our trained professionals on-site with every new dog before bringing them into a playroom. Our trained team will talk to the pet parent about the dog’s history and health. Once complete, the dog joins our team member in a separate room to observe how they react when away from their parent. During this time, we will conduct a nose-to-tail assessment to identify sensitivities in touch that the dog may have. If a dog is sensitive to touch in one area, this is not necessarily an issue, but it is important for their comfort that our team is aware of any sensitivities.

We then begin bringing additional dogs into the controlled mini play area one at a time to assess the comfort level of the dog. Our team observes how the dog interacts with the other canines to determine their suitability for an open-play environment.

If for some reason the dog is not yet ready for open play, the team member will recommend steps the parent can take to help address the observed issue(s). Any dog is always welcome to come back for a follow-up evaluation after any issues have been addressed.

This process assesses your dog’s temperament and determines if Dogtopia’s facilities will be a right fit for your pet.

During naptime (12 to 2 p.m.), our home-style crates offer the dogs a safe den to rest in and have some “me” time. It also allows the staff to safely provide individual treats and meals and administer medication when applicable. Dogs adapt to the naptime routine easily, both because it’s at the same time each day and because all of their friends are enjoying the much-needed downtime! During naptime, the team thoroughly sanitizes each playroom to ensure the room is safe and clean before an exciting round of afternoon play! Crates are also utilized for overnight stays, generally from 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

We understand that there are many important factors that go into making the decision to alter your dog. Recently, there has been veterinary research that reports some benefits from waiting a little longer to spay or neuter than previously recommended for some breeds. There are also benefits to spaying and neutering before dogs become fully mature. At Dogtopia, we are focused on the health and safety of all the dogs that come play with us. Our main reason for requiring dogs to be altered is to reduce the potential levels of aggression that hormones can create. It is not always the un-neutered male that can create the tension; detectable hormones released by an intact dog can trigger other dogs to become more aggressive. Additionally, we have the reproductive concern for dogs in open play.

At Dogtopia, your dog’s safety and wellbeing is our first and foremost concern. That’s why we have a number of measures in place, such as double doors; full walls; certified pet-friendly cleaning supplies; floors made from compressed rubber to reduce the impact on the dog’s feet, joints, and hips; soundproofing throughout to keep nervous dogs at ease; and a climate-controlled environment.

We’ve also put various protocols in place to reduce the risk of illness and accidents. To further this objective, we require that all furry friends are current on required vaccines. Vaccinations must be given by your veterinarian at least 48 hours before attending Dogtopia. It is our preference that vaccines are given at least seven days prior.

The rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella vaccinations are required at ALL locations. Additionally, we ask that all dogs are free of any communicable diseases for 30 days. Below is additional info on the required vaccines:

• Rabies: Required once before 16 weeks of age for puppies, then given again one year later, and then every three years going forward. Dogs are required by law to be vaccinated against the rabies virus because this deadly virus can spread to humans.
• DHPP/DHLPP (also called “distemper/parvo”): Required as a puppy series beginning at 6–8 weeks old, boosted at three-week intervals, and again a year later. Like rabies, after the first year, the distemper/parvo combination vaccine can be given every three years. Puppies can visit Dogtopia after they have had at least two (2) DHPP/DHLPP vaccines in addition to the other vaccines.
• Bordetella: Required to be current by 12 months from date of vaccine.

Some Dogtopia locations also require the canine influenza vaccine. Please check with your local Dogtopia for specific requirements. The dog flu is a highly contagious virus, and the vaccine offers excellent protection.

Yes! We require that all dogs are on a leash or slip lead with a collar/harness both in our parking lot and in our lobby.

Our playroom flooring is made of compressed rubber—the same material they use in daycares for children. Not only does this protect the pads of dogs’ feet, it also provides a comfortable walking surface for dogs suffering from hip dysplasia and other ailments.

At Dogtopia, we strive to create a safe environment for dogs, but we acknowledge that not every dog will get along. Our team is highly trained to understand dog body language, and if we see that a dog is becoming upset, we will take steps to remove that dog before the situation escalates. We acknowledge that since our environment is like a child’s daycare, the occasional squabble may break out. That’s why we train our team to recognize these situations and remove a dog that may cause problems with other dogs in our care.

Besides giving you a safe environment to leave your dog in, it will also help with their socialization and help them to stay fit and active. Check out our Dog Blog for all of the health and social benefits daycare can offer to your dog.

