Finding your dog a home away from home that you can trust is important. At Dogtopia of Houston - W. Alabama Street, our highly trained team prioritizes safety and wellness as much as fun so pups can become even greater canine citizens during their stay.
Whether you’re going on a trip, need a dog-free home, or want to change up your pup’s routine to help them boost their confidence and work on their separation anxiety, our facility can be your go-to doggie destination.
We’ll provide your dog with a safe and dependable place to stay overnight after they get a full day of exercise, education, and socialization at daycare. Everything is included in our overnight stays; we don’t nickel and dime you like other boarding facilities. They can enjoy our house food, and we will be sure to administer medications as required for no extra fees!
WHAT CAN MY DOG EXPECT DURING OVERNIGHT BOARDING?
Your pup will enjoy a staycation at our facility alongside their BFFFs (Best Furry Friends Forever). This is especially beneficial for pups who need to socialize more and build their confidence around other dogs.
Throughout their day, they’ll stay active at daycare, playing on the ramps, slides, and tunnels we have in each playroom and engaging in Canine Coach-led activities, like bubble parties with flavored bubbles that float around the room, agility-focused exercises, brain games, and more.
Pups take an average of 60,000 steps in a day at daycare, which can greatly improve their cardiovascular health, maintain weight, strengthen muscles, and more. Dogs at home only reach about 8,000 steps, another reason why bringing them to our facility can be a healthier alternative to keeping them home while you’re away.
Our overnight guests can also participate in our learning-based games in our enriching daycare environment, helping them boost their problem-solving skills and provide something novel to their day. We occasionally hold craft days, which allow pups to flex their artistic muscles, while our themed photoshoots with props and backdrop capture some of the most adorable, lock screen-worthy pics. Click here to learn about the events we have planned in the coming weeks.
For the first half of the day, dogs are engaged in playing, learning, exercising, and socializing, and by noon, they’re ready to wind down to enjoy lunch and catch some Zs in their own home-style crates. This also offers a chance for our team to clean the playrooms so they’re ready for the next round of play.
Once pups are recharged at around 2 p.m., they’re back at enjoying all the daycare fun. Around closing time, our daycare goers are picked up while our overnight guests wind down for dinner and get ready to sleep in their own private crates. Because of the 8-10 hours of play they just enjoyed, they’re ready to rest, making bedtime a breeze. Plus, they stay in the same playroom they just spent the day in alongside their furry friends, which increases their familiarity and comfort level and reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation.
INSIDE OUR DOGGY PLAYROOMS
We have four spacious playrooms inside our facility. All dogs are separated into their ideal playroom based on size and play style. If you have a small breed, you don’t have to worry about larger pups towering over them, while larger breeds can stick with those who match their playtime vibe.
Our facility includes two separate outdoor play spaces for pups to enjoy some sun, but they’ll primarily stay in our indoor playrooms, which have been designed with dogs’ needs in mind. Our flooring is made from compressed rubber, providing a gentle surface for paw pads and promoting healthy hips and joints. Soundproof, floor-to-ceiling walls separate our playrooms to minimize disruptions from neighboring pups. Additionally, we’ve installed double-barrier doors to add an extra layer of security between the playrooms and our main hall.
To keep our facility feeling fresh, we’ve equipped HVAC systems that circulate clean air in each playroom. Because of this system, we’re also able to climate-control our playrooms, so even when the weather is not cooperating outside, playtime is never interrupted indoors.
Each indoor and outdoor playroom has HD webcams so you can catch your furry friend having the Most Exciting Day Ever in our care. No matter where you are, if you can access the Dogtopia app or website, you can check in on your pup.
In addition to the adorable dogs inside our playrooms, we have our amazing team of Canine Coaches who treat every pup as if they were their own. Highly trained in doggie body language, our Coaches can pick up on the energy of the room and jump in before certain behaviors develop. They also facilitate all the fun our daycare dogs have and encourage socialization and activity, so pups get the most out of their day. Our Coaches also prepare our overnight dogs for the evening.
To be a Canine Coach, they must complete a four-part advanced training curriculum, approved for continuing education credits by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. The insight obtained from this training is extremely valuable, and it gives pet parents peace of mind that their pup is in qualified hands.
PLAYROOM CLEANLINESS
Clean playrooms are a top priority for us. Dogtopia has established rigorous cleaning standards established by an Environmental Biologist and Veterinary Scientist, and we follow these practices at our facility. We sanitize our playroom surfaces twice daily using dog-safe, chemical-free cleaning products, and we also use a bio-enzymatic spot cleaner for in-the-moment accidents.
BOARDING REQUIREMENTS AT Dogtopia of Houston - W. Alabama Street
We ask that all dogs complete at least three days of daycare before they stay overnight at our facility. This helps boost their comfort level in our space, so boarding doesn’t feel too unfamiliar.
All members of our Dogtopia Squad must pass our Meet & Greet, a 20-30-minute evaluation that lets us know if our off-leash, open-play environment is a good fit. Our team of evaluators will review your pup’s health history, and we’ll perform a nose-to-tail assessment to determine any touch sensitivities. We will also create a mini play space with other dogs to observe how your furry friend responds. You can consider this a daycare test drive! During this time, we’ll observe your dog’s comfort in our home-style crate, which is where they’d sleep during their afternoon nap and overnight. Ultimate comfort is key!
Once the Meet & Greet is complete, our team will inform you whether we think it’s a good match. You can book your evaluation today using our convenient online request form.
All dogs who pass the Meet & Greet are welcome at our facility, but before your pup can visit, there are some criteria they need to meet. These include:
- Must be at least 12 weeks old
- Spayed/neutered if seven months and older
- Free from any communicable conditions like fleas or ticks and in good overall health
- Non-aggressive and not protective over toys or food
- Vaccinated with common doggie vaccines, including Bordetella, Rabies, and DHLPP/DHPP (also known as distemper/parvo)
Please contact our team if you have any questions about these requirements.
ADD A SPA VISIT
Looking to add some pampering to your pup’s stay? Our full-service spa offers treatments ranging from baths to nail trims to ear cleaning and more! Have your furry family member feeling their freshest self by the time you pick them up.
If you want to bring the spa experience home, Dogtopia has a line of dog-safe products that are created for your pup’s needs. Click here to visit the Dogtopia Shop.
BOOK YOUR DOG’S STAYCATION AT DOGTOPIA
We proudly welcome pet parents from Downtown, Midtown, River Oaks, Southampton, Montrose, and Boulevard Oaks. You can conveniently find us between Shepherd and Dunlavy at 1839 W Alabama St, in Houston, Texas. We work with several sister Dogtopia locations inside the Loop, so there will always be a place for your pup to stay overnight nearby.
Our facility is a short drive from the Houston Amtrak Station if you’re commuting to your trip by train, and we’re on the way to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport if you’re flying to your destination. We are also close to downtown Houston; if you’re planning on a night out in the town and won’t be back home for your pup’s evening walk, leave everything to our team!
If you have any questions about boarding or the other services at our facility, please use our online inquiry form or call our team directly at 281-985-5158.
