Yes. For the health and safety of our guests, all dogs must have up-to-date records for all of the vaccinations Golden Days requires. We do not accept home vaccinations or titer tests in lieu of vaccinations for any pets. Vaccinations must be administered at least 48 hours prior to arrival under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. We prefer that vaccinations be administered 10 days before check-in.
All dogs must be in good health and unexposed to any contagious or communicable illnesses within a 30-day period prior to check-in.For the safety of your pet and the other pets in residence, pet guests who have a terminal illness or a severe disability can be more properly cared for at a veterinary kennel facility.
Required Vaccinations:
All dogs boarding at Golden Days must have on file that they are current with the following vaccinations
DPP - (Distemper, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza) Current in the last year.
Bordetella - Current in the last year (we suggest six months).
Rabies - Current in the last year for puppies & three years for adults.
Flea & Tick Medication - Monthly. All pets must be flea and tick free. Doggie guests with signs of fleas and/or ticks will be treated at the Grooming Salon at the Pet Parent's expense.
Optional but encouraged.
Canine Influenza - Golden Days does not require but recommends this vaccination. Consult with your veterinarian for its benefit
The number of guests can fluctuate by the day depending on the length of a reservation, the number of dogs checking in, and checking out that day, Doggy Day Camp clients scheduled for the day. We are approved for 7 dogs however we typically only have between 2 and 3 at any given time. During peak vacation periods, school breaks and major national holidays we are usually at capacity and book up early.
We get this question a lot and it's a great question. We have very limited availability for boarding and like a hotel we base our prices on anticipated and seasonal demand. In general, the week before and after a major national holiday is considered peak season, what we call premier season. Other times when rates are slightly higher would be when kids are on break from school, popular holidays like Mothers Day, Halloween, etc.
Deluxe Season add $5.00 per night
Premier Season add $10 per night
Great Question! We're not a traditional kennel or pet hotel. All of the dog guests at Golden Days stay in an actual home where your pet care professional lives as well and your dog is free to roam about just as they would at your house. At a traditional dog hotel or kennel they have a certain number of rooms or kennels that can usually accommodate more than one dog. These facilities project their revenue based on one dog per room but will place two or three dogs in one kennel if say for example you happen to have 3 dogs. Since they project revenue based on one dog per room any additional dogs placed in that room are just "gravy" and thus have a positive effect on their revenue.
Golden Days Pet Services provides boarding in a home / open concept boarding environment so we are restricted by the number of dogs we can accept per day rather than the number of kennels or rooms. When we discount rates for additional dogs it has a negative impact on our bottom line vs that of a kennel.
Golden Days will provide comfortable, clean bedding and blankets, which comfort your pet and adhere to our strict standards. Additionally, we provide food bowls, clean filtered water, and plenty of toys. For safety and sanitary considerations, we request that you do not bring any of your pet personal belongings (toys, beds, blankets, etc.) other than a crate or kennel if your dog is crate trained. If your dog experiences separation anxiety, or you think they might, you might consider bringing a disposable t-shirt or pillowcase (not washed) as your
scent can sometimes comfort them and help dissipate their anxiety.
Another reason we request that you not bring personal items is that we cannot guarantee the condition in which they will be returned to you upon check-out or that they’ll be returned at all. Should you bring any of your dog's personal items Golden Days is not responsible for damaged, lost, peed on or misplaced personal pet belonging.
Pet Parents are encouraged to bring their dogs food as dogs can sometimes be sensitive to sudden dietary changes. To ensure proper portion control we ask that you separate each meal into individual containers or baggies labeled with your pet's name. Please be aware that If you bring food in a large bulk container we cannot guarantee the portion size. We request that food bags or containers be no larger than 20 lbs. and multiple bags or containers are acceptable.
Golden Days provides CANIDAE brand dog food as our dry option. Currently, we serve their Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Fish Formula Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food for all of our overnight guest. There is an additional charge for this service of $4 per cup. We also provide a raw option by Instict. We offer beef, chicken or lamb and the price is $3 for a 4oz patty.
