Rover offers doggy daycare services for pet owners throughout the local area. Its network includes thousands of pet sitters that are available to care for dogs while their owners work or travel. The service connects sitters with clients online or through its app. Customers can meet with sitters prior to booking, and services are available for a range of dogs, including high-energy puppies and dogs with special needs.
A Country Kennel is a dog boarding facility in Wilmington. Its owner, Daniel Wilson, is a veterinarian that works with co-managers Abby and Makenzie to create a comfortable environment for clients' pet. The facility offers overnight care in a climate-controlled area equipped with junior and deluxe suite kennels with glass fronts. Its boarding services include four potty and exercise breaks throughout the day. Furthermore, A Country Kennel offers exit bath services, including shampoo, blow-dry, deodorizer, nail trim, and ear cleaning.
A Dog's Dream Kennel provides boarding services to dogs in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. It offers climate-controlled boarding rooms, baths, and individual playtime services. It also caters to dogs with special needs by offering board rooms in the facility's office area and assisting them five times a day for potty breaks. A Dog's Dream Kennel also has a roofed outdoor patio and play area. Its owner, Michele Leblanc, has been in business since 1986.
Founded in 1993, Animal House, a pet-care business in Wilmington, serves clients in the metro area. It offers boarding facilities for dogs, cats, and other small critters. Among its lodging options are glass door suites and pet entertainment. The facility features multiple indoor and outdoor exercise yards and multiple in-ground and above-ground pools. In addition, the amenities have 24-hour surveillance cameras and live webcams. Grooming, dog day camp, training programs, and hydrotherapy are also available.
Atlantic Animal & Pet Care Resort is a dog boarding facility that caters to clients in Wilmington and nearby areas. Its boarding services include frequent walks, pet cots, and soft bedding. In addition, it provides bathing and grooming, outdoor doggie daycare, surgery and diagnostics, and therapy laser treatments. Atlantic Animal & Pet Care Resort is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Michele Rohrer, one of the veterinarians, has been with the company since 2004. She has a background in emergency medicine and private practice.
Coastal Carolina Animal Hospital is a facility that has been operating in Wilmington since 1998. It offers dog boarding services for owners who are going out of town. With a fully stocked pharmacy on-site, its team provides 24-hour emergency services for unexpected circumstances. The business specializes in pain management, nutritional counseling, dental care, wellness exams, and surgical services. Its owner, Peter L. Dugan, is a veterinarian who has more than 25 years of industry experience.
College Road & Carolina Beach Animal Hospital provides dog boarding solutions for clients in Wilmington. Its flea-free boarding facility includes meals, supervised outdoor playtime, and separate wards for cats and dogs. Services include grooming, doggie daycare, and a range of veterinary treatments. It also provides care for exotic animals and runs an online shop and pharmacy. The clinic has been in the business for more than 30 years. Its owner, Phillip Lanzi, is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association.
Highsmith Animal Hospital provides its services to pet owners in the Wilmington metro. It offers dog boarding as well as grooming, bathing, and dental care services. The clinic's veterinarians also conduct wellness examinations, laser therapies, vaccinations, and nutritional counseling. In addition, they perform oncology and endocrinology treatments and surgical procedures, such as neutering and spaying. Owner David W. Highsmith is a veterinarian who founded the animal clinic in 1986. He runs the clinic with the help of his four veterinarians and five certified veterinary technicians.
Leland Pet Resort is a dog boarding facility serving pet owners in the Wilmington area. It offers overnight lodging for dogs and cats, as well as dog daycare in its outdoor yards and indoor play spaces. Additionally, it provides dog obedience training classes in collaboration with Salty Dogs. Leland Pet Resort is managed by Margot Terapak, who has over 12 years of experience in pet care and is certified in Pet First Aid and Pet CPR.
MeadowSweet Pet Boarding & Care is a Wilmington-based business that accommodates dogs. Its canine boarding facility has 24- and 72-square feet climate-controlled runs equipped with raised comfort flooring, a soft, wire-wrapped flooring type. Outdoor runs with the same flooring system are also offered by the company, and kennel baths that include shampoo, nail trim, and ear cleaning are provided for boarded canines. MeadowSweet Pet Boarding & Care, which also accommodates cats, started as a grooming business in 1970.
Midtown Pawville extends its dog boarding services to clients in Wilmington and the surrounding communities. It offers woof, villa, condo, webcam townhome, and private yard accommodations that include playtime services. Its team also provides private and group dog training services to handle disobedient, aggressive, skittish, and destructive dogs. In addition, the center is available for grooming and self-service dog washing. Midtown Pawville has an inground bone-shaped pool, cat boarding condos, dog treat bakery, grooming spa, and indoor and outdoor playrooms.
Pawsitive Pup Training is a dog boarding facility and training center that serves the pet owners of Wilmington and the surrounding areas. It offers board and train dog care assistance as well as puppy training and socialization services. It uses force-free and reward-based personalized dog training methods. Owner Lainie Johnston is a dog trainer certified by the CATCH Canine Trainers Academy and Family Paws Parent Education. She is also a member of the Pet Professional Guild.
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The Barkington Pet Hotel & Day Camp is a dog boarding facility near Wilmington. It offers luxury hotel boarding with twin-bed rooms, mattresses, and camera access for pet parents. Dogs are provided with exercise breaks, late-night potty breaks, fresh water, and playtime. A professional spa and photography services are also available. The business also has grooming services that include bath, nail trim, ear cleaning, and hand blow dry. Barkington is owned by a couple with years of experience managing a pet boarding facility.
