Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

What is doggie daycare? 

Doggie daycare at TEXAS DOGHOUSE is an environment where dogs are dropped off for the day to play for up to 12 hours with other dogs in a fun, well supervised, and safe environment. You can find more information on the benefits of doggie daycare in our Daycamp section.

What do the dogs do all day in daycare?

The dogs will have fun running, romping, wrestling, and splashing in our doggie pools...whatever they want to do, it's up to them. They will have access to our indoor/outdoor play areas all day or they can take a nap if they get tired. They are separated by size and temperament. They will also take a short afternoon nap each day. They have access to fresh filtered water all day as well. 

What makes you different than a traditional boarding kennel?

Boarding kennels vary, but in a "traditional" boarding kennel, your dog is usually left in a cage or dog run for most of the day. They might be let out for a short time or placed in an outdoor run a couple of times a day. The dogs usually do not interact with other dogs. Some boarding kennels will offer 15 minute play times with a staff member or a short time of group play for an extra charge. A lot of them charge for things like using the House Food and administering medication. Texas Doghouse offers all day play for no additional cost and we never charge for things like using our food or administering medication. We are an all-inclusive facility. We know you don't like surprises at the time of check out, so the price you see is the price you will pay. And best of all, your pup gets to play in Daycamp all day, every day that they are here.

We are not a traditional kennel, therefore, we're not set up to leave the dogs in kennels all day, so your pup will have human and canine companionship all day long. 

Why are your prices higher than I'm used to paying at a traditional kennel?

Compared to a traditional boarding kennel, we provide a social environment for your dog. Our Daycamp and All-Inclusive Boarding are what makes us different. Daycamp includes all day indoor/outdoor cage-free group play. 

Daycamp is included in our Boarding rate, since all of our boarders play in daycamp during the day. We could never imagine charging our valued customers for such things as medication administration, extra play time, extra walks or additional cuddle time. These are just a few duties of our daily routine that make our job the greatest in the world! In our opinion, a cuddle session with your pup is a privilege and something that we could never put a price on. 

Is there a discount for multiple dogs?

Yes. Please see our "rates" page for more information.

Why do you require that my dog be spayed or neutered?

The main reason is that un-altered dogs are at a greater risk of injury from other dogs. In a social environment, un-altered males are often viewed as threats by other dominant dogs. Un-altered females, whether in heat or not, may be picked on by other female dogs and male dogs will view her as an un-altered female and treat her accordingly. Surging hormones from un-altered dogs may overly excite other doggie guests & contribute to aggressive play, excessive mounting, snapping and other "growly" behaviors. We will make exceptions for the age limit of being spayed/neutered for giant breeds only, on a case by case basis.

How do you keep the facility clean with all the dogs coming in and out?

TEXAS DOGHOUSE is cleaned and disinfected thoroughly at nap time and every night with a cleaner and disinfectant specially formulated with your pup in mind. Our cleaning products are eco-friendly and will not harm your pup or the environment in any way. In fact, our cleaner has actually been used to bathe and treat dogs with mange. We also clean frequently throughout the day. Spot cleaning is done with the same cleaner to instantly sanitize the area.

Does your outside area have grass?

No. Grass would soon turn to mud with all the dogs we have here playing on it. We have a special filtration system created with your pup in mind. It consists of 4 inches of sand at the bottom and 6 inches of gravel on top for ease of cleaning and the safety of your pup. Under the sand is a special drainage system that allows us to hose the area down with our environmentally friendly cleaner as often as needed. Even though your dog is used to eliminating on grass, dogs are pretty adaptable and figure out that this is the place that they are supposed to go. And best of all, they'll go home clean and free from dirt.

Can I come take a tour of your facility?

Yes. We understand that a lot of people prefer to see where their dog will be staying and we understand...we've been customers before too. However, introducing a new and unknown stimulus (i.e. you) to the group is very stressful on the dogs. In an effort to keep the dogs as comfortable as possible, we welcome tours of the play areas at the specified times Monday-Friday only. No appointment is necessary, just come on by:

9:30am-11:45am

2:30pm-4:00pm

5:45pm-6:30pm

We do not require an appointment for tours, so feel free to stop by anytime during the specified times. Since the dogs are in large roaming groups, we do have policies that MUST be followed and will go over them when you arrive. For the sake of the dogs in our care, we cannot allow tours at any other time and we do not offer tours on weekends or holidays. Thank you for understanding.

