Frequently Asked Questions

Your dog must be dropped off by 10am. During drop offs dogs are placed into appropriate yards based on play style and activity level, during this time they are able to play and socialize with the other dogs. They participate in enrichment activities as well, to give them the mental stimulation they need.

We go in for a quick rest period from 10:10 - 10:40am, to help the dogs recover after a morning of fun. Then it’s back outside (weather permitting) for more playtime and enrichment.
Our half day dogs then go home between 12 - 1pm and we break up into our nap groups. Our full day and boarding dogs go back inside for nap from 1 - 2:45pm. Then, it’s back outside, for more fun and playtime until they are picked up!

Boarding dogs must be here by 10am to be placed into their appropriate groups. Our Boarding dogs get to join our daycare dogs during the day to play and socialize. They are brought it for the same 10:10 - 10:40am break as well as our 1-3pm nap time. 

After nap, our boarding dogs are fed dinner and while waiting for our daycare pick ups to finish. At 6:30pm we break into our overnight groups and the dogs come inside for some down time. Around 8:30/9pm they are brought outside for last pee before heading into bed for the night. 

In the morning, groups are up around 5:45am to use the bathroom and eat breakfast before joining out daycare yards around 6:30am.

Yes, all of our indoor areas are temperature controlled! In the hot months, we have the ACs going to keep cool. In the colder months, we have the heat on to make sure everyone stays warm.

We are no longer able to transport dogs from our Daycare and Boarding Facility to our Grooming Salon. Our new Grooming Salon is now open at 22 Andover St. Andover, MA

Our number one priority is safety. To insure adequate Staff to dog ratios, prior reservations are required.

Yes. If you make a “standing” reservation, you don’t have to call ahead; you are guaranteed a spot. If you will not be coming, please call to cancel by 4pm the day prior to avoid a daycare charge.

Drop-off times are the most stressful times for the dogs. It is when the most attention must be paid to the proper assignment of dogs to their groups. Incoming dogs must greet one another, get acquainted with other dogs and find a “place” within their group. Once the groups are established, it is safer not to disrupt the dynamic by adding additional dogs.

We first look at age, size and play-style and assign dogs accordingly. Beyond that, we assess each dog’s individual personality and attempt to match them with the most appropriate playmates. Some dogs develop very strong bonds and when that happens, we will help you coordinate a schedule that works for you and your dog.

Dogs are supervised by members of our trained and dedicated Staff. Staff members complete comprehensive on-the-job training for understanding dog behavior, body language, as well as working through enrichment activities such as: sit, group stay, stay and release, place, and more!

We do everything in our power to prevent the spread of disease. Our practices include daily cleaning & disinfecting and are conducted in accordance with industry standards and guidelines. We require all new dogs to show proof of vaccination and to provide timely updates to their vaccination records.  Please do your part by keeping your dog home if he shows any signs of illness including, undiagnosed sores or lesions, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, gagging and/or nasal or eye discharge. Seek and follow your veterinarian’s advice. Please advise us of any illness that your dog is experiencing.  Day care is an active environment and although we monitor all play, injuries can occur.  We highly recommend pet insurance for any active dog.  You can find companies and rate comparisons on the internet by searching “pet insurance”.

You need to bring your dog’s food in sufficient quantity for feeding during his stay. We have limited storage space so only bring what will be consumed. Dry food should be placed in plastic storage bags, one bag per meal. Canned/wet food should be in the original container. We can accommodate raw & home cooked food that are packaged by meal. Frozen meals are also accepted. Please label all food with your dogs name.

We do not accept toys and blankets from home; we won’t use it, it might get damaged, and most importantly, it can cause stress for a dog to have an item from home while they are here.

We can administer medication by mouth or in your dog’s food. Medication should be brought in the original container and with dosage amount & the instructions for administration. We do not administer shots.

At night your dog is free to select a bed, sofa or chair to curl up on, or in bed with a human staffer! Check out some photo of dogs boarding on our website.

If your dog likes the security of a crate, we can provide one. Dogs that like their crates are crated at nap time and bedtime. Dogs under 6 months old may be crated for their safety.

The veterinary standards for spaying and neutering have changed a lot in the past few years, with many vets now recommending that you not spay or neuter your dog until 12-18 months in some circumstances. In effort to help our clientele abide by their vet’s recommendations, we allow unaltered dogs up to 18 months to be evaluated (with some conditions).

Daycare Policy: To avoid a charge, please let us know by 4pm the prior day if you do not plan on bringing your dog for their reservation they have saved. This allows us to give your dog’s spot to the next person in line on the waitlist. A simple text message or email is enough for us to take your dog off the next day’s roster.

Also note that a high percentage of cancellations of your reservation may result in us giving that spot to another interested client. We feel this cancellation policy is the best way to balance providing stellar service to our clients while also allowing reliable hours to our incredible staff.

Boarding Policy: We require a 5-day notice to cancel or modify any boarding reservations without penalty. Any cancellations or shortened stays within the 5 days before a booking begins will incur a 100% charge against the original reservation.

Staffing for an expected number of dogs while allowing last minute flexibility has become a big challenge at The Dog Nanny, impacting both our staff and our clients.  We are frequently forced to turn away or waitlist clients needing service, only to have spots open up far too late to be helpful. We hope this new measure will allow us to accommodate you more efficiently and accurately.

Late Pick Up Policy: Due to staffing requirements and the safety of the dogs in our care, late pick-ups are generally not permitted. If an unexpected circumstance arises and we are able to accommodate a late pick-up (which may not always be possible), a late fee of $1 per minute will apply for up to 30 minutes past closing. After 30 minutes, your dog will be required to stay overnight, and a boarding fee will be charged. 

late Drop Off Policy: Late drop-offs for daycare or boarding are not permitted. Drop-off time is the most stimulating- and sometimes stressful- part of the day for dogs and requires our full attention. During this time, dogs are carefully introduced, groups are thoughtfully assigned, and each dog is given the opportunity to acclimate and find their place within their group.

Once groups are established, adding additional dogs can disrupt the group dynamic and compromise safety. For this reason, late drop-offs are not allowed. 

Note: Any exception made to this policy will be subject to the same fees outlined in our Late Pick-Up Policy.