At Dogtopia, we work hard at creating a safe environment for dogs. Although every dog is evaluated prior to open play, disagreements or altercations may occur from time to time. Our team is highly trained to understand dog body language and proactively manage the playrooms so that when one dog offers a correction that is not well-received by another, we intercede before the situation escalates. This intercession may result in removing a dog from open play or doing rotations among dogs who are still learning to read signals and get along. Our team is trained to recognize that dogs sometimes need a little “me time,” so we utilize the crates to allow this quiet time for those dogs.

Indoor dog daycare has no negative impact on house training. Dogs don’t think about inside vs. outside the way people do. They view the world around them through sight and sound but mostly by smell. Although sanitized multiple times a day, indoor playrooms do not smell like your house. They smell a lot like the outdoors to your pup!

During our naptime, dogs are crated individually, and some are offered a lunch or snack. After that, our team performs a deep clean of the room and then we quickly shut down the lights so the pups can rest! They usually fall asleep during this time and the cameras don’t work when the lights are off.

Food is prepared exactly as requested by each pet parent.

Your pup’s comfort is very important to us! We always prefer pups enjoy the nutritious food that they are used to from home, but in the event you run out or forget a meal, we carry dog food and can provide meals as needed. We are also happy to provide bedding during a boarding stay if needed or if you prefer.

We offer overnight, weekend, and extended-stay boarding.

We do not have an overnight attendant, but we take the safety of the pups in our care very seriously. All of our Dogtopia facilities are monitored by motion-activated cameras, so if there is any movement in the room, the camera turns on and recording begins. Our facilities are also equipped with a wired-in temperature monitoring system that watches for both high and low temperatures. Anything outside of our strict temperature parameters will immediately alert us so we can take fast action. Smoke detectors are the primary tool we use to quickly alert Dogtopians and emergency personnel to a fire developing. Our smoke detectors are wired into our telephone alert systems so there’s no time wasted. If smoke is detected, the fire department is alerted at the same time we are. Fire extinguishers are posted in multiple places inside the building and inspected annually.

Absolutely! We offer spa options as part of our boarding packages.

We offer spa services by appointment, as well. Some of our locations also offer grooming.

We offer several options for drying your dog based on their noise tolerance. We can use a crate hair dryer or a handheld hair dryer, or we can towel off your pup to keep them comfortable.

Unlike other dog care facilities, we separate our play areas with walls instead of chainlink fences. This protects against airborne contagions and prevents the overstimulation that may come from seeing dogs they cannot play with. Our standard is to disinfect all surfaces and equipment twice daily with pet-safe disinfectants. Dogtopia is committed to the health of all dogs in our care. If you have any questions about what canine cough or puppy warts are, please reach out to your veterinarian. If you detect signs of either, please keep your dog at home and let us know so that we can take extra precautions for their friends.

Canine cough is an infectious bronchitis, most recognized by a harsh and hacking cough. Most people describe it as sounding like their dog is trying to cough something up. Just like the common cold in humans, canine cough is a mild illness that normally resolves quickly. A dog with canine cough usually has no fever and maintains a normal activity level and appetite despite the coughing.

Canine cough typically comes to an end on its own, but your veterinarian may have measures they wish to take. Antibiotics may treat a bacterial infection, and cough suppressants can provide comfort during natural recovery. Most of the time, no treatment is necessary, but check with your vet to see if medication is warranted.

There are many germs that can cause canine cough, and there are vaccines available for some of the germs. Some canine cough vaccines will protect a dog from the bacteria Bordetella as well as two other viruses, adenovirus and parainfluenza. This vaccine will reduce the chance of your dog contracting canine cough.

Puppy warts (canine papilloma virus) can be compared to chicken pox in humans. Like chicken pox, puppy warts are typically benign. Generally, once the dog is exposed to the virus and presents with warts, the dog does not get them again. It is most common to see dogs under two years old get puppy warts because their immune systems are not as developed, but dogs of all ages are susceptible. You and your human family members cannot catch puppy warts from your dog.

Look for puppy warts inside the mouth between the lips and gumline or on the tongue. The warts will look like small pink cauliflower or pale raspberries. The number and size can vary, and they are not dangerous, but this virus is contagious to other dogs. Most cases will resolve on their own within six weeks. If no improvement has been observed in this time, please check in with your veterinarian.