Nauset Kennels

We’ve been waiting patiently and the great folks at Landmark Fence here in Eastham helped us out (huge thank yous!) and installed the fence for our new play yard. Cape Cod Ready Mix poured the concrete trench that prevents dogs from being able to dig under the fencing. This yard is attached to the kennel and is used solely for boarding dogs.

As you can see, it is HUGE! So, how does it work? Well, we work very hard to try to get every dog out in the yard at some point in the day. This yard is supervised and we usually take groups of 2-6 dogs out at at time. Some get to stay out longer than others depending on how well they are getting along and if it’s a good mix. The dogs love the kiddie swim pool and the opportunity to roam around sniffing all the good doggie smells.

For those unsocial dogs, it can be a bit trickier, but we know that they love their time outdoor too, so we try like heck to get each one out.

Some dogs absolutely cannot go in this yard. Any dog who is actively looking for a way out will be brought back inside. A dog who is just making a huge ruckus cannot stay in the yard. Dogs who won’t come when called or run and play a game of chase when it is time to come in won’t go out again. And any dog who is a known escape artist is not allowed in the yard. We’ll let you know at the end of a visit if your dog falls into one of these categories.

We get a lot of requests from boarders and neighbors to use the yard. Unfortunately, the yard is only for kennel use. We need access to it and couldn’t possibly compete with the numbers of families asking to use the yard.

We also get a lot of questions about the cost. Our standard boarding fee includes the possibility of yard time. I say possibility because it is not a guarantee that every single dog will get out in the yard during a visit. For those owners who absolutely want their dogs to have yard time, we offer a 20 minute play time for $8.00. That time can be designated for walking on the bike trail, playing one-on-one with one of us, loving (what dog doesn’t love a good belly rub?), or socializing with a few good buddies. If you want your dog to be outside for the majority of the day, ask about doggie day care.

We love our new yard and are loving the great weather that we’ve had! We’re sure you’ll find it “tail-waggin’good”!

As I entered checks on the deposit slip the other day, I happened to glance at the “For” line on one particular check. Usually people write things like, “Barney - bath.” Sometimes dates are jotted down or an invoice number is provided. This check was different though, and it so perfectly sums up why doggy day care is important and why people use it: “For: peace and quiet.”

“How perfectly simple!” I thought. From our end, we often see the purpose of day care as tiring out your pups. I’m sure that for most of you, this is the reason why you bring your dogs to day care. Some people have different reasons though, such as providing an owner with peace and quiet. Guilt probably plays a big role too; we feel guilty when we don’t have enough time for our dogs. For those of you who wonder what would prompt someone to bring their dog to day care, I’ve compiled a list of reasons, many provided by owners. Please let me know if I’ve there are any I’ve missed.

Why We Bring Our Dogs to Day Care

- “Peace and quiet” (as quoted from a check)

- Exercise

- Socialization

- To acquaint the dog with the kennel as an introduction to an overnight stay

- To allow the exterminators, painters, carpet cleaners, etc. time and space to work at your house

-”Because, while I love my dog, he drives me crazy!” (quoted from an actual customer, not the same customer who wrote about peace and quiet though)

- Guilt over working so much that the dog isn’t getting out

- “To allow me rest after my medical treatments”

- “So I can get ready for our party and not have the dog in the way”

- and along the same lines as the above, “Because our guests aren’t dog people.”

I can’t say that any reason given has surprised me yet, but I live by the mantra of “Never say never.”

For most dogs, length of stay can be relevant if you are going away for a month or so. There are many factors to consider.

Has your dog boarded before? If not, we would definitely recommend a trial run of at least two nights. See how that goes, but remember that he or she might take few times to get used to boarding. The trial run also allows the kennel staff the opportunity to evaluate your pet, and guide you in your decision. Our first priority is the well being of your pet.

Do you feel confident in the kennel staff? We want to allay all of your fears and answer all of your questions ahead of time. We welcome a visit and look forward to sharing our information with you.

Are you going to be able to enjoy yourself on vacation? We welcome phone calls and emails from clients who are away from their babies. We are happy to email photos or updates and have even fielded international calls for our guests. Not much surprises us! In addition to finding out how you can get info about your dog while you are away, find out how the staff handles dogs that might not be boarding as well as expected. We find that, when appropriate, the dog will settle down when paired with a buddy. We will also give the dog extra time and attention, sometimes even letting the dog “hang out” with us during the day.

Overall, most dogs do very well with boarding, even for two weeks or more. If it’s feasible, extra play times or love sessions can be very beneficial. Many dogs do very well in the play yards; however, not every dog wants to play all the time. The walk guarantees exercise and one-on-one time.

Does the kennel have experience with long-term boarding? We’ve had dogs and cats that spend the winter with us while their owners are doing the snowbird thing. We have had dogs and cats who have moved in and set up shop. And then there was Harry, one of our boarders who ended up living out the rest of his years (six) with us.

One final note: there are differing opinions on whether or not pets have a concept of time. We are not here to debate this issue. However, in our experience, they will always let us know when it is time to eat and go out. After a day of doggy day care or after a month of boarding the reception will always be the same when their owners pick them up.

If only they could talk…