5 Tips for Choosing the Best Dog Boarding Facility

Why Unleashed?

All Grass

Our K9 grass is engineered and designed just for dogs.
Pool

Ahhh, nothing refreshes our guests quicker than a splash in our bone shaped pool.
Cage Free

No metal cages or kennels. Our suites are all glass.
Save

Our packages and discounts are aimed to keep our guests coming back at an affordable rate.
Indoor Park

Unleashed offers the space of an outdoor park but in a climate-controlled building.
All Dogs Welcome

EVERY dog deserves proper care. No matter the breed or temperament, your dog is welcome at Unleashed.
Traditional & Non

We offer both forms of daycare to suit every dog’s needs.
Drive Thru

In a hurry? Stay in your car and let us do our job.
Dogs are People Too!

We believe if it’s not suitable for people, it’s not suitable for dogs.
Professional Grooming

Our groomers have 15 years experience and are available by appointment or at the conclusion of your dog’s visit.
Webcams

We encourage our clients to peek in on their dogs throughout the day and experience a day at Unleashed while checking on their dog.
Trained Staff

Our staff complete a rigorous training program to ensure they can handle any and all situations they may encounter at Unleashed.

So you’re going on vacation and sadly enough, can’t bring your favorite family member; your dog! Dog boarding can be just as much of a vacation for your dog as yours will be for you. We’ve curated our top 5 tips in preparing and choosing the appropriate dog boarding facility for you and your dog.

1. Schedule a Temperament Assessment and a Tour

When shopping around for a new dog boarding or daycare facility it’s important to choose one that both you and your dog are comfortable with. Many facilities will allow a walk through with a staff member, this can be a great time to ask any questions you might have in regards to your dogs stay, the ability to see how comfortable your dog is with the space, and get a full understanding of all the amenities offered.

Here at Unleashed we offer a complimentary temperament assessment; this allows our staff to introduce your dog to our facility and other dog friends while closely monitoring their behavior and their response to the new environment. This guided assessment ensures the safety for not only your dog but their new dog friends as well.

2. Check in with Your Dogs Veterinarian

Many dog hotels require your dog to be up-to-date on their vaccinations. Vaccinations such as rabies, distemper, parvo, and Bordetella should all be accounted for. 2 weeks before your stay you should ask your dogs veterinarian if your dog is due for any of these vaccinations and a copy of their vaccination records for the kennels records.

You’re welcome to bring in your vaccination records when you visit or have your vet email us a copy of your vaccination record(s) to info@dogsunleashed.com. Follow these tips to ensure you can enjoy your vacation with peace of mind knowing your dog and the others around them are safe to play with. If you have any further questions please feel free to call us at (385) 309-3647 or email us info@dogsunleashed.com.

3. Bring Their Favorite Toys and Bedding

There’s nothing like the comfort of home, and because boarding can be an anxious experience for many dogs there are a few things we encourage you to bring for your dogs stay. The most common and possibly important item to bring is your dog’s food from home. Many dogs are sensitive to sudden dietary changes. If you feel confident that they can handle new food, or you simply forgot, it’s okay! We have food that can be provided.

Along with bringing their own food we encourage you to bring a toy and any favorite bedding that the dog may have. It will help them feel more secure and safe. Be sure to ask the dog hotel in advance if the items you wish to bring are acceptable.

4. Shop Around and Do Your Research

When shopping for dog boarding facilities you shouldn’t settle for the most conveniently located or the first one you come across. Dog hotels vary in policies, amenities, properly trained staff, and off leash play time. Choose the one that fits your dogs needs and personality. Make sure they’ll have plenty of opportunities to run around, play with others, swim, or even just lounge around. Activities such as these support in the alleviation of any potential anxiety your dog might encounter. A boarding experience should be a vacation for your dog, not just a place to sleep.

5. Make Your Goodbye Quick and Effortless

A long, dramatic goodbye while dropping your dog off at the boarding facility will tip your dog off to the fact that something suspicious is about to happen. This kind of behavior displayed by the owner can make your dog excited, anxious, and nervous. Instead, treat it as if it were a normal goodbye on your way out the door. As if you were leaving for work or running errands, a quick pat on the head and a loving goodbye as you walk out the door will suffice. Unleashed Dog Hotel offers convenient and quick curbside drop off, or effortless check in at the front desk.

At the end of the day planning for your dog’s boarding or daycare vacation will ensure the best, personalized experience for your individual dog’s needs. Be sure you vaccinate your dog 2 weeks prior to their visit, you take a tour of any potential dog boarding facilities, you bring their favorite toys or bedding from home, and you make your goodbye calm and quick.

Stan M

18:43 08 Jan 20

Our Max screams with joy when we entering Unleashed day care and he is tired when we leave. Tired dog is happy dog. He took several hotel stays there too and was healthy and happy afterwards. We are pleased with the service. Now it is 4 years that our Max is going to the Unleashed and everything is as fine as it has been. He loves this place.