Is there a specific kind of collar my dog must wear?

Yes. TEXAS DOGHOUSE requires that all dogs wear a quick release collar (basic collar with plastic snap) with an ID tag including your name and phone number.

When can I drop my dog off and pick him up?

MONDAY-FRIDAY
Check-In: 7am-Noon & 2pm-6pm
Check-Out: 7am-Noon

SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Boarding Pick up and Drop off Only
Check-In: 8:00am-9:00am & 5:00pm-6:00pm
Check-Out: 8:00am-9:00am

If we do not have appointments scheduled during these times, we are not open.

What if I can't pick up during these hours?

In that case, we recommend that you ask if a late check out is available (space is limited and based on availability). All late check outs will incur an additional doggie daycare charge of $15 for the 1st Camper and $10 for each additional Camper. TEXAS DOGHOUSE reserves the right to board your dog and charge the going nightly rate for pick ups after closing times and you may pick up the following day. 

We are closed for boarding drop off/pick up and Daycamp on all major holidays listed below and closed only for Daycamp on the other days listed below:

New Years Eve (closed for daycamp only)

New Years Day

Easter

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving

Day After Thanksgiving (closed for daycamp only)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Day After Christmas (closed for daycamp only)

In the event that one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, we will be operating on weekend hours the following Monday. 

We still come in twice (morning and evening for 3 hours each time) to take care of our Boarders and allow them to play, but we are not open for regular business. However, you may pick up and drop off during specified hours on non-holiday weekends. 

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What are the requirements to come to Texas Doghouse?

• Pass the FREE interview process*
• Must be current on all vaccinations; DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordetella** and have records from a licensed veterinarian. Owner administered and/or over the counter vaccinations will not be accepted.
   
• Must be at least 4 months of age and finished with 3 sets of DHLPP and Bordetella vaccinations for at least 2 weeks.
• Dogs must be friendly, social, and healthy.
• Dogs over 6 months of age must be spayed or neutered.
• Dogs must be dog and people friendly.
• For the safety all dogs and visitors, all customers' dogs must be kept on a leash when arriving and leaving our facility.

*Temperament Test & Behavioral Interview:
Required trial day prior to first Daycamp or Boarding stay. Call or come by to schedule your FREE interview day. Interviews are scheduled Monday-Friday by appointment only. Please plan to leave your pup for at least 4 hours, but if all goes well, they are welcome to stay the entire day. During the interview we will screen your dog for shyness, aggression, proper social skills and just make sure they are happy in our cage free play setting. Just drop your dog off (plan on staying for about 20 minutes; longer for multiple dogs) and we will slowly introduce them to the group to make sure they are a good fit for our doggie daycare program. We always have the safety of your dog and all the dogs in our care as our highest priority.

** The DHLPP and Rabies vaccines are required to be current according to vet records, and the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine is required every 6 months in an attempt to keep campers as healthy as possible. Campers without these vaccinations will not be allowed to participate in Daycamp or Nightcamp. It is the owner's responsibility to provide us with the proper records. 

Canine cough is a highly contagious airborne infection similar to the common cold that kids can pick up while at human daycare. No vaccine is 100% effective as new strains of Canine Cough continually develop and some dogs can be more susceptible to the infection than others.

TEXAS DOGHOUSE takes all possible precautions to eliminate the possible spread of this infection in our facility. We strictly monitor and maintain proper ventilation at all times and follow a rigorous cleaning schedule. In addition to requiring a current Bordetella vaccination we highly recommend that owners get this vaccination two weeks prior to their first boarding or daycare visit. The vaccine can take up to two weeks to become fully effective.

TEXAS DOGHOUSE reserves the right refuse services based on any dog's temperament or health.