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Policy Changes for 2026

All changes go into effect January 1, 2026

Vaccination & Health Requirements

All dogs attending Colonial Canine must be current on Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella vaccinations for the duration of their stay. Proof of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian is required prior to admission.

In addition, all dogs must have a fecal examination on file confirming they are parasite-free:

  • Within the past 12 months for dogs over one year of age

  • Within the past 6 months for dogs under one year of age

Parasite Prevention

All dogs must arrive free of fleas, ticks, and internal parasites and must be current on flea and heartworm prevention.

If fleas are observed during your dog’s stay, a flea bath will be administered at the owner’s expense. If excessive flea activity is noted or if staff suspects worms or other parasites, owners may be required to pick up their dog promptly for the health and safety of all pets in our care.

Required Paperwork

All owners are required to complete the Colonial Canine Client & Pet Information Packet prior to their dog’s stay. This packet includes essential information about you and your dog, as well as a medical authorization permitting Colonial Canine to administer medications as needed and seek veterinary care in the event of an emergency.

Completed paperwork and vaccine records are maintained in your dog’s file and remain valid for one year, after which updated forms will be required.

Colonial Canine Daycare Policies:

Scheduling & Availability

All daycare visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance unless your dog is enrolled in a standing weekly daycare schedule.

Daycare capacity is limited to ensure appropriate supervision, safety, and individualized care for every dog. As a result, there may be days when daycare is full and we are unable to accept additional dogs.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Hours

  • Drop-Off: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM
    Dogs arriving after 9:30 AM will not be accepted for daycare.

  • Pick-Up: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Any pick-ups prior to 4:00 PM must be approved in advance.

Payment & Daycare Packages

Daycare may be paid per day or through the purchase of one of our discounted daycare packages.
Packages of 8 days or more may also be applied as credit toward boarding, if needed.

Spay/Neuter & Reproductive Policies

  • All male dogs over 2 years of age must be neutered to attend daycare.

  • Unaltered males between 1 and 2 years of age may be considered on a case-by-case basis based on behavior.

  • Females who are in heat or recently in heat are not permitted to attend daycare and may return no sooner than two weeks after the conclusion of their heat cycle.

Behavior Requirements

For the safety of all dogs, clients, and staff, we do not accept dogs that exhibit aggression toward humans or other dogs in the daycare environment.

Health & Wellness

Dogs showing signs of illness—including but not limited to lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or other abnormal symptoms—should not attend daycare until cleared by a veterinarian.

If a dog begins showing signs of illness while in our care, the owner may be contacted and asked to pick up their dog immediately.

Food Allergies & Treats

If your dog has food allergies or dietary sensitivities, we ask that you provide approved treats from home so they may still receive treats during rest or enrichment times. We are happy to store these on-site in a labeled container with your dog’s name.

Feeding Policy During Daycare

Dogs over 8 months of age who do not have a medical need for daytime feeding will not be fed meals during daycare.

This policy allows dogs to maximize their play and socialization time. Feeding during the day requires dogs to be kenneled 30–45 minutes prior to meals and remain kenneled up to one hour afterward to allow for proper digestion and reduce the risk of vomiting or bloat due to excitement and activity.

Colonial Canine Boarding Policies

Reservation & Booking Requirements
All boarding reservations must be made a minimum of 24 hours in advance. During peak seasons and holidays, we strongly recommend booking as early as possible, as availability is limited.

Deposits & Cancellations

All reservations require a deposit to secure your dog’s spot. Deposit amounts vary by service and time of year, with higher deposits required for holidays and peak seasons. (50% deposit for holiday boarding, 25% deposit for non-holiday)

If a reservation is canceled 14 days or more prior to the scheduled drop-off date, the deposit is eligible for a full refund.

If a reservation is canceled less than 14 days from the scheduled drop-off date, the deposit is non-refundable. However, the deposit will be converted into a credit on your account, valid for 6 months from the original drop-off date.

Credits must be used within the 6-month window. Any unused credit after this period will be forfeited and cannot be reinstated or refunded.

Deposits are not transferable to other clients or dogs and may only be applied to future services with Colonial Canine.

The remaining amount is due at drop off.

Unaltered Dogs & Group Play
Unaltered males may be boarded; however, dogs over the age of two or those exhibiting behavioral concerns may be excluded from group play at staff discretion. For safety reasons, two unaltered dogs of any gender will not be housed together in the same kennel.

Handling & Safety Fees
Dogs that display aggression toward staff, require multiple handlers, or can only be safely handled by a specific individual will be designated “Management Handling Only” and identified with a red tag. A $10 per night safety handling fee will be added to the stay.