Canidae PURE Ancestral
This wholesome dog food features raw coated, wild-caught ingredients. Just like their canine ancestors, dogs thrive on a diet high in animal ingredients. That’s why our Canidae PURE Ancestral Diet formulas are made with abundant amounts of real meat and fish. Every formula contains 6–7 ranch-raised, farm-raised, or wild-caught animal ingredients and locally sourced vegetables, legumes, and herbs. Each 20-pound bag is made with as much as 17 pounds of meat or fish ingredients! The kibble is raw coated with freeze-dried meats for the amazing taste your dog craves and the powerful nutrition they need, to deliver you the best limited-ingredient dog food for your happy pet.
INSTICT RAW
Real food is raw. Each Instinct® Raw recipe is protein packed with 85% meat and organs and 15% non-GMO fruits, vegetables; vitamins & minerals. We use whole-food ingredients like real beef and never include grain, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives. We believe in the power of raw nutrition because we know the good it can do. Unlock your dog's potential to thrive with Instinct® Raw.
Real food is raw - minimally processed, never cooked, pure real nutrition
Protein-packed with 85% beef & organs, 15% vegetables & fruits; vitamins & minerals
Whole-food ingredients like real beef and non-GMO fruits & vegetables; never artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Raw, whole-food ingredients are frozen at their peak to preserve their nutritional integrity and cold-pressured for safe raw food
Benefits you can see: lean muscles, strong bones, skin, coat, digestive & immune health, clear eyes, overall energy levels
Made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world
Should your dog or pet require immediate medical attention while under our care, we will do our best to contact you first, prior to bringing your dog to a veterinarian. If the situation is life-threatening, we will rush your dog to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital. We have two emergency veterionary hospitals within 1/4 of a mile from Golden Days. You are
financially responsible for all emergency and non-emergency medical care. If you are unable to be reached via phone, we will contact the emergency contact listed in your client account. If you would like to set a monetary limit on the cost of veterinary care please indicate that on the Veterinary Release form or let us know upon check-in.
Our standard check-out times are from 8 AM to 12 PM almost every day of the year I say almost because, like you, we enjoy celebrating the holidays as well so during certain major national holidays we do not accommodate check-ins or check-outs. Examples would include Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day.
Later check-out times are available for an additional charge and are based on the half and full-day Doggy Day Camp rates. Please see our rates and rate calendar for pricing information.
First, we ask that you let us know about any schedule changes as soon as possible. If the change request is 7 days or more prior to your reservation date, except during "premier season", we will simply adjust the service as you request. If service has started or it's within a 7 day period before the date of your reservation then we will modify your services as requested however you will still be charged for the original services that you requested. During "premier season", 14-day notice is requried.
Golden Days Pet Services provides extremely limited open concept boarding and reservations are made to plan for occupancy and to hold one of the available spots for your dog for the dates of your reservation. Therefore, Clients returning home early or departing later than the date and time specified in the Clients reservation will remain responsible for the full amount of the original reservation, regardless of whether Client returned home early or departed later than what was scheduled on the original reservation. No amount of money will be refunded and no credit will be issued to a Client for early returns/check-outs or late departures/check-ins by Client after a reservation date has been confirmed agreed upon.
Intact Males and Females 8 months and older are an additional $10 per night.
A female in heat tends to stress out the boys, so she will stay in her own little princes' area, and not interact with the other dogs. A little extra cleanup is a must, so an extra $35 will be added to the per night rate.
Males 9 months and older not neutered -- i.e., intact males. These boys have a lot of extra mojos, so they will have a little extra special time. They could be placed on a different schedule than our regular guests and could have minimal to no interaction with the host dog or any other guest dogs depending on their temperament and behavior.
Marking is part of what the boys like to do so extra clean up is usually necessary. These are some of the reasons an additional $10 per night is charged. Please note, although uncommon, in some cases additional nightly charge may go as high as $25 per night depending on the behavior of the dog once boarded. i.e. excessive marking, destructive, requires an inordinate amount of attention in order to avoid conflicts with other guests, etc.
