Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not see your question here, please call us at 295-6710 or email us and we will be glad to answer it.

Do I need to bring food for my pet?
Should I bring my pet's bed?
May I bring toys for my pet?
My pet is on medication. Can you administer it?
How will being in the kennel affect my pet?
What can I do to help my pet adjust to being in the kennel?
Why do you walk dogs for exercise instead of letting them play with other dogs?
What if my dog won't "go to the bathroom" in a run?
How do I decide whether to use a kennel or a petsitter?
What happens if I cannot make it back to pick up my pet on the scheduled day?
What happens if my pet gets sick during his or her stay?
My dog has a behavior problem. Can you help?
My pet isn't "neutered." Will you still board him/her?
Do you have puppies for sale?
Don't you train retrievers?


Do I need to bring food for my pet?
We furnish premium dog and cat foods, so you are not required to bring food for your pet. Dogs, however, may suffer digestive upset at a change in their food. If you consistently feed the same brand at home, we recommend you maintain consistency by bringing us a supply.

Cats are much more adaptable in their diet. There is no health reason to bring food for cats, but we will gladly follow your instructions if you choose to bring it. There is no need to bring dishes for your pet.
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Should I bring my pet's bed?
We provide bedding, so your dog or cat will not need a bed from home. Some owners feel their pets will be more comfortable with their familiar bed, and you are welcome to bring it. In our experience, beds from home become favorite toys, and may be dragged outside and dirtied, or vigorously chewed. Cats may track litter onto their beds. We do launder beds and bed covers, but be aware yours may suffer some wear and tear.
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May I bring toys for my pet?
You are welcome to bring safe toys for your dog or cat. If you bring more than one, please bring them in a container labeled with your name. We normally give dogs one toy at a time, rotating them a couple of times per day.
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My pet is on medication. Can you administer it?
Yes, we administer medication. Please inform us when you call to make a reservation that your pet is on medication, the dosage schedule, and how you usually get him or her to take it. We require that all prescription medication be in its original container, clearly labeled with the veterinarian's instructions.
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How will being in the kennel affect my pet?
Dogs vary tremendously, but most find the kennel environment, with proximity to many unfamiliar dogs, "stimulating." Outgoing dogs may respond by doing a lot of prancing and posturing-communicating through body language-in the outdoor part of their runs, where their neighbors are visible through the chain link. These dogs frequently go home tired and may sleep a lot for a day or two. Other dogs have less desire for social interaction with unfamiliar dogs and may spend more time resting in the private, indoor part of their runs. While they have opportunities to exercise on their daily walks, some of these dogs may have energy to spare when they arrive home.

Cats commonly show some stress in unfamiliar surroundings. We try to minimize this by providing them a simple environment that includes a hideaway, but it is not unusual for them to be either more or less demonstrative than usual for a few days following a boarding experience.
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What can I do to help my pet adjust to being in the kennel?
Something that really helps dogs adjust is to familiarize them with the kennel ahead of time. We encourage you to bring your dog for a visit midweek, when things are usually quieter, to meet us and go for a walk around the grounds. Following up with a visit of a few hours, and an overnight or weekend stay, will prepare your dog to have confidence, on a longer stay, that you will return to get him or her.

Another good practice is to be calm and matter-of-fact about dropping your dog off and picking him or her up. Emotional goodbyes (and greetings) contribute to separation anxiety.

To ease stress on your cat, bring him or her in a carrier that we can place in the cage, allowing your cat to emerge when he or she feels like it. An item of bedding or clothing from home may also help.
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Why do you walk dogs for exercise instead of letting them play with other dogs?
While group play with familiar dogs can be an excellent physical and mental "outlet" for the dog whose life is otherwise quiet, the situation in the kennel is different. Dogs tend to find this environment stimulating, with social opportunities continuously available any time they venture into their outdoor runs. Relaxed, one-on-one interaction with a human on a walk around the grounds is a more meaningful change of pace. Dogs that prefer to relieve themselves away from the kennel have an opportunity to do so without fear of being bullied by others.

