How does Day Care work?
Dogs love play days at The Ranch! Our drop-off and pick-up times are SEASONAL, so please refer to our Hours to find out when you may drop off and pickup your pup. Daycare at The Ranch is available 7 days a week excluding holidays.
During a day of play, campers get to romp around with their buddies in a pre-approved playgroup. Playgroups are cycled out from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The more socialized your dog is, the more playgroups he or she may participate in!
From time to time, your dog will receive a Daycare Report Card that lets you know what kind of a day your camper enjoyed, who they played with, and what kind of adventures they had!
What if I can’t drop off or pick up my dog during those hours?
While drop-offs and pickups outside of our hours are NOT the norm and are highly discouraged (they disrupt the Ranch’s daily schedule which we need to maintain to ensure that dogs receive the proper amount of exercise and attention), we do understand that sometimes LIFE happens. We may be able to accommodate an early or late drop-off if scheduled and approved in advance by our office. Please call to make arrangements.
Drop-offs or pickups outside of our posted times are subject to a convenience charge of no less than $20/per dog for daycare clients and no less than $50/per dog for boarding clients.
What about your Pick Up and Delivery Service? Can I use that for Day Care?
Certainly! We are out on weekdays picking up our “regulars” in surrounding neighborhoods and bringing them to The Ranch for the day. The pickup and drop-off hours are entirely dependent on who we are picking up or delivering that day. Please call to find out if we can include your dog during the week for our pickup and delivery service.
Fees for pickup and drop-off will vary on your location and are charged per pack. We require 48 hours notice for all pickups and deliveries. In addition to the appropriate transport fee, a $25 convenience fee may be assessed for pickup and delivery schedules requested with less than 48 hours notice. Holiday and/or peak boarding periods may impact our transport schedule.
Any transportation requests that are cancelled the day of the scheduled appointment will be charged a trip charge.
What if my dog has special needs while at Day Care?
We are happy to feed your dog, give him or her medicine, or give extra love and TLC while they are visiting us. Be sure to email our office prior to check-in if there are any special requirements for your dog while in our care.
As with any medication brought to The Ranch, please include a note providing the appropriate administering directions, frequency, and how best to administer the medication to your pup. Medications must be prebagged unless they are liquids or topical. All of that information helps to ensure that our Ranch Hands give your dog what he or she needs to stay healthy and happy!
What about boarding?
The fun continues for those lucky dogs that stay with us! After enjoying a day full of play and adventure, our boarders are fed at approximately 4:00pm in their assigned crate or room, allowing them to relax for a bit. The boarders are let out again to enjoy the beautiful Texas sunset over The Ranch. The tuckered out pups return to their bunks for the night by 7:30pm (Summer) or dusk (Winter).
All of our buildings are climate-controlled and are electronically monitored throughout the night to ensure that our campers are bunking as comfortably as possible. Ranch life starts daily with a brisk walk and potty break. Morning chow (breakfast to non-ranch folk!) is served between 8:00am – 9:00am.
Our routine each day is important. Dogs acclimate quickly and thrive at The Ranch when they have a set schedule.
What will my dog need when they board?
Your pup will need the following items when they board at The Ranch:
- Food (Each meal must be individually prebagged in ziptop bags or bags that can be sealed/closed ). It is preferable that you supply the food for your dog’s stay with us. This helps to stave off gastrointestinal distress for your dog. Changing food can be hard on your pup’s tummy so it’s best to keep them on what they are accustomed to. There is a $3/per meal charge if we have to prebag the meals for you.
- Creature comforts like treats and a toy for your pup.
- Medication and/or supplements if needed. Be sure to provide written instructions on how and when medications should be administered. Medications should be prebagged per dosage unless it is a liquid or topical medication
We no longer accept blankets and/or bedding for our canine campers. If you would like to add a bed to your dog’s space, please coordinate with the office prior to your scheduled arrival date.
*Be sure to label all belongings. We are not responsible for any lost items.
Is there anything I shouldn’t bring for my dog while they board?
There is no need to bring leashes, food bowls, or measuring cups for your pup. We have those items on hand!
NOTE: We no longer accept blankets and/or bedding for our canine campers. If you would like to add a bed to your dog’s space, please coordinate with the office prior to your scheduled arrival date.
What if my dog is intact? Can he still board with you all?
We accept intact males for boarding on a case-by-case basis and limit the number allowed to board during peak/holiday boarding periods at The Ranch. Intact male dogs are required to attend regular daycare if they are to board with us during high volume boarding periods such as holidays or school breaks.
