We are not currently accepting new clients
Safe, calm and quiet overnight care.
Caretakers live on site.
Outdoor play and access throughout the day....
Caretakers live on site.
Outdoor play and access throughout the day....
Is this a fit for my dog?
We are a rather unconventional boarding facility in that we allow dogs to play together and, when appropriate, swim and hike off leash in our NaturePark and on our trails. They enjoy contact with our children and visitors. This is an ideal scenario for some dogs and not at all safe or well suited for others. The dogs that do best here are, generally, dogs that are social with other dogs, are reliable off leash (once they know us!), can rest quietly during down time and are trustworthy with both adults and children. If you think your dog might benefit from The Grinning Dog culture consider a visit.
Come visit.... We begin each new relationship by inviting you up for a visit with your dog so that you can get a sense of the place. We can decide together if The Grinning Dog is a good, safe fit. Sometimes touring clients then leave their dogs for half an hour or so (some opt to pay for an afternoon of Daycare) while they run errands or go have a cup of coffee. This allows the dog to have a short snippet of time here, not enough to fret, and to see that - Lo and Behold - their owners DO come back for them. If it looks like we will all be a good fit for each other then we schedule a few daycare visits so the pup can get to know us and learn to feel safe in this new environment. Dogs specialize in attachment. The hardest part about being boarded is being away from their families with no other attachments in place. A program of gradual familiarization can help prepare them for an enjoyable boarding experience.
Familiarize.... We believe that raising and training any dog should consist of teaching life skills beyond the usual Sit, Lie Down and Heel. Self-confidence while separated from owners is one such essential skill. Many dogs have no practice at this until, suddenly, one day they must be left and are sometimes quite traumatized. We specialize in giving puppies a solid foundation in this area. New clients, in anticipation of a longer trip away, will often bring their dogs for a few days of Daycare or an Overnight. This helps to ensure that the dog already has some attachments in place and feels a part of the group when the big separation comes. Please take advantage of the opportunity to familiarize your dog with our kennel well before there’s a need to be gone for a longer stretch. Your dog will thank you for it.
Come visit.... We begin each new relationship by inviting you up for a visit with your dog so that you can get a sense of the place. We can decide together if The Grinning Dog is a good, safe fit. Sometimes touring clients then leave their dogs for half an hour or so (some opt to pay for an afternoon of Daycare) while they run errands or go have a cup of coffee. This allows the dog to have a short snippet of time here, not enough to fret, and to see that - Lo and Behold - their owners DO come back for them. If it looks like we will all be a good fit for each other then we schedule a few daycare visits so the pup can get to know us and learn to feel safe in this new environment. Dogs specialize in attachment. The hardest part about being boarded is being away from their families with no other attachments in place. A program of gradual familiarization can help prepare them for an enjoyable boarding experience.
Familiarize.... We believe that raising and training any dog should consist of teaching life skills beyond the usual Sit, Lie Down and Heel. Self-confidence while separated from owners is one such essential skill. Many dogs have no practice at this until, suddenly, one day they must be left and are sometimes quite traumatized. We specialize in giving puppies a solid foundation in this area. New clients, in anticipation of a longer trip away, will often bring their dogs for a few days of Daycare or an Overnight. This helps to ensure that the dog already has some attachments in place and feels a part of the group when the big separation comes. Please take advantage of the opportunity to familiarize your dog with our kennel well before there’s a need to be gone for a longer stretch. Your dog will thank you for it.
Custom Care
A little something extra special
Customize your dog's care for a perfect fit
Meal Toppings
Perfect for Nervous, sensitive or picky tummies and gourmet eaters. Fresh, natural, juicy chicken (skin off) $6 Warm Chicken Broth $2 Pumpkin $2 Yogurt $2 Freeze dried liver sprinkles $2 Parmesan cheese $2 
Frozen Yogurt break $4
(seasonal) |
Hot lunch $2
We will serve up your pup's lunch with warm chicken/beef/vegetable broth 
Puzzle feeders $6
Interactive toys using treats/meals as rewards. Your pet will move pegs, slide doors, spin circles to unlock tasty morsels.The humans are there to help if need be! Different models available (Kong Wobblers, Buster Cube, etc.) and will be chosen to suit your pet specifically |
Trail Walk $20
1/2 hour off leash romp with friends through the woods and fields of our own private 50 acre dog park. Includes a dip in the pond for those that enjoy water. Read more about Off leash risks and benefits HERE |
NaturePark $15 Off leash romp with one of the humans and a few friends through our completely fenced 6 acre grassy dog park. Read more about Off leash risks and benefits HERE |
Private Yard Time/Private Sniff and Run $12
A large grassy or wooded yard all to themselves to sniff, explore and run to their hearts' content. This is especially good for dogs who aren't comfortable in crowds. A private, low key 1/2 hour. |
Soggy Doggy $15
Off leash in our fully fenced 4 acre water park. Swim or wade. Practice retrieving floating toys. Learn to ride in a kayak. Explore and sniff your way along the banks of our beautiful, spring fed pond. Maybe even swim out to the island... (seasonal) Read more about Off leash risks and benefits HERE |
mani/pedi
$20
Clip or Dremel, depending on your dog's preference
$20
Clip or Dremel, depending on your dog's preference
Daily Brushout
$15-$40
Daily coat care helps maintain a tangle free coat, removes debris and just generally feels good!