Letting unfamiliar dogs run together courts health and safety risks to which we will not expose your dog.
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What if my dog won't "go to the bathroom" in a run?
It is not uncommon for dogs to apply their housetraining to their outdoor runs as well as their indoor "houses." We notice within a half day of the dog's arrival, and schedule three to four daily walks to make sure his or her needs are met. There is no charge for additional walks that are necessary to a dog's comfort.

We pay close attention to dogs' urine and feces, not only because we clean them up, but because they tells us about the dogs' health and frame of mind as well as how much they are eating and drinking-and whether they are reluctant to relieve themselves in their runs.
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How do I decide whether to use a kennel or a petsitter?
In our experience the important considerations are adaptability and safety. Some pets, including many cats and some mainly-indoor dogs who aren't accustomed to going places, show signs of stress in any unfamiliar environment, including a kennel. Hiring a pet-sitter allows these pets to stay in their familiar surroundings.

We believe a good kennel is the best and safest environment for most dogs. Owners often do not anticipate how differently their dogs behave when a different person is in charge. Dogs that have never done so before may fight, or bolt for the door. Our kennel is designed with many safeguards to prevent escape and injury, and we are familiar with the broad range of pet behavior.

If you choose a pet-sitter, select one who is professional, experienced, and can provide references from other animal professionals. Sadly, many dogs unexpectedly escape or get hurt when in the care of a friend or neighbor, especially if they are in someone else's home.
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What happens if I cannot make it back to pick up my pet on the scheduled day?
We will continue to care for your pet at our standard daily rate until you or your authorized agent comes to claim him or her. We understand that plans sometimes change or go awry, and have runs set aside for emergencies. We also use these to accommodate established customers who must make last-minute plans.

In the event of a calamity we will keep your pets as long as necessary, until we receive authoritative instructions from your agent. This is not contingent upon promise of payment, although we prefer to be reimbursed if possible.

On occasion we have agreed to adopt customers' dogs that outlived their owners, and once this came to pass; that dog lived with John and Amy for eight years and was one of our most beloved family members.
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What happens if my pet gets sick during his or her stay?
If your pet has symptoms of illness, we arrange to have him or her seen by a vet the day the symptoms appear. If your vet is local, we will try them first. If they have no appointments available, our vet will fit us in. Normally we will contact you after we get a diagnosis from the vet, so as to avoid worrying you when we have little information; if you prefer we call you first, tell us and we will do so. You are responsible for the vet fees and a charge for our time and mileage.

We interact with and assess each boarder several times a day, and quickly spot any indication an animal is not feeling well. We sometimes identify conditions that have gone unnoticed at home, urinary tract infections and parasites being the most frequent. We immediately arrange for veterinary diagnosis and treatment as we would for any illness, and call your contact number to let you know.
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My dog has a behavior problem. Can you help?
Chances are we can help. John and Amy have extensive experience with animals, including behavior modification. Many common behavior issues are familiar to us and can be easily resolved, and we are glad to advise our boarding and grooming customers at no extra charge. We can also schedule in-home evaluations or private lessons, as appropriate. For problems that are outside our areas of expertise, we can usually "network" to find a specialist who can help.
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My pet isn't "neutered." Will you still board him/her?
Yes we will. Our roofed, escape-proof runs and procedure of keeping and exercising pets individually ensure that no unplanned breedings can occur-in fact, boarding at our kennel is a good way to keep a female secure when she is in season.

We are experienced in caring for intact animals and would be happy to look after yours.
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Do you have puppies for sale?
We provide boarding and grooming services, but are not a source for pets. For breeders of purebred puppies, we recommend calling the American Kennel Club at (919) 233-9767 and asking for the "Breeder Referral Service." This requires waiting for a breed club representative to return your call. Purebred adults are often available through breed "rescue" groups, which try to do a good job matching dog personalities with new homes. Mixed breed puppies and adults are usually available at shelters, of which we have several in the area. Adoptable animals are also advertised on fliers posted at vets' offices and in other pet-related businesses.
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Don't you train retrievers?
Yes, John and Amy train retrievers under the name of Oak Hill Kennel at our new facility in Vass. If you are interested in retriever training, please call us at (910) 245-2603.
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Please call us at 295-6710 (area code 910) to make a reservation or schedule a visit.