Additionally, intact male dogs that are hard to manage may incur an additional $10 per day handling fee. Please contact our office via email at schedule@atozdogranch.com if you have additional questions.
What is “pack play?”
Pack Play is when the dogs play “loose” as they would in a dog park. All play at The Ranch is supervised by at least one human at all times.
What else do I need to know about pack play?
Our playgroups are based on the pack’s temperament rather than size. The more socialized your dog is, the more playtime they will get because they’ll be able to participate in more groups.
Your dog will come home tired and probably a little bit dirty (a sure sign that they had a great time!) when they visit us. Their activity level while at The Ranch is higher energy than they experience at home. From time to time, dogs will suffer a scrape or scratch from playing with each other. If we notice it, we will let you know. If there is an injury requiring additional care, we will notify you immediately and take appropriate action to get them to medical care.
Do dogs stay outside all day?
We have dogs going in and out all day long!. From 10am – 3:30pm, we alternate playgroups so all of the dogs get ample time outside. During the wintertime, they average 4-5 hours outside while in summertime, it’s approximately 3-4 hours. Weather does play a role in the duration of our playgroups – high temperatures, heavy rain, thunder and/or lightning will interrupt playtime. The safety and well-being of our campers is always our priority!
Are there other services my dog can take advantage of while at Day Care or Boarding?
Yes! If your dog needs a Ranch Bath (wash and towel dry), Nail Trim, or a Full Groom, we are happy to schedule that during their stay.
WE REQUIRE NO LESS THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE FOR ALL RANCH BATH AND GROOMING REQUESTS.
If you request any grooming services, your dog will be available for pick up after 11:30am on the day he or she is checking out. Fees for grooming services will vary according to coat and size of the dog(s).
Can my dog stay for Day Care after boarding the night before?
Yes, the daycare rate will apply if you pick up after 11:00am.
Please Note: If your dog is scheduled for a Ranch Bath or Grooming appointment on their check-out day, the earliest your dog(s) can check out is 11:00 am.
What are holiday/peak boarding times?
Holiday and/or peak boarding times are periods of high volume boarding at the Dog Ranch including standard holidays and school breaks. During these periods, prepayment in full is required for all reservations.
Getting Started
How do I get started?
All dogs that visit our Ranch for boarding or daycare must go through our evaluation process. You may email us at schedule@atozdogranch.com to schedule your pup’s evaluation.
All of our services are by appointment only and your pup(s) must be present for the evaluation. We do not accept drop-ins for evaluation appointments.
What Vaccinations are Required?
Dogs that come to the Ranch must be current with:
- rabies
- distemper
- parvo
- bordatella vaccinations
We also require your dog(s) to have had a fecal float test done during their most recent annual exam. A fecal float test is done to detect internal parasites or ‘worms.’
All dogs must be on a monthly flea preventative (flea collars are NOT permitted at The Ranch because they may be harmful for dogs to mouth on). We recommend speaking with your Veterinarian regarding oral and topical flea preventatives to determine what is best for your pack.
We also suggest but do not require the following vaccinations and preventatives: canine influenza H3N8/H3N2 vaccinations, and a monthly heart-worm preventative. Again, we do recommend that you speak with your veterinarian to learn more about these recommendations if you are unfamiliar with them.
What is an Evaluation?
Evaluation appointments are an opportunity for our prospective clients – your pup! – to see and experience everything The Ranch has to offer.
Having your pup(s) evaluated during a day of play helps us to see how your dog interacts and behaves within a pack environment. Every dog reacts differently but most enjoy meeting the other pups and exploring the Ranch with them.
After the evaluation, it may be deteremined that your dog(s) will be required to attend daycare prior to any boarding. This may happen if your dog is shy or nervous or doesn’t initially respond well to our staff (stranger danger). Should this be the case, we will have a discussion with you. Dogs that display aggression during the evaluation are likely not a good fit for our pack play environment.
All tours are scheduled by appointment only. Please review “How Do I Get Started?” in our FAQ section for additional information. You may schedule an evaluation by emailing schedule@atozdogranch.com.
How does billing work?
Payment is due when you pick up your camper after daycare, boarding, or grooming. We accept cash, MC, Visa, AMEX, and Discover. All clients must have a credit card on file.
WE DO NOT OFFER INVOICING FOR BOARDING OR DAYCARE SERVICES.