Frequently Asked Questions

We offer dog walking, pet visits, doggie daycare, and boarding in our home.

To attend doggie daycare, all dogs must meet the following requirements:

1. Registration: All dogs must register on our website and provide a copy of current Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations, as well as a negative fecal test within the last six months.
2. Vaccination Policy: If this is the first time your dog has received the Bordetella vaccination, they must wait 14 days before attending daycare.
3. Dog Compatibility: All dogs must be comfortable around other dogs. No aggression of any kind is tolerated, including growling, snapping, herding, mounting, or excessive barking.
4. Introduction and Assessment: New dogs must arrive for their first day of daycare at the following times for proper introduction and assessment:
   
   • Monday–Friday: Between 7:00–7:30 AM
   • Saturday: Between 8:00–8:30 AM
     This ensures a calm environment with fewer dogs, helping your pup acclimate to the group.

1. Females in Heat: Unfortunately, we cannot accept female dogs who are in heat for daycare.
2. Health Standards: For the safety of all pups in our care, no dogs exhibiting symptoms of illness—such as coughing, hacking, vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of sickness—will be allowed to attend daycare.

These guidelines help us maintain a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment for all dogs. If you have any questions about the requirements, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to assist!

Entering daycare for the first time is an exciting milestone for both you and your pup! While it’s natural to feel a bit anxious about leaving your dog, we kindly ask that you wait in your car during their introduction to daycare.

Your pup can sense your presence and pick up on your emotions, including excitement or nervousness. This can lead them to wait by the door, looking for you, rather than relaxing and engaging with the other dogs. By giving them space, you’re helping them settle in more easily and confidently.

Our team is experienced in making this transition smooth and stress-free for your pup, and we’ll ensure they’re comfortable and happy as they join the group. Trust us—your pup will be enjoying their new daycare friends in no time!

Here are a few important things for parents to keep in mind when dropping off or picking up their dog for daycare:

1. Leashes Are a Must: Your dog must always be leashed, and you must hold the leash securely at all times. For safety reasons, retractable leashes are not allowed.
2. No Greetings in the Driveway: Please do not allow your dog to greet other dogs in the driveway. While your pup may be friendly, not all dogs feel comfortable with close interactions in this setting, and this helps us maintain a calm and safe environment.
3. No Jumping: It’s important to ensure your dog doesn’t jump on others, whether it’s staff, other parents, or children.
4. Teach Kids Dog Safety: If you bring your children with you, please remind them to always ask permission before approaching or petting strange dogs. This helps keep everyone safe and comfortable.

To ensure the health, safety, and comfort of all our guests, we have the following requirements for boarding:

1. Daycare Trial: All pups must attend at least one day of daycare before we confirm any boarding reservations. This allows us to get to know your dog, ensure they are comfortable in our environment, and assess how they interact with other dogs.
2. Neutering Requirement: All male dogs must be neutered to board with us.
3. Females in Heat: Unfortunately, we cannot accept female dogs who are in heat for boarding.
4. Health Standards: For the safety of all pups in our care, no dogs exhibiting symptoms of illness—such as coughing, hacking, vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of sickness—will be allowed to stay.

These requirements help us maintain a safe, healthy, and enjoyable environment for every dog. If you have questions or need to schedule a daycare trial, feel free to reach out—we’d love to help!

When your dog boards with us, here’s what you should pack to ensure their stay is as smooth and comfortable as possible:

1. Food: Please pack your dog’s food in individually portioned servings, when possible, and include detailed feeding instructions. This helps us maintain their regular diet and schedule.
2. Medication: If your pup requires medication, pack it in the original container with clear instructions for dosage and administration.
3. Crate Items (if applicable): If your dog sleeps in a crate, you may pack items like toys, bones, stuffed animals, or blankets, but these will be used inside the crate only.

Important Note: Do not pack toys, bones, stuffed animals, or blankets for general use. We cannot guarantee these items won’t be “loved” by other pups during their stay.

Finally, be sure to label everything with your dog’s name to keep their belongings organized and ensure nothing gets misplaced. We’re excited to welcome your pup and make them feel right at home!

At Shore Puppy Walks, all of our boarders enjoy the comfort and warmth of our home. During the day, your pup will join our daycare program, where they’ll have the chance to play and socialize with their friends. Once daycare closes, your dog will transition into our home and be treated like part of the family. They’ll have plenty of options to relax—whether it’s lounging on the floor, snuggling up on a dog bed, or even joining us for some quality cuddle time on the couch.

In the evening, after a potty break, your pup will sleep just as they’re used to sleeping at home. If your dog is accustomed to a crate, we have crates available inside the house to ensure their comfort and familiarity. If they’re used to sleeping freely, they’ll have the same freedom here. Our goal is to make your pup feel as relaxed and loved as they do in their own home.