I've actually had some ask me in all seriousness if I withheld water from her dog during their dogs 5-day stay!! I tend to be a bit sarcastic and it took everythig in me not to reply with an equally ridiculous answer. But I digress ...
After an exciting boarding stay at Golden Days Pet Services, it’s important to ensure your dog adapts well to being back home. While at Golden Days, your dog received access to unlimited water throughout their stay. However, it is still likely they will seem very thirsty upon returning home. This is a common reaction to the excitement of being back at home with their family.
Limit Water Intake
No Water for 30 Minutes
Withhold water from your dog for the first 30 minutes that they are home.
Small Bowl of Water After 30 Minutes
After they have calmed down from the excitement of being home, you can then give them a small bowl of water.
Monitor Water Intake for a few Hours
Continue to monitor your dogs water consumption for the next few hours. Dogs that drink too much water too quickly may lead to vomiting or, in very serious cases, could lead to bloat.
Wait for 2 to 3 Hours Before Feeding
We recommend waiting at least two to three hours from the time you arrive home to offer their next feeding. Again, they will be very happy to be home and quite excited. Similar to the side effects of drinking water too quickly, eating too quickly may cause illness.
Golden Days can be a very active environment, with the dogs interacting for several hours per day. Even if your dog did not run all day, simply being awake can make them very, very tired. At home, most dogs sleep the day away getting 18 or more hours of sleep. Although we have a two-hour nap, and the dogs sleep approximately eight hours per night, they will be tired. Please let them rest. We do not recommend that you take them to the dog park or any other social environment for at least a few days after returning home.
If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call and we will be happy to address any concerns and assist you with your companion's transition home.
Thank you for allowing us to care for your beloved family member.
Many dog boarding facilities have set daily rates that apply to all dogs, regardless of size or breed. Some facilities charge the same daily rate regardless of the length of your pet's stay; others may offer a discount if you board your dog for longer periods. The daily rate takes into account our business expenses: overhead, employee wages, rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, certifications, ongoing training and education, advertising & marketing costs, fees to thrid-party platforms, fuel, lease agreements, the equipment needed to care for the dogs (fencing, shampoos, water bowls, leashes, bedding, blankets, cleaning supplies, gates, kennels), and more. The higher the cost to do business in a given area, such as Orange County CA, the higher the average daily dog boarding rates will likely be.
Many don't realize this but apps like Rover or Bark are not pet care companies. They are technology companies that help connect pet owners with people who are willing to care for thier pet while they are away. These platforms provide little in the way of training and have very minimal quality controls. Many of the people who join these apps do it thinking it will be fun and an easy way to earn a few extra bucks, commonly known today as a side hustle. Most are not trained in pet care, do not carry any additional insurance outside of the limited coverage offered by some of these pet care platforms. There are qualified people on these platforms, in facet we use both of the apps mentioned, but it's up to you the consumer to determine if the person or company you are contacting is in fact a professional service or just someone looking to make a few bucks.
The point is, never determine who you will have care for your pet simply based on the price or under a false sense of security because you booked your reservation with a well funded pet care platform. If they are cheaper there is probably a reason and those reasons might put your dog in harms way. Inadequate knowledge, training, insurance and licensing are a few red flags to look out for. Another is when a potential pet care person has no requirements that your dog be vaccinated (this could be life-threatening to your dog). Did you know that? In a word RUN! People or companys that board dogs don't require vaccinations to annoy you and make you jump through hoops they do it to protect your dog and all of the other dogs who stay with them. It's critically important to keep your dogs vaccinations current and you should expect no less from your pet care provider.
Bottomline, is all of this goes into determining the rates that we charge. I can assure you that if you're paying someone $30 or less per night for pet care and they only watch a few dogs at a time they do not have insurance or bonding and they certainly don't invest in education or training. We live in one of the most beautiful places in world. We have a wonderful standard of living and amazing weather. All of that, however, also makes this one of the most expensive places in the world to live. So personally, if someone was offering to watch my dog for a really cheap rate it would give me pause, and after some of what I have revealed to you, I hope it give you pause as well.