Why does my dog need to be evaluated in person?

During the initial pre-boarding consultation, we learn about your dog‘s unique needs. We ask questions about her social, medical and behavioral history, her likes and dislikes, special handling needs, and care requirements. We also assess how she responds to the Citizen Canine environment. We use this information to place dogs appropriately in playgroups, and to better meet your dog‘s individual needs while she is staying with us. We also give you a full tour of the facility and answer any questions you have about any of our services.

This short trip to our facility also gives your dog a chance to “sniff us out." Having a positive experience during the initial consultation helps assure your dog that Citizen Canine is a safe and fun place to visit.

Citizen Canine offers a highly interactive boarding experience where your dog will socialize with many people and dogs on a daily basis. This is not a safe or appropriate environment for all dogs, and in some cases, we may refer you to a different service that better suits your dog‘s needs.

You are welcome to call us and schedule a consultation even if you do not currently have specific boarding dates. You can also stop by without your dog to see our facility, but our ability to offer walk-in tours is limited by staff availability.

My dog has never boarded before. Will he be OK?

Many of our guests are first-time boarders. If your dog enjoys the company of other dogs, the daily playgroups are a great outlet for the anxiety caused by being away from home. We offer love and t-touch sessions for dogs that need some extra human TLC to help them feel comfortable. It is not unusual for dogs with separation anxiety to stop eating: we monitor all meals and will add tasty treats, hand feed, or sit with dogs during mealtimes to make sure they do not miss too many meals.

If you are planning a longer stay, we also recommend (and sometimes require) a trial day care or overnight stay to help you dog acclimate to our environment and routine.

My dog is from a shelter. Will he think I‘m abandoning him again?

Our environment is very different from most shelters. At Citizen Canine, dogs stay in a home-like environment and receive lots of individual attention and playtime outside with other dogs. A good percentage of our dogs are rescues or come from shelters, many from Hopalong Animal Rescue or the Oakland SPCA. These dogs adapt very quickly and love coming to “camp” to see their friends. If you are unsure about how your dog will feel, why not schedule an appointment for trial daycare so that your dog can meet the staff and learn the ropes?

How are playgroups structured?

Dogs are put in playgroups with 2 to 5 other dogs of similar size, age, and play style. Young puppies and rowdy adolescents have their own groups where they won’t pester the older dogs. Senior citizens also have their own group where they won’t be molested by more active dogs.

Playgroup duration varies depending on the size and canine make-up of each group, the weather and other circumstances. We monitor groups so that dogs get enough exercise without overdoing it.

What if my dog doesn’t play with other dogs?

Some dogs cannot play with other dogs for medical reasons, such as a joint or back injury, in which case they will go out for their daily outings with a human companion. Dogs that are not socialized to other dogs and exhibit fearful or aggressive behavior are evaluated on an individual basis, but in most cases are not appropriate guests.

My dog is not neutered but loves other dogs. Why can’t he play?

Intact male dogs over the age of 7 months must play alone at Citizen Canine for the safety of our staff and other guests. Even if these dogs are very friendly, they may be seen as a potential threat by other dogs, and are more likely to provoke aggression.

My little dog is terrified of big dogs. How will he be made comfortable?

We love little dogs! Our smallest guests stay in double-bunk rooms in a separate area of our facility, away from the big dogs and closer to the flow of human traffic. They play in their own small dog groups and they always have a great time!

How old does my puppy need to be to stay at Citizen Canine?

For overnight boarding, puppies must be at least 15 weeks old and have received at least two puppy (DHLPP) shots and a bordatella vaccination (rabies vaccinations are not required for young puppies).

Will my dog lose her housetraining habits?

No! Dogs staying at Citizen Canine quickly adapt to our routine and learn to use the gravel potty areas in the yard as their bathroom area. For adult dogs, 4 trips outside between 6 am and 9 pm are usually plenty to keep up their training. We bring puppies out more frequently, and reward them with praise and treats for appropriate potty events.

What type of training do you do at Citizen Canine?