The Diggs at Paws & Claws is a pet boarding facility that serves Wilmington. The business offers boarding arrangements, which they call "diggs" to accommodate canines and felines alike. Its dog options include cottages, cabins, runs, and luxury suites. Cat condos, on the other hand, have private litter boxes in each room. The Diggs at Paws & Claws also offers daycare, spa amenities, and dog training services. Its team is trained in pet first aid, CPR, and safety.
The Dog Play Spot is a dog daycare and boarding facility in Wilmington. It offers cage-free and supervised dog boarding services that include playtime, feeding, and pool play. Additionally, the facility provides grooming services, such as nail trims, paw pad trims, and ear plucking. It conducts individual and group dog training classes. The Dog Play Spot also shows live streaming of its 11,000-square-foot facility for its boarding clients. Its yard attendants are certified in pet first aid and CPR.
Dog boarding facilities provide housing and care for dogs for short- and long-term stays. Services include kenneling, daily exercise, feeding, and grooming. While at-home pet sitting providers offer similar services, the main difference between the two is that professional facilities are licensed, and they must follow state regulations to ensure the safety of animals in their care.
Services included with dog boarding can vary based on specific facility offerings, but most boarding centers offer daily exercise programs, clean, sanitized bedding, temperature-controlled housing, fresh water, and veterinarian-approved dog food. Boarding technicians also administer required medications and supplements, and many facilities offer grooming and bathing services.
Certain veterinary offices provide boarding services, as overnight staff are readily available, and animals have immediate access to medical care. While boarding a dog at the vet is perfectly safe, some dogs are uneasy about going to the doctor, leading to anxiety and resistance at drop-off.
Board and training programs for dogs combine overnight boarding with obedience training. Dogs stay at boarding facilities throughout their training programs, which typically last between one and four weeks. During their stay, dogs are trained to hinder behavior, such as jumping and pulling on leashes, and they learn basic commands, such as heel and stay.
Board and train programs have proven to be effective for many dogs, as they learn everything from basic commands to new behaviors that result in positive reinforcement. However, not all dogs respond to board and train programs, so alternative training and behavior modification courses may be necessary in some cases.
Specific regulation requirements for dog boarding facilities can vary from state to state, but all kennel owners must obtain the appropriate licensing, and property must be zoned for kenneling. Additionally, all facilities must be designed to remain structurally sound and maintain fresh-air ventilation systems, and hot and cold running water is required.
Dog owners may wish to visit the facility with their pets before boarding to help them acclimate to the environment. A visit to the veterinarian is also a good idea to ensure the dog is in good health before spending time away from home. If a dog is used to sleeping with other dogs or people, owners should encourage them to sleep alone for a few nights before the stay.
When dropping off a dog for long-term boarding, owners should bring the following:
Before boarding a dog for the first time, it's a good idea for owners and their pets to visit the establishment to get a feel for the environment and learn about the boarding process. It's also important for dogs to be vaccinated for kennel cough, canine distemper, and rabies prior to boarding. Dog owners can also "try out" boarding facilities by placing their pets for a one-night stay to gauge their comfort levels and familiarize them with the environment.
Dogs are highly adaptable; however, whether they are comfortable in a boarding kennel depends on various factors. Anxiety due to missing their owners and being in an unfamiliar space may cause a dog to feel stressed. Reputable providers work hard to ensure dogs are comfortable and content during their stays.
On average, dog boarding costs between $25 and $85 per day/night. Factors that can lead to higher or lower costs include the state, additional services needed, special diets, included grooming, and included training. Weekly dog boarding costs average $150, and monthly costs are approximately $500.
Rates for dog board and training per day can vary based on specific company prices and services offered. In general, two-week programs start at around $900, but they can go significantly higher. Dog owners should confirm with dog boarding centers if single-day sessions are offered, as professional training often requires more than one session.
It's not customary or required to tip for dog boarding or kenneling, but customers can offer tips if so inclined. It's always a good idea to check with the boarding center before providing a tip to ensure it's not against company policy.
Specific lengths of boarding time can vary per facility, but in general, it's recommended to board a dog for no longer than 30 days at a time. While many dogs adapt to new environments, they may also form attachments to their caregivers, leading to resistance when it is time to leave the facility.
It's safe to board puppies that are four months of age or older. Depending on the boarding facility, dog owners may be required to bring proof of age and documentation of all puppy shots. Puppy owners should consult with their veterinarians before boarding to ensure their pets are healthy enough to be placed in a new environment.
Yes, it's common for some dogs to become emotional when boarded. They may miss their owners and the overall change of environment, including dietary changes, which can be jarring. However, dogs are adaptable, and quality kennels and boarding centers work hard to ensure that their needs are met through socialization and attention.
The vaccines required for dogs to enter boarding facilities or doggy day care centers are upper respiratory or kennel cough, rabies, and canine distemper. Dogs should also be current with all other vaccines and take preventative tablets for fleas and heartworm.
Several factors can cause a dog to become ill during boarding. While transmittable viruses that lead to kennel cough are quite common, dogs can also get sick due to the stress of a new environment and dietary changes that lead to stomach upset. Vaccinations help prevent dogs from picking up certain viruses and bacterial infections, so owners need to ensure that all shots are up-to-date before boarding.
When a dog is exposed to kennel cough, the incubation period is approximately two to 14 days following exposure. Symptoms, such as a mild cough and nasal discharge, can last a few weeks. In most cases, kennel cough is not serious, but pet owners should schedule a veterinarian visit to rule out secondary infections.
You should have experience with and knowledge of dog care before launching a dog daycare. Your business must comply with all state and local laws. You also need to choose what type of business formation you want. Visit the Small Business Administration website and the site for your Secretary of State’s office for guidelines, tips, advice, and resources.