$15-$40
Daily coat care helps maintain a tangle free coat, removes debris and just generally feels good!
Bath and blow dry
$35 - $75+
Simple bath and dry. Smell better!
No scissoring, clipping, nails or brushing out.
$35 - $75+
Simple bath and dry. Smell better!
No scissoring, clipping, nails or brushing out.
Top n' Tail Touch ups-
Face/ beard wash. $20
Does a certain someone's shaggy beard smell a bit too much like a mop right about now? Not for long!
Sanitary wash. $20 Clean up those nether regions!
Complete Top n' Tail $40 - face, sanitary and feet
Tidy head, face and eyes $25(+-) - having trouble seeing Fluffy's gorgeous eyes, beard getting in her food? Ears need more airflow? Takes about 1/2 an hour and your dog can get right back to playing with friends.
Face/ beard wash. $20
Does a certain someone's shaggy beard smell a bit too much like a mop right about now? Not for long!
Sanitary wash. $20 Clean up those nether regions!
Complete Top n' Tail $40 - face, sanitary and feet
Tidy head, face and eyes $25(+-) - having trouble seeing Fluffy's gorgeous eyes, beard getting in her food? Ears need more airflow? Takes about 1/2 an hour and your dog can get right back to playing with friends.
- Full Groom $65- $150
- The Full Groom includes a thorough bath, blow dry, complete brush-out, nail trim, ear check, scissoring and clipping as needed.
Prices are variable. Factors considered are size, behavior, age, whether your dog is on a regular grooming schedule, and whether its coat is matted or has burrs. Coat length, texture and density determine both bathing/drying time and scissor/clippering difficulty. Disposition frequently affects how much time and how many breaks we will need to plan for. We'll give you as accurate an estimate at the time of your first appointment as possible, but while we will always contact you when it looks like costs will change, it is not unusual for your dog's grooming budget to vary throughout the year and over your dog's lifetime.
Puppy grooming 101
Gentle introduction to grooming basics for your pup. We will intersperse pup's daycare/boarding with short sessions playing and eating treats in the grooming area, on the grooming table and in an empty bathtub. The goal is to establish comfort and familiarity before any real grooming is ever done. They will hear water running, sounds of the dryers and scissors/clippers. Gentle foot/nail handling and brushing is introduced.
Prices vary due to differences in temperament and past experience, but are generally in the range of $20-35 for several training lessons throughout the daycare/boarding day (in addition to normal daycare and boarding fees).
Gentle introduction to grooming basics for your pup. We will intersperse pup's daycare/boarding with short sessions playing and eating treats in the grooming area, on the grooming table and in an empty bathtub. The goal is to establish comfort and familiarity before any real grooming is ever done. They will hear water running, sounds of the dryers and scissors/clippers. Gentle foot/nail handling and brushing is introduced.
Prices vary due to differences in temperament and past experience, but are generally in the range of $20-35 for several training lessons throughout the daycare/boarding day (in addition to normal daycare and boarding fees).
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What to bring
Food
Health requirements
Vaccines Current Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus and Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccines required. Fecal exams Required for each new client and then every six months thereafter. Please make sure we have updated veterinary information emailed from your vet before the first stay with us. Please note: Some vaccines (Bordetella in particular) are not always effective against all varieties of the virus. We are vigilant about both the health of our clients and the cleanliness of our facility, but much like children in a school setting, your dogs' risk of exposure to whatever is "going around" is increased in any "high density" social environment. We are not liable for vaccine failure. Rates
Boarding Plus (includes NaturePark) A major addition to the Grinning Dog’s signature enrichment based, highly individualized programs and expansive play yards, the NaturePark allows participating dogs even more freedom to delight in simply being dogs. They enjoy expertly supervised, off leash access to 10 acres of woods, meadow and pond - all securely fenced. $80 per night, per dog includes a full day of daycare incl. NaturePark - check out by 9:30 am on day of pickup Classic Boarding (Includes community daycare): $68 per dog/per night (check out by 9:30 am) Extended Stay Community Daycare: $50 Extended Stay Daycare Plus NaturePark $60 (extend checkout for one more day of play) Pick up/Drop off Hours
Holiday Closures
We are here caring for the dogs, but closed to humans! Christmas Day New Years Day Memorial Day July 4th Labor Day Thanksgiving Day CANCELLATION POLICY
Our Cancellation Policy is Voluntary We never overbook as a hedge against cancellations and are careful to staff appropriately to keep dog/human ratios low, so last-minute changes wreak considerable havoc on our financial forecasting. We ask our clients, if they are able, to consider paying for all or part of the reservation we've set aside for their dogs. Just let us know how/if you’d like to contribute and we’ll take it from there! Fine print
Please thoroughly read our Fine Print page about the risks inherent in allowing your dog to attend a daycare, boarding kennel or dog park. You will be asked to sign contracts outlining your and our responsibilities and liabilities. |