We use positive reinforcement techniques to teach dogs what behaviors are appropriate. We reinforce the desirable behaviors (such as sitting politely) with praise and food rewards and we ignore and never reinforce behaviors we don’t like (such as jumping up on people). We also use praise and treats to create positive associations with objects and experiences that dogs may otherwise find frightening or uncomfortable. We do not use adverse measures to punish behavior. Our training techniques are fun for both people and dogs, strengthen the human-animal bond, and create dogs that love to learn! We offer classes and workshops to teach owners how to work with their own dogs, and we offer staff training sessions with boarding and day care dogs to complement the work they are doing at home.

My dog has special medical needs.

We can accommodate most special medical needs, including administration of medications, pills, and eye and ear medications. We are familiar with the special needs of blind dogs, deaf dogs, dogs with spine, hip and knee problems, epileptic dogs and very senior citizens. We cannot administer injections for diabetics. We cannot accept any dogs with contagious illnesses.Please bring any medications in separate, clearly marked containers (do not pre-mix medications into your dog's food).

Also, please be aware that there are inherent risks in boarding a senior dog. Underlying health problems can be exacerbated by stress, and illnesses or infections, which would be minor in a younger dog, can become serious and even life threatening in an elderly or frail dog. Owners of senior dogs should give us clear instructions about their preferences for medical care and intervention.

I am concerned about my dog‘s health.

Our service is designed to maintain optimum health of our guests. We require each dog to be fully vaccinated before boarding. We also keep the environment as low stress as possible and follow have a regular schedule. A low-stress environment and regular schedule help support the immune system and keep dogs healthy. Each room is also individually ventilated which helps prevent the spreading of disease.

If a health concern should arise, we have relationships with several local veterinary clinics and emergency hospitals, as well as a visiting veterinarian. Depending on the situation, dogs may also be brought to their own veterinarian for treatment. We will always contact the owner in the case of a medical problem requiring veterinary care.

We require that all dogs that come for boarding or daycare be free from any pests or parasites. Approximately 80% of our clients use Advantage or Frontline. Even though the indoor surfaces and cleaning methods at Citizen Canine are not conducive to flea development, our guests do play in an outdoor space and interact with other dogs. If you are concerned about flea and tick infestation, we suggest you treat your dog with Advantage or Frontline prior to your dog‘s stay at Citizen Canine.

How far in advance do I need reservations?

Our busiest times of year are holidays and the summer months, where we fill up weeks in advance. We recommend you make your reservations well in advance. We do request 72 hours notice for cancellation of reserved stays.

When can I check my dog in and when can I pick her up?

Citizen Canine is open 7 days a week. Your dog can arrive for check in anytime between 7 am and 7pm on the day your reservation begins. Dogs can checkout between 7 am and 10 am (no charge for that day), between 10 am and 7 pm (day care charge for that day), and between 7pm and 9pm (day care charge plus after hours check out).

What should I bring for my dog‘s stay?

We recommend you bring your dog‘s own food and any medications. Your dog must also be wearing a flat or martingale collar for safety. Please be aware that any toys or bedding from home may be lost or destroyed. Don’t bring any of your dog’s personal items that you would be upset to lose.

What vaccinations are required?

Please provide us with proof of vaccination or titer tests for DHLPP (distemper combo) every 3 years, a current Rabies vaccination, and proof of Bordatella vaccination within the past year. Bordatella is an intranasal vaccine against canine coughs and colds, and should be given at least 7 days prior to the start of your dog‘s stay. Owners are responsible for providing us with updated vaccination records – if you don’t have records you can call your veterinarian and ask them to fax us directly at 510-562-0132.

Can my son or daughter volunteer to pet the dogs?

We are sorry but our insurance does not cover volunteers. However, both the Oakland SPCA and Berkeley Humane have excellent volunteer programs for adults and kids.

Can I call to check on my dog?

Of course! We welcome your calls during regular business hours, and we are always happy to give you a report on how your dog is doing with meals and playgroups. We also check our e-mail frequently and are happy to respond to your questions via e-mail.