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Bowhaus Staff behind desk

FAQs

Welcome to our FAQ page where you will find answers to our most commonly asked questions.

What vaccinations does my dog need?

All dogs must have proof of current vaccinations: Rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper-Parvo (DHPP / DAPP2), and both H3N2 & H3N8 Strains of Canine Influenza. Please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions. We also accept vaccination titer tests to prove the dog’s immunity. If your dog cannot receive a vaccination for health reasons, you must have a waiver letter from your vet.

Does my dog need to be spayed/neutered to visit Bowhaus?

All dogs over 12 months of age must be spayed or neutered to visit Bowhaus for Boarding or Daycare.

Do you accept puppies at your facility?

Yes, we do accept puppies! However, we do ask that they are at least 4 months of age, and have had their second round of shots, including their Rabies vaccination.

Are reservations needed to stay at Bowhaus?

We request that you make a reservation for both boarding and daycare stays. Generally, we are able to accommodate last minute reservations, however, during the holidays we book up fast, so to ensure your pooch’s spot, please book in advance. If there are specific days you are in need of our daycare services, we can place a standing reservation.

Why is a trial day required?

The purpose of the Trial Day is for us to get to know your dog, for them to get to know us, and for all of us to be sure it’s a good fit. This day of daycare also helps a dog know that, if they are boarded, they are not being abandoned at an unfamiliar place, but will be picked up by their human eventually.

Daycare FAQs

Are dogs seperated by their size or temperament?

This depends! At our Boulder location, we have a fun place called Tiny Town where smaller, older, or more shy dogs can play that is separate from our downstairs play areas. For our Erie location, because of our 14,000 square foot yard, big and little dogs alike have plenty of room to play together, and we find this beneficial to their socialization.

What does a typical day look like for daycare guests, trial day dogs, as well as puppies?

At Bowhaus, we believe in making the most of your canines’ day of play! From 7am to 3pm, your four-legged friend is able to romp around and play with their fur-iends! At 3pm, we’ll place your dog into a size-appropriate crate or pen until they are picked up. We do provide lunch and nap time from 11am-1pm for those who brought food or need a rest break. All trial day dogs will be brought in for a lunch time rest and given a fresh bowl of water. Throughout the duration of their daycare, our staff will provide training to the guests by reinforcing positive behaviors. This creates a better social environment for the group and makes a better experience for everyone overall!

The only time your pup would not be able to enjoy an entire day of play is due to illness or serious behavioral issues.

What precautions do you take to avoid dogs being aggressive or barking incessantly?

It’s our mission to ensure your canine companion’s safety! We believe in providing a safe and fun space where your dog can play with others. However, when any of our guests do have behavioral issues, we believe in training the dogs and providing positive reinforcement. If there is a need for corrective methods, we may use squirt bottles, calming walks, verbal commands and corrections, body blocking to separate dogs, and gentle re-directions. For the extreme barking cases, we may use citronella barking collars to ease their discomfort.

Do I need to provide anything for my dog during their stay?

All we need is your fur baby for the day of play! However, if you’d like for your canine companion to have lunch or a snack, we ask that you please provide the food inside an airtight container with their name on it. We’ll make sure they get fed during our lunch time hour at no extra charge. We no longer allow collars in play group or while boarding. All collars come off when they enter building. If they are boarding they will receive a paper collar with their identification.

Boarding FAQs

Am I charged based on the size of my dog?

No! At Bowhaus, we believe that whether you have a big, lovable pooch or a tiny, vivacious pup, they all deserve the same amount of care and attention!

What Should I Bring For My Pet's Stay?

Food

We strongly discourage changing your dog’s dietary habits during their stay and require that you provide us with the food that your pet eats regularly in a labeled airtight container or Ziploc bag. We don’t charge extra for accommodating special diets and ask that you provide us with any allergies or preferences your dog has in the event that we need to supplement their food.

*Please note: If you only feed your dog once a day, we will split that meal into two portions to help reduce the risk of bloat.

Bedding

We want all of our guests to have the ultimate at-home experience, and therefore encourage you to bring your dog’s own bedding. This allows them to sleep on something familiar and creates a comfortable environment for them to rest in. We do have bedding available, but it is very limited and strongly urge you to bring your own for your pup’s sake! We request that you please limit the number of items you bring for your dog to one bed/ blanket and one toy. 

Medication

We are happy to administer any medications your dog may need, at intervals that are required, at no additional charge. We require (as is required by law) that their pharmaceutical (prescription) medications are given to us in their original un-expired prescription bottles, with accurate dosage information (as prescribed by your veterinarian) intact on the bottle, and some contents still in the container. If your dog needs to have any medication administered for the purpose calming please call the resort for further instructions.

Can I have someone else pick up my dog?

Absolutely! However, we do require that you list anyone who you’ve authorized to pick up your pup when you open an account with us. If you do not have someone listed, we ask that you provide us with the name of the person when you drop your dog off. Payment is needed at checkout, so please ensure that whoever is picking up your pooch can pay, or that you have left your credit card information with us so we may process the payment.

Can you cater to my dog's special feeding routines or other needs?

We want to emulate your dog’s at-home experience as much as possible, and so we are more than willing to add supplements, give them refrigerated items, or accommodate other needs that are not too complicated. We do ask that you do what you can to ease the process for us by pre-mixing or grouping needed items together in a bag, and provide us instructions that explain each step of the process.

What's the protocol for dogs that don't eat?

Just like their human counterparts, sometimes being in an unfamiliar environment can make a dog a bit uneasy, and therefore not very hungry. Missing a meal is nothing to be worried about, however if a dog continually skips meals, our staff will add a bit of water to their food to make it more fragrant. If that doesn’t entice them to eat, we’ll first ensure they have no allergies, and then mix a bit of wet food into their kibble.