We ask that you adhere to all pick up/ drop off times for daycare and boarding. We appreciate your understanding that even though we are home-based, we do not offer pick up/drop off outside of these times. Our family time is very important to us.

Monday - Friday Daycare/Boarding Drop off - 7:00 am - 9:00 am (Please NO LATER than 10 am)

Monday - Friday Daycare - 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (If you need to pick up earlier, please let a staff member know.) ABSOLUTELY NO Pick up after 5:00 pm.

Monday - Friday Boarding Pick up - 7:00 - 9:00 am (or schedule for daycare for pick up anytime by 5:00 pm)

Saturday Daycare/Boarding Drop off - 8:00 am - 9:00 am (Please no later than 10:00 am)

Saturday Daycare Pick up - by 4:00 pm (No later)

Saturday Boarding Pick up - 8:00 - 9:00 am (or schedule for daycare for pick up anytime by 4:00 pm)

Sunday Boarding Drop off/Pick up - 9:00 am ONLY

We do not offer early or late drop-offs/pick-ups, even for an additional fee. While it may seem like a simple one-time favor, we receive these requests daily. To maintain consistency and structure for our dogs, we have to stick to our set schedule.

Before daycare, we focus on feeding our dogs, allowing time for digestion and potty breaks, and ensuring they are calm before starting their active day of play. After daycare, our boarders are hungry and ready to eat, and we immediately begin cleaning and sanitizing before feeding and winding down for the night. A drop-off or pickup outside of our schedule disrupts this important routine.

Additionally, as a home-based daycare and boarding facility, we reserve this time for uninterrupted family time. No amount of money is worth disrupting that balance.

When you request daycare, you will be asked to choose: 

Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, or 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. The fee is $25 for us to eight hours for each dog. Please choose your time slot based on your arrival time. If you need extra hours, each hour is $4.00/hr for each dog. (All must be picked up by 5:00 pm). If you need extra hours, please make a note on your request. 

Saturday daycare is $30 and 8:00 - 4:00 pm only.

Boarding is $60/night for each dog and this does include daycare for each night. Holidays are $75/night for each dog. Please visit our Boarding page for a list of holidays. 

At our daycare, we do not separate dogs by size. With nearly two acres of space, there is more than enough room for dogs of all sizes to roam, play, and interact freely. Dogs naturally gravitate toward playmates with similar energy levels, ensuring they enjoy their time in a way that feels comfortable and fun for them.

For the rare cases where a dog might need a break, we have a separate fenced area available to give them some space. However, we are very attentive to behavior—no dog is allowed to stay if they exhibit any form of aggression or harassment toward others. Our focus is on creating a safe, harmonious, and enjoyable environment for all dogs in our care.

While we work hard to provide a safe and fun environment for all dogs, it’s important to understand that injuries can happen during active play. Just like any active species, dogs can occasionally get hurt while running, jumping, or playing with their friends.

Most daycare injuries are minor and do not require a veterinarian. Common examples include:

• Stiffness or minor limping from running and jumping.
• Broken, split, or blistered pads, toenails, or dewclaws from turning and twisting on pavement.
• Skin tears, scratches, or minor punctures from over-exuberant play.

If your dog is injured while at daycare, we will immediately isolate them from the group to assess the severity of the injury. Here’s how we handle it:

• Superficial Injuries: If the injury appears minor, we may clean the wound, monitor your dog closely, and notify you via call or text.
• Non-Emergency Injuries: If we believe your dog should see a veterinarian but it’s not an emergency, we will call you or your emergency contact to arrange early pickup and a visit to your own vet.
• Emergency Situations: For true emergencies, we may transport your dog to the nearest veterinarian for immediate care. Once your dog is safely there, we will contact you right away.

Please note that you are responsible for contacting the veterinarian, making treatment decisions, and covering all veterinary bills. While injuries are rare, we want to ensure you’re informed and prepared for how we handle these situations to prioritize your dog’s health and well-being.

At our daycare, we do not restrict breeds. We believe that a dog’s suitability for daycare should be based on their behavior, not their breed. However, we do reserve the right to refuse daycare services to any dog, for any reason, if we feel it’s in the best interest of the dog or the group.

If you’re not comfortable having your dog around a specific breed, we recommend considering whether daycare is the right choice for them. We understand that some breeds may be genetically predisposed to dog aggression, particularly once they reach sexual maturity, and other breeds may have personality traits or play styles that could be challenging in a large pack.

All dogs are carefully evaluated for temperament and social behavior, both during their initial trial and throughout their time in daycare. This ensures that every dog’s needs are met and that they’re placed in a safe, compatible environment for play and socialization.