Boarding & Daycare
When it’s time to go on vacation or attend to your obligations out of town it’s impossible to leave your loyal companion at home without supervision. At our hospital we offer boarding services to ensure your feline or canine companion never lacks cuddles or care while you're away.
What is boarding like for my pet?
Dogs spend the day with us in their very own large indoor run which also has access to an outdoor space. They are walked daily and are allowed to run and play in a large, fence-enclosed exercise area. Dogs can be matched with compatible friends for walks and play or they can have their own solo time if preferred!
Cats will spend their time in a sunny, two room-sectioned condo. They are allowed free roam of an enclosed play area, complete with a tower scratching post, for daily exercise. As cats tend to be private animals, we only allow play time with family members (if any are boarding). Fresh litter is provided by the clinic and maintained throughout the day.
What are the requirements for booking?
For the safety of your pet and others we require that they are fully vaccinated. Vaccinations must have been administered at least 7 days prior to boarding. Oral or intranasal kennel cough vaccine can be administered within the last three days before boarding. Kennel space can be limited during July, August, September and the Christmas Holidays from December 15th to January 7th as it is reserved for our regular clients.
Here are the other requirements for your pet to have access to boarding:
- Cats should be updated on their FVRCP and Feline Leukemia vaccine
- Dogs need to be updated on their Rabies, DA2PP (Distemper, parvo and parainfluenza) and Kennel Cough vaccines
There are special instructions for new clients prior to booking:
- Please email vaccination history to clientinfo@canmorevethospital.com
- A trial day is booked to determine if your dog will be comfortable and at ease in a new environment. This day is booked separate, and in addition to, your boarding reservation.
- Your pet must be spayed or neutered (this applies to all dogs)
- Your pet must not be fed a raw food diet
What should I bring for my pet’s stay?
We ask that at the very minimum you bring your dog on a leash and collar, and your cat in a carrier. You are more than welcome to bring any toys, bedding or treats to make it feel like home! We are able to supply bedding, and we do have plenty of feeding and water bowls, so we ask that you leave those at home. We do not want to get them mixed up!
You are also welcome to bring any dry/canned food which will be given to your pet. The only food we are unable to accept are raw diets or treats, or any combo diets that include raw food. All dogs must be off a raw food diet for at least a week before daycare or overnight stays. If you do not wish to bring your pet’s food, we are able to supply limited selections of Royal Canin Veterinary dry kibble during their stay. These are easy-on-the-tummy life-stage diets that are provided at no extra cost to you.
Drop-off and Pick-Up Hours
Please call our office at 403-678-4425 to book boarding or daycare. Reservations are required.
When you call to schedule your pet’s stay, we will ask you what time you will be planning on dropping-off and picking-up your pet, so that we know when to expect you.
The following is our schedule for boarding drop-off’s and pick-up’s:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Saturday: 9:00am to 3:30pm
- Sundays and Stat holidays: Our hospital is closed. Drop-off and pick-up times can be pre-arranged for our REGULAR CLIENTS ONLY. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate after hour drop-off and pick up times for non-clients.
Daycare is not available on Sundays.
Puppy Socialization Classes
When you bring home a puppy there is bound to be a period of acclimatization on your part and for your new companion. It is quite easy for your new puppy to bond with your family, they start to see you as part of their pack. During this stage you must establish limits and good behaviours. To improve your pet’s social learning outside of the home we encourage puppy socialization.
When is the best time to start social training with my puppy?
Your puppy will be open to socialization from three to 14-weeks-old. As soon as your new puppy joins your family you should begin training them at home. The earlier the better so you can curb any challenging or other undesirable behaviours. You should also enrich your puppy’s social development with interactions with other animals. We encourage you to discuss with our team to learn more about socialization drop-ins even if your puppy is between 16-24-weeks-old. Feel free to call us at 403-678-4425.
What is a puppy drop-in?
A puppy socialization drop-in is a controlled setting for your new puppy to meet other pups within their age range, size or even breed. These visits don’t require enrollment, however there might be limited spots to attend each session. During the drop-in your loyal companion will get to safely play and interact with other puppies. By doing this you reduce the possibility of your pet developing anxiety, fear or aggression problems. These drop-ins are safe as your puppy will be monitored by our team. We can also identify problematic behaviours early and discuss training.
We do not encourage puppy socializations at dog parks or daycares as your loyal companion will mix with older dogs and it can be unsafe if they aren’t fully vaccinated.