Tyler H

22:02 07 Jan 20

I had a dog sitter who backed out on me three hours before I left on vacation for a week and a half. I was in full-on panic mode and Unleashed Dog Hotel came to my rescue. They were able to take my precious pup even though it was last minute and she had a blast. When I called later in the week to add an extra day on her stay they were extremely accommodating and made a point to tell me about all the fun she was having. Really quite happy with their staff and the quality of service we received. My dog was visibly disappointed when I showed up because she was in puppy-heaven. I will definitely come to them first when I go out of town next.

Linda Sigvardt

18:54 28 Dec 19

My Daughter and I love bringing our frenchie, Oakley to Unleashed. She loves playing with new and old friends. All of the people who work there absolutely love her and are always so excited to see her come through the door to play. When she stays overnights when we are out of town she is always well looked after and extra loved. We couldn’t be happier about a dog camp that she gets so excited to go to. 🐶❤️

Isabela Chatwin

18:46 28 Dec 19

Yesterday was my last day working at Unleashed because I’m moving. Needless to say, tears were shed! From an inside point of view, I can tell you that your dogs are LOVED while they are here and missed when they are not. We know the name and personality of every single dog that comes in. We know which dogs are friends, and which dogs aren’t fond of each other. We are able to help dogs with special needs (medication, diaper change, limited exercise, bad hips, etc.) I loved those dogs so much I would play a game where I would close my eyes and hold out my hands, dogs would walk up and I would try to guess who I was petting, just by the texture and shape. I was right almost every time! This just goes to show how much we care about each and every one of the dogs individually. They are not just customers to us, they are our babies. We love them like our own. The kennels and cots are cleaned out and washed down every single day without fail. Each dog is given a blanket perfect for their coat type. After we feed the dogs, we go through all of the kennels and mark down who has eaten so we can keep a close eye on their nutrition and make sure they are healthy. If we notice any dog acting remotely strange, we have a groomer who is extremely knowledgeable and can address the issue with ease. She has a huge cupboard of remedies and supplies. (She is also an amazing groomer by the way! I’ll never take my dogs anywhere else) I hope that if you ever need your dog to be watched, you will leave them with the unleashed staff. It’s also a great price for a place where they get to play and socialize all day instead of being kept in a crate like most cheap kennels. I already miss working there!

Monica Marie Hohman

15:50 04 Dec 19

For about a year I have been bringing my dog to this place for daycare. Every once in a while he would come back with scratches and I would just dismiss it as rough dog play. One time he came back with a huge scratch on his nose that look like it had been cleaned up, so I took a break from taking him there. I even called and told them that maybe they should keep an eye out more...I decided to give them another chance because it is really close to my house, But this time he came back with a bump the size of a golf ball on his snout. The rest of the night he was super lethargic, unlike the other times. I was in a rush so when I dropped him off I didn’t notice how many dogs were in the play area, I looked at the WebCams that they have on their website and I thought they were too many dogs for the play area that they had. Especially bigger dogs. The facility is really clean and nice, the employees are sweet and kind and my dog really enjoys seeing them. Except one lady who has red dyed hair.… Every time I come in she is rude and in a sour mood. I’m not sure why my dog comes home injured every time I take him there. But that is the reason why I will not be bringing him there anymore.

John Buckalew

19:27 24 Aug 19

Great care.....appreciate an employee staying with the dogs whenever they are out of their kennel. I have watched also them methodically clean the kennels daily. We drive 35 miles to use the Unleashed Dog Hotel compared to local kennels in the Layton area!!

Dianna Young

00:42 03 Aug 19

We have been using Unleashed for the last 5 years and love it! The staff is always so attentive to our pups and whenever they go to the groomer they look & smell wonderful. I love using the video line to check in on them, it gives me such peace of mind. I highly recommend this place.

Ashlee Lavatai

17:32 31 Jul 19

Really quick and easy to drop off and pick up! My puppy loved it! Great prices and a fun little place for him to stay while I was out of town.

Kayla Banks

23:02 28 Jul 19

I had a great experience. Drop off and pick up was quick and easy. The employees were very kind and answered all my questions. They even washed my dogs bed before I picked them up. I loved Being able to check on my dogs throughout my trip and see them outside running around. I will Definitely take my dogs back there!

Debbie Bakkensen

18:54 13 Jul 19

We were visiting from out of town and wanted something fun for our dog Luke to do while we went to see the sites. Everyone was so welcoming, they made the process easy. The facility was amazing and clean, all the dogs were having so much fun! We appreciate everything they did to take great care of Luke! We would highly recommend them and if in town again, would definitely have Luke go there.

AGN17

20:24 30 Jun 19

Ginger loves it here!! She’s been coming since she was a puppy. The staff are always kind and treat the dogs and so loving! Great large facility, that’s clean, with a pool and lots of space to wear out your dog! Also, appreciate they separate small/large dogs. Their hours work great with having to work 12 hr shifts at the hospital. Thanks for all you do and for being so great to Ging!