Boarding FAQs
Dog Boarding Checklist
- Visit the facility ahead of time. A good facility should be transparent in how they operate and should allow you to visit unannounced. We allow clients to tour our facility anytime during regular business hours without calling ahead.
- Find out how long the facility has been in operation. We recommend researching client reviews online ahead of time. Yelp, Google, Facebook & Nextdoor are all great resources for finding real client recommendations and reviews.
- Find out about immunization requirements. The facility should require a Bordetella shot, along with rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. For added protection, our facility requires that all dogs have had a negative fecal test on file with their vet. Dogs who have intestinal parasites require additional clean up care to ensure they do not transmit any parasites to other guests. It is also important to ask the facility what their policy is for fleas and ticks?
- Keep an eye out for clean, secure, and sanitary conditions. There should be adequate, securely fenced exercise areas and sleeping areas with comfortable surfaces available to all guests. Are you welcome to visit all areas of the kennel or home that your dog will have access to? Are enclosures secure?
- How does the facility smell? While accidents happen, the facility should not smell dirty. Ask the facility how often they clean their kennel rooms and outdoor enclosures. Check that guests will not have access to harmful chemical.
- Meet the caretakers and observe how they interact with your dog. How many dogs will they care for at one time? How much exercise do the dogs get, and how often are they taken out to eliminate?
- Take stock of provisions made for the comfort of guests. This includes fresh drinking water provided at all times, temperature-controlled areas, and good ventilation.
- Does the facility allow you to bring your own food and belongings? It is important to keep your dog on their own diet to reduce the chance of them having an intestinal upset. Being able to provide your pet with the comforts from home will make their stay more enjoyable.
- Find out what happens if your dog has any healthcare needs or emergencies requiring medication and/or veterinary services.
- Evaluate the staffing situation. Is there an evacuation plan in case of an emergency?
- Observe the handling of the dogs. Is any interaction allowed with other dogs? How well is this supervised? If your dog will not be with other dogs, will they receive one on one time with the staff?
Daycare FAQs
Doggy Daycare benefits dogs in many ways. Puppies that begin Doggy Daycare at an early age learn bite inhibition from the other dogs. They learn what is gentle and appropriate play and interaction from the older dogs. Dogs that attend daycare learn important social and communication skills within the pack. Doggy Daycare can help shy or timid dogs become more confident by allowing them to build positive relationships with the pack and the staff. High energy dogs receive an extra outlet for all of their pent-up energy by playing with the other dogs.
Dogs that do not pass the temperament test will not be permitted to attend Doggy Daycare. A re-test, at no additional cost, will be considered if there are positive changes in the dog’s behavior due to training and/or outside socialization.
Yes. All dogs over the age of six months must be spayed or neutered to attend Doggy Daycare. Dogs that have been recently spayed or neutered must wait approximately two weeks, or until their sutures have been removed, to attend Doggy Daycare.
No. But we do request that a reservation is made at least 24 hours prior to bringing a dog to Doggy Daycare, as our spaces fill up quickly. Standing Doggy Daycare reservations are available for your convenience. We also request that in the case of a cancellation, we are notified to accommodate other dogs into daycare. During peak capacity periods you will be required to pay for your daycare reservation if you do not cancel by 8:00am the day of the reservation. To make a reservation you may do so through our Client Portal or by calling the store at 440-708-1364.
No. We provide separate daycare areas for large and small dogs, both with their own outdoor area. The designated daycare for each dog is chosen based on their size and temperament during the temperament test. Dogs that are on the cusp of large and small vary, and their designated daycare depends on their temperament.
Yes. Daycare attendants are trained to identify dog behaviors and communications. They use their knowledge to interact with and monitor the pack. The safety of the dogs is our priority! Daycare dogs are supervised at all times indoors and outdoors. To keep the pack at a manageable size, we add more attendants. There is one attendant for every sixteen dogs in the Large Dog Daycare, maxing out at 48 dogs. There is one attendant for every twenty dogs in the Small Dog Daycare, maxing out at 40 dogs.
Yes. Each daycare area has a designated outdoor area. Dogs in Daycare get unlimited outdoor time while also being supervised by the attendants. Although, during adverse weather conditions, their time outdoors is limited.
Yes. Water is available in the daycare area at all times.
No. We do not allow food or treats in the play areas while Doggy Daycare is in session. Dogs have the opportunity to receive food or treats provided by either their owner or All About Dogs between 12pm and 1:30pm during a mid-day break we call a Naptime. This period is a mandatory break for all daycare dogs to rest and receive their provided lunch or treats.
No. Toys are not permitted in the play areas while daycare is in session. However, when the weather is warm, we provide baby pools in the outside areas for the dogs to splash and jump in.
We do not allow aggressive dogs into Doggy Daycare. The temperament test of each dog helps us understand how the dogs will react in daycare, however, rare altercations do happen. Just like humans, dogs can have off days too. The staff at All About Dogs is educated in the communications of dogs. Daycare attendants monitor the behavior and interactions of the dogs to identify and prevent altercations from happening.
