Our Commitment to Your Pet

At Dog Den, the health, safety and well-being of every pet in our care are among our highest priorities.

Our policies are designed to create a clean, safe and enjoyable environment for our guests while giving pet parents confidence in the care their pets receive.

Because every dog is different, our team considers each dog's temperament, size, energy level, play style, health and comfort when determining the most appropriate care and play environment.

 

DOG DAYCARE & BOARDING REQUIREMENTS

Vaccination Requirements

All dogs participating in daycare or boarding must remain current on the following vaccinations:

• Rabies

• DHPP

• Bordetella — required every 6 months

Vaccination records must be submitted and approved before your dog's first visit.

Vaccination helps significantly reduce the risk of illness but cannot completely eliminate the possibility of exposure in environments where dogs interact with one another.

For this reason, Dog Den combines vaccination requirements with health screening, cleaning and sanitation procedures, ongoing observation and cooperation from our pet parents.

 

Fecal Testing & Giardia

Before a dog's first Meet & Greet, daycare visit or boarding stay, Dog Den requires a negative fecal test, including testing for Giardia, completed within the previous 30 days.

After the initial requirement has been satisfied, a negative fecal test is required annually.

Dog Den may request an additional fecal test if a dog develops diarrhea or other symptoms that could indicate an intestinal parasite or gastrointestinal illness.

Dogs showing symptoms of a potentially contagious condition may be separated from other dogs and may be required to remain home until symptoms have resolved or veterinary clearance has been provided.

 

MEET & GREET & BEHAVIOR EVALUATION

New Dogs

Dogs must successfully complete a Dog Den Meet & Greet and behavior evaluation before participating in daycare or group-play boarding.

A standard Meet & Greet generally lasts approximately 2–3 hours.

Our evaluation helps us better understand your dog's:

• Temperament

• Comfort around people

• Comfort around other dogs

• Play style

• Energy level

• Social behavior

• Response to handling

• Communication and body language

• Ability to disengage from play

• Overall comfort within the Dog Den environment

Passing a Meet & Greet does not guarantee that a dog will always remain appropriate for group play. Behavior can change over time, and our team continuously evaluates dogs while they are in our care.

If we determine that group play is no longer the safest or most comfortable environment for a dog, we may recommend a different playgroup, rotational play, private play or another care arrangement.

 

GROUP PLAY

How Dogs Are Grouped

Dog Den does not use a one-size-fits-all approach to group play.

Dogs are separated into appropriate playgroups based primarily on size, while our team also considers temperament, energy level, play style and compatibility when determining the safest and most appropriate group for each dog.

Our goal is to create balanced groups where dogs can socialize and play comfortably under staff supervision.

Dogs may be moved to a different playgroup when our team determines that another group is more appropriate.

 

Spay & Neuter Requirements

Dogs over 10 months of age must be spayed or neutered to participate in group play.

Dogs that do not meet the group-play requirement may be eligible for private daycare or private boarding depending on the individual dog and availability.

Female dogs that are in heat cannot remain at Dog Den and must be picked up.

 

Group Play Behavior

For the safety and comfort of all dogs, certain behaviors may result in a temporary break from group play.

These may include:

• Nipping, biting or snapping

• Persistent mounting

• Stalking or fixation

• Teeth baring

• Unprovoked growling

• Possessive behavior

• Excessive targeted barking

• Repeatedly ignoring another dog's attempts to disengage

• Initiating or escalating a scuffle

• Other behavior our team determines could negatively affect the safety or comfort of the group

When appropriate, dogs may receive a short rest period away from the group to decompress before being reintroduced.

Repeated or more serious behaviors may result in longer rest periods, reassignment to another playgroup, rotational play or removal from group play.

Our decisions are based on the safety and well-being of all dogs involved, rather than punishment.

HEALTH & ILLNESS

 

When Your Dog Should Stay Home

Please do not bring your dog to Dog Den if your dog is showing symptoms that may indicate a contagious illness.

Examples include:

• Persistent coughing

• Repeated sneezing with discharge

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Unusual nasal or eye discharge

• Fever

• Unexplained lethargy

• Known exposure to a contagious illness

• Other symptoms that may reasonably indicate an infectious condition

If your dog develops symptoms while at Dog Den, we may separate your dog from the general population and contact you.

Depending on the circumstances, immediate pickup may be required.

 

Illness Exposure

Dog Den follows stringent cleaning, sanitation and health-monitoring procedures throughout our facility.

However, daycare and boarding are social environments. Whenever dogs interact with other dogs, there is an inherent possibility of exposure to common canine illnesses, even when appropriate vaccination, cleaning and health protocols are followed.

Vaccinations significantly reduce certain risks but do not provide 100% protection against illness.

We therefore ask pet parents to work with us by monitoring their dogs and keeping them home whenever symptoms of a potentially contagious illness are present.

 

CLEANING & SANITATION

Our team cleans and sanitizes play areas, boarding accommodations, bowls and high-touch surfaces throughout the day.

Dog Den utilizes professional cleaning and disinfecting products and procedures designed for animal-care environments.

Our synthetic turf areas are regularly flushed and cleaned, and play and boarding areas undergo routine cleaning and deeper sanitation as appropriate.

Water bowls are replaced and cleaned daily, and fresh water is made available throughout the day.