Kennel Sharing
Dogs from the same household may be boarded together if deemed safe to do so. If there is a known history of aggression, feeding-related separation is required, or safety concerns exist, separate kennels must be reserved for each dog. Unaltered dogs of any gender will not share kennel space.

Food Requirements
Owners must provide enough food for the duration of their dog’s stay.

  • For long-term stays, large food bags are acceptable.

  • For stays of two weeks or less, please bring food in a smaller bag or container.

Bowls & Feeding Supplies
Please do not bring food bowls or scoops. Colonial Canine provides stainless steel bowls, including raised and slow feeders, for all boarding dogs.

Beds & Personal Items
You are welcome to bring a bed provided that:

  • The cover is removable for easy washing or

  • The bed is small enough to fit in our small washing machine

All personal items must be clearly labeled with your dog’s name.

If blankets are provided, please limit them to one or two easily washable blankets. We also offer in-house blankets and cots for your dog’s comfort.

If a dog begins to chew or destroy any personal item, it will be removed for safety and either returned home or discarded depending on its condition. Please note that dogs may behave differently in a boarding environment, even if they do not normally destroy items at home. For this reason, we strongly discourage sending large or expensive beds or belongings.

Training Policy

All training services at Colonial Canine require an initial consultation prior to scheduling any training sessions. The consultation allows our trainer to evaluate the dog’s behavior, discuss the owner’s goals, and develop a customized training plan that is appropriate, realistic, and safe for all parties involved.

Board & Train programs are offered only after a completed consultation. We will not accept any dog into a Board & Train program without:

  • A completed consultation

  • A clearly defined training plan with agreed-upon end goals

  • A signed training contract from the dog’s owner or legal guardian

Private training sessions are billed on an hourly basis. For in-home or off-site training sessions located more than 30 minutes (one way) from our facility, an additional travel fee will apply. Any applicable travel fees will be discussed and confirmed prior to scheduling the session.

Colonial Canine reserves the right to decline or discontinue training services if a dog’s behavior presents a major safety concern or if training goals are determined to be unrealistic or incompatible with the dog’s needs.

 

Service Pricing:

Boarding (Any size): $45 per night

Extra dog boarding ( if dogs are sharing a kennel, full price will be charged if dogs require separate kennel spaces): $30 per night

Safety Fee (Aggressive dog): $10 per night

Daycare: $28

Extra dog daycare: $18

Board & Train (Canine Commando - Behavioral): $105 per day *28 day minimum*

Board & Train (Bark2Basics - Manners/Obedience): $80 per day *14 day minimum*

Private training: $60 per hour

S.T.A.R. Puppy Class (6 weeks): $250

Canine Good Citizen Prep Class: (6 weeks), Test included: $300

Late Pickup & Schedule Change Policy

To ensure the safety of our dogs and staff and to maintain consistent operations, the following policies apply to all daycare and boarding services:

Late Pickups
Any daycare or boarding pickup occurring after our closing time of 6:00 PM will incur a late fee of $1 per minute.

Pickups will not be permitted more than 30 minutes past closing. If a client arrives more than 30 minutes late, an additional last-minute boarding fee of $60 will be applied, and the dog may be required to remain with us and be picked up during the next business day’s operating hours.

Changes & Boarding Extensions
Requests to extend a boarding stay with less than 48 hours’ notice are subject to a fee of double the standard nightly rate for each additional night. All extension requests must be approved by management and are subject to availability. Approval is not guaranteed.

Pickup & Drop-Off Appointments
All pickups and drop-offs are by appointment only. Clients must coordinate their scheduled time with a staff member in advance.

Weekday Pickups/Drop Offs (Excluding holidays)

Monday - Friday pickup and drop off appointments are available between 7am and 10:45 am or 1:15pm and 5:45pm. We close from 11am-1pm for lunch.

Weekend Pickups
All Saturday and Sunday pickups are limited to morning hours only, between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we work to provide a safe, structured, and reliable environment for every dog in our care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term / Open-Ended Boarding Policy

Colonial Canine offers long-term and open-ended boarding on a limited basis, subject to availability and management approval.

For all long-term or open-ended boarding stays, payment for the first week is due at the time of drop-off. A valid credit or debit card must be kept on file and will be automatically charged every seven (7) days for the duration of the stay.

If a scheduled payment cannot be successfully processed, Colonial Canine will make reasonable attempts to contact the owner using the information provided. The owner will have three (3) business days to resolve the payment issue or arrange for pickup of their dog.

If payment is not received and no communication is made by the owner or the listed emergency contact within three (3) business days, the dog may be deemed abandoned in accordance with applicable state and local laws. In such cases, Colonial Canine will be required to surrender the dog to the appropriate local animal shelter.

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