All About Dogs does not support harsh or harmful discipline, restraint, or management. Our goal is to provide a safe and positive environment for play. Our staff is trained to identify different dog behaviors and communications. Dogs displaying negative behaviors are often given a time out until the dog regains an acceptable energy level. Similar to receiving a time out, attendants may also walk a dog on a leash helping the dog calm down. Daycare attendants do keep a water bottle on hand at all times for use in managing the group.
Wrestling and nipping at each other is all a part of dog play, therefore the risk of scrapes and scratches will be ever present. Whether it is from rough play or an altercation with another dog, if a dog is injured a manager is immediately notified to evaluate the situation. From there the managers notify the owners and take necessary steps to care for the injured dog. In house care can be given, but if the dog’s injury requires immediate veterinarian attention, we can transport the dog to a veterinarian.
Any medical conditions will be evaluated during the temperament test. Whether a dog is missing a leg or blind in one eye, they are still assessed equally during their temperament test to determine their comfort and safety in the daycare environment. If a dog has an allergy, it will be specifically documented on their file.
Bordetella, also known as kennel cough, is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease which is spread by an airborne virus. Just as in the case of the common cold, Bordetella is not cured but must run its course. Unfortunately, no amount of supervision, sanitation, or personalized care can always prevent a dog from contracting an airborne virus. All About Dogs takes all possible steps to reduce the risk by requiring yearly or biannually immunization, based on the recommendations of the dog’s vet, for any dog visiting our facility. It is important to know that there are over 100 strains of Bordetella. The vaccine is more effective against some strains than others, while some strains aren’t even included in the vaccine. Through our efforts we strive for a clean and healthy environment.
Grooming FAQs
Full-service grooms include a bath, blow dry, nail trim, ear cleaning, brush out, trimming of paw pads and sanitary areas, and FULL BODY haircut of any length.
Feet, Face & Tail packages are available and include everything in the bath package as well as an extended trim-up. Prices fall somewhere between those of the bath and full-service groom packages depending on the amount of trimming required.
Prices are based on the size of the dog, length and condition of the coat, difficulty of the cut and temperament of the dog. Additional fees apply for add-ons such as nail grinding or large amounts of de-matting, etc.
Our groomers use very high quality, natural products on every dog. Unlike many grooming salons we schedule spa-style, allowing for each dog to receive special attention and spend minimal time waiting in crates, but this does not allow us to see a large number of dogs each day. The cost reflects the personalized, lower stress experience of AAD grooming.
Our packages are not itemized so there is no price break for refusing individual aspects of the grooming.
There is currently no legal state certification or licensing for groomers in Ohio. All of our groomers have attended a credible grooming school and/or completed a grooming apprenticeship. They are all enthusiastic about their jobs, gentle and patient with their canine clients and strive to maintain the highest standards of safety and quality.
Not if the dog isn’t matted. The groomers always do their best to leave the coat as long as the owner wants it, but only a certain amount of de-matting can be done before it becomes too painful for the dog. The groomers will NOT put the look of the groom before the safety and comfort of the dog. If the coat is deemed too matted to be saved, the groomers with obtain permission from the owner before proceeding with a shave down either in person at drop-off or via phone call if the matting is discovered once grooming has commenced.
We do not offer anal gland expression. We do offer ear hair removal for an additional fee but highly recommend that owners discuss with their veterinarian whether their dog should have this service performed by a groomer or by a medical professional. Many vets prefer to remove ear hair themselves or not at all.
We specialize in low-maintenance, mid-length pet grooms and do not generally offer these services.
In general, most dogs are out within a few hours. It varies between each individual dog depending on their size, coat type and what they are having done. It varies even more so from day to day depending on what other dogs are on the schedule. One large hairy dog can substantially slow down the progress of the rest of the day, while a day full of baths and small, easy grooms will generally move along quite quickly. A groomer will call as soon as the dog is finished and ready to be picked up.
The client is always welcome to drop their dog off a bit early, but this will not affect the pick-up time as the groomers will still not necessarily be able to start the dog any earlier than the scheduled appointment. The groomers cannot accept dogs arriving later than the scheduled appointment time unless the appointment slot after is available. For example, a client needing to arrive at 9:30 needs to be scheduled in the 10am slot. If the slot is not available a different time or day needs to be considered.
Long stays in the grooming salon where a substantial amount of the time is not spent actively being groomed may require a daysit fee. For dogs needing to stay for an extended period of time doggy daycare is an option for dogs that have passed the temperament test or daysits in our kennel. We also offer a taxi service to / from your home by appointment.
Yes, we can accommodate straight through appointments though they need to be scheduled carefully. The first appointment of the day is the only time that we can guarantee straight through service. It can be done later in the day but needs to be scheduled personally by a groomer.
Except in cases where there is a medical or temperament concern, we do not generally allow owners to remain with their dogs in the grooming room. It is a safety concern as it is already crowded in the salon without an extra body, along with the fact that most dogs are more excitable with their owners present. Appointments of this sort need to be scheduled personally by a groomer.