 

DAYCARE

Dogs attending daycare participate in supervised activities based on their assigned care plan.

Depending on the dog, this may include:

• Indoor group play

• Outdoor group play, weather permitting

• Rotational play

• Rest periods

• Enrichment activities

• Private play

Outdoor access may be modified or suspended because of excessive heat, rain, poor air quality or other conditions that could affect pet safety.

 

BOARDING

Group-Play Boarding

Dogs approved for group play may participate in supervised daycare activities during their boarding stay.

Dogs receive scheduled rest periods and return to their assigned overnight accommodations at the end of the day's activities.

 

Private Boarding

Private boarding is available for dogs that do not participate in group play or whose parents prefer individualized care.

Private-boarded dogs receive individual interaction and scheduled private activity sessions rather than participating in general group play.

Availability may be limited, so advance reservations are recommended.

 

FOOD & MEDICATION

Feeding

Pet parents are encouraged to provide their dog's regular food for boarding stays to help maintain consistency and reduce the possibility of stomach upset.

Food should be clearly labeled with the dog's name and feeding instructions.

Please notify our team of any known food allergies or dietary restrictions.

 

Medication

Dog Den can administer many routine medications when clear written instructions are provided.

All medications must:

• Be clearly labeled

• Identify the pet for whom they were prescribed

• Include accurate dosage instructions

• Be provided in appropriate packaging

Please discuss medications and medical conditions with our team before your dog's stay so we can determine whether we can safely accommodate your dog's needs.

Dogs requiring medical care beyond what our staff can reasonably provide may need to be cared for by a veterinary or medical boarding facility.

 

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Pet parents may provide approved personal items for boarding when appropriate.

However, items can occasionally become damaged, so we recommend not bringing anything valuable or irreplaceable.

For safety reasons, toys or other items that could present a choking, ingestion or resource-guarding risk may be removed at our team's discretion.

RESERVATIONS & CANCELLATIONS

 

Boarding Deposit

A 50% deposit is required to secure a boarding reservation.

The deposit is non-refundable.

If a qualifying boarding reservation is cancelled at least 5 days before the scheduled arrival date, 50% of the deposit may be returned as Dog Den store credit.

Reservations cancelled fewer than 5 days before arrival are not eligible for deposit credit.

 

Holiday Boarding

Boarding demand is especially high around major holidays.

Holiday reservations may be subject to additional deposit requirements, minimum stays or holiday surcharges. Any applicable requirements will be communicated when the reservation is made.

A $20 per-night holiday surcharge applies on designated major holidays.

We strongly recommend booking holiday stays well in advance.

 

BOARDING CHECK-OUT

Boarding check-out is before 11:00 AM on the scheduled departure date.

Boarding dogs picked up after 11:00 AM are subject to a $35 late check-out fee.

This fee applies to boarding reservations and is separate from regular daycare charges.

 

AFTER-HOURS PICKUP

Please arrange pickup during normal Dog Den business hours whenever possible.

Pickups occurring 45 minutes or more after closing may be subject to a $25 after-hours pickup fee.

After-hours pickup availability is not guaranteed and should be arranged with our team in advance whenever possible.

 

CAT BOARDING

Cats staying at Dog Den must have current:

• Rabies vaccination

• FVRCP vaccination

• Negative fecal test

Cats must also be spayed or neutered.

Our cat guests are housed separately from general dog play areas and receive daily opportunities for individual roaming and interaction.

 

EMERGENCIES & VETERINARY CARE

If a pet experiences an illness, injury or medical emergency while in our care, Dog Den will make reasonable efforts to contact the pet parent or authorized emergency contact.

When immediate medical attention is reasonably necessary and we cannot reach an authorized person, Dog Den may seek veterinary treatment in accordance with the pet's care agreement and emergency authorization.

Pet parents are responsible for keeping their contact information and veterinary information current.

 

PET PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

To help us maintain a healthy and safe environment, we ask all Dog Den pet parents to:

• Keep vaccination and fecal-testing records current.

• Provide accurate information regarding their pet's health and behavior.

• Inform us of any recent illness or possible exposure to contagious disease.

• Inform us of behavioral changes, injuries or medical conditions.

• Keep dogs home when they are showing potentially contagious symptoms.

• Provide current emergency contact information.

• Follow Dog Den's check-in, check-out and reservation procedures.

• Notify our team of special feeding, medication or care instructions.

Open communication helps us provide the safest and most appropriate care possible.

 

POLICY & SAFETY DECISIONS

Every pet is an individual, and situations may arise that are not specifically addressed on this page.

Dog Den reserves the right to make reasonable care, health, housing and playgroup decisions based on the safety, health and well-being of the individual pet, other pets in our care, our employees and our facility.

This may include separating a pet, changing playgroups, transitioning a dog from group play to private care, requesting early pickup or requiring veterinary clearance before the pet returns.

Our goal is always to make decisions that support a safe and positive environment.

Questions About Our Policies?

We want pet parents to understand how we care for their pets and why our health and safety requirements are in place.

If you have questions about vaccinations, fecal testing, Meet & Greets, group play, boarding or your pet's individual needs, please contact our team before your visit.

Dog Den
1189 N Fountain Way
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 948-5818

Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
Saturday–Sunday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Closed daily from 12:00 PM–1:00 PM