Downsizing?!?!

It’s been nearly two years since we opened the doors at Barkansas, and it’s been a wonderful and BUSY stretch for us. I have dearly loved getting to know so many sweet pups and their owners. I find that we are fully booked more often than not on most weekends/holidays, and I’ve had to drastically reduce daycare because I just don’t have enough empty kennels to be able to house daycare dogs on a regular basis.

Many of you have asked me if we had expansion plans—and to be honest my husband and I thought seriously about adding a second kennel building. . .

But in the end, I went the other direction. That’s right. I chose to downsize instead!

There were several weeks last summer and over the most recent holidays where I had 25 or more dogs here at once. Keep in mind, 99.9% of the time, it is just ME who does all the taking care of the dogs. I do the playtimes, the feedings, the medication dispensing, cleaning the kennels, scooping the poop, cleaning the turf, washing the food/water bowls. . .not to mention the booking/reservations/questions/updating owners/photo taking/social media/etc.

I determined that it was too much for me to handle alone. I’m no spring chicken after all. 🙂

So I had some of my existing kennels physically removed from the kennel building. I did that because if I’d left them, I would have filled them. I have a very hard time saying “no” to dogs and their owners! Ultimately, I took that option away and removed some kennels completely.

This means a few things:

  1. I book up faster than I did before, especially during peak times.
  2. I am no longer able to accept new daycare clients. If this changes, I will make an announcement.
  3. Your dog will get lots of individual attention now that I am keeping fewer dogs.
  4. My play groups are small by design.

It’s been about two months since we downsized, and to be honest I wish we’d done it this way from the beginning! I am much happier and the dogs who have experienced our “low-capacity” kennel have all done very well and enjoyed their time here.

As always, thank you for trusting me with your furry family member! 🙂

Getting Your Dog Ready for Boarding

It’s a common scenario these days–a family books a long-awaited trip but there’s only one snag: What to do with their furry family member while they’re gone?

Leaving your fur baby at a dog kennel is a perfect solution! At Barkansas, we will strive to make your dog feel like they’re on a vacation of their own by giving them lots of playtime and exercise, plus plenty of one-on-one attention.

But before you drop your sweet pup off for a multi-night stay, there are definitely some things you can do to make the experience better.

  1. Make sure vaccines are up to date! At Barkansas, we ask that all vaccines are given at least 2 weeks prior to attending, so you’ll need to plan ahead!
  2. If your dog doesn’t currently spend any time in a crate and isn’t used to being confined at all, you might want to practice crate training or just confining them to a small room like a bathroom or laundry room for a short time each day. Although we will play outside as much as possible, your dog will be in a kennel overnight and during rest times. This can be somewhat of a shock to a dog not used to being confined.
  3. If your dog tends to be anxious in new situations, you might consider bringing them out for at least one daycare day prior to boarding. This will allow your dog to be familiar with us and with the kennel–and will also help them to understand that you’re coming back for them!
  4. Bring a familiar bed or blanket from home.
  5. Make your goodbyes on drop off day quick and upbeat! Your dog knows you well and if you seem especially upset or stressed, it can impact them! Try not to feel guilty for leaving them–they will have fun, be well cared for, and will be ready for a happy reunion with you upon your return!

Adventures in Dog Boarding

We are a few months into this new venture, and so far, it’s been an absolute dream. I’m fully convinced that dog people are some of the best people, and the dogs and their owners that we’ve met over the last months have just been wonderful.

Here are my takeaways so far:

  1. I love all the dogs. I wasn’t sure how it would feel to take care of someone else’s dog. I love my own dogs like family and am now able to say that I love all the dogs who’ve come to Barkansas. I find myself calling them nicknames, much like I do my own, and telling them I love them. I’m not sure if they know what I’m saying, but I feel sure they can feel that they’re in a safe place with someone who cares about them.
  2. I wasn’t prepared for just how much poop there would be. We are a small kennel. 15-20 dogs would be absolutely maximum and yet…there’s so much poop!
  3. Most dogs do very well in a social/kennel situation. Some do not. (I’ll be creating a post about this soon)
  4. I’m surprised how many dogs don’t want bedding!
  5. I’ve been surprised at how few accidents have been had in the kennel. I’ve had one senior dog who had an accident and a couple who pee a little almost every single time they get excited–and one who I think was just nervous. But compared to how many dogs have been in the kennel, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how well potty trained they all are! Granted, we go out a lot and I think that helps, but still . . . I don’t have to clean TOO many accidents inside the building.
  6. Speaking of cleaning: I think cleaning might be the most time-consuming thing I do! It’s a constant battle to keep the kennel floor swept, mopped, and sanitized. Same goes for the outdoor turf! I pressure wash it and keep the leaves blown off and it’s a never-ending chore. And I pretty much always have a load of bedding/towels to do, and a set of dog bowls to clean.
  7. I get attached to any dog who stays more than a few days. I recently had one here for 10 days and after she left, I wondered if it would be weird if I sent her owner a text to check on her! Ha! (I decided it would definitely be weird, so I didn’t do it, but I sure was tempted!)
  8. I’m constantly learning. Opening and operating a small business wasn’t anything I ever expected to do. I’m still learning the best ways to do things–so don’t be surprised if I occasionally change up things like drop off/pick up, paperwork, or reservations until I find the best process.

Overall, I’m so very thankful to have the opportunity to take care of dogs and give owners peace of mind while they’re out of town!