Clients are welcome to wait but the groomers ask that the client stays away from the window and door of the salon as at the sight of their owner dogs tend to become excitable and hard to groom. Clients wishing to wait should be scheduled in the first appointment of the day so that the dog can be done straight through with minimal wait time.
This will be determined on a case-by-case basis. We are almost always willing to try to groom any dog at least once. These are all concerns that need to be addressed and scheduled personally by a groomer.
Grooming clients are held to the same vaccination policy as our other in-house guests. We require vaccinations for Rabies, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Distemper-Parvo Combo. We also require a negative fecal test done annually.
Training FAQs
We offer a variety of group classes for dogs of all ages. Our group classes range from 1-hour workshops up to 6-week sessions.
We offer training to all dog breeds. Big or small we train them all!
Our training methods are all positive reinforcement based. Our trainers DO NOT use harsh reprimands or physical punishments. Our trainers use operant conditioning and shaping using clicker-based training methods. Prong collars, choke chains, and e-collars (also known as shock collars) are not permitted.
No. Your dog can be trained at any age.
The first step is to register on our online client portal and have your dogs updated vaccine records emailed or faxed to our facility. Our client portal can be found on our website. Once you have registered you can enroll in a group class online or fill out a training request online. You can also contact our training department by email trainer@allaboutdogsllc.com or by phone (440)708-1364. Please allow up to 48 hours to receive a response.
This depends on the type of training program you enroll in. All group classes and workshops are 1 hour in length. We offer private lessons in 30 minute and 1-hour sessions.
Yes! Our group classes cover a new topic each week. It would be nearly impossible to learn and practice all of the concepts covered in just 1 session. Not to mention extremely exhausting for you and your dog. In our experience, dogs and their owners have the greatest success when they complete an entire training course from start to finish.
While we cannot guarantee our training programs, our trainers will do their best work with you if your dog needs more training. In our experience, owners who follow through with their learning have great success in our programs.
We do offer assessments at no cost to you. Requests for assessments can be made through our online training request form available on our website.
This depends on what behaviors your dog is showing and your goals for your dog. We offer obedience training, classes for specific behaviors such as reactivity, jumping, recall, leash manners and more. We recommend submitting a training request form so a trainer can help you determine which program would be best for you and your dog.
All About Dogs was established June 4, 2005.
We are unable to customize our group classes, but we are able to offer customized training programs through our private training options.
We train puppies as young as 8 weeks old.
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & American Express), cash & check.
Adult dogs must have up to date DHLPP, Bordetella, Rabies vaccinations (including Leptospirosis) and a negative stool check within the las year. Vaccinations must be of status a minimum of 72 hours prior to their first visit. Owners are required to submit a copy of vaccination records.
Puppies must be current on their first round of vaccinations including DHLPP, Bordetella and a negative stool check. Puppies under 6 months may be exempt from Rabies and Leptospirosis per your veterinarian.
We do not offer a make-up policy for missed classes. If you are unable to make a class, it is your responsibility to reach out to your trainer to discuss potential make up options.
We encourage the whole family to be involved, but there are times that we may have to limit the amount of people in class, as too many people can lead to distractions that hinder training. Please discuss with your instructor.
If your dog is reactive to situations, we recommend using methods of distraction to keep them occupied. High value treats, a favorite toy, or a frozen Kong are great ways to keep many dogs occupied and distracted between turns. In some cases, we can provide you with a barrier to keep your dog from seeing situations that will cause reactivity. In rare occasions group training might not be a good learning environment for certain dogs and our trainers may recommend private lessons instead.
A clicker is a tool used to tell your dog ‘Yes, you got it.’ It’s an excellent way of marking the precise behavior you want. A clicker is the equivalent to a whistle used in marine animal training. We use the word ‘yes’ instead of a clicker in many of our classes. Some people find clickers hard to coordinate with a treat bag and a leash and a dog.
We recommend that you do not feed your dog before coming to class. If your dog has a full belly, they will be less likely to work. Bring high value treats, something they do not normally get at home. We recommend chopping up hot dogs, chicken, or cheese. We also offer yummy treat options in our store. You will also need a standard non-flexi leash and a regular collar/harness. Please do not bring prong collars or e-collars. We recommend bringing a towel or a small mat for your dog to rest on between turns.
Please reach out to our training department to discuss this option. In most cases we can accommodate this request, but it would need to be set up ahead of time and you would not be able to bring your dog with you to the class.
We are unable to offer refunds for cancelled classes. If you need to cancel a training session, please contact our store or your trainer directly with as much advance notice as you can.
Unless otherwise discussed we do not allow dogs to wear e-collars during training sessions.
In most situations we charge per dog per session. If you have specific questions regarding this, we recommend reaching out to our training department.
Yes, our class size is limited. Enrollment is necessary to ensure we have enough students to hold the class and to ensure we have a spot reserved for you.
Yes, payment is required at the time of enrollment to reserve your spot in the class.
Classes are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
Can I get a refund?
No, we don’t provide refunds for unused training package credits.
Yes, we require that every dog registered in a group class always has a handler with them. If you are looking for, drop off training, we offer day board and train options. Please see our website for more information.