We always keep the best interests of our guests in mind. The following guidelines are designed to make your dog’s stay with us a positive experience for all.
You can download a 2-page document with all our rates and policies here.
Rates
Overnight Stays
- $51–56 per night: Sept 8–May 26 (Fall & Spring Season)
- $56-61 per night: May 27–September 7 (Summer Season)
- $61-66 per night: Winter Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s)
- Family discounts available for multiple dogs (up to 25% discount).
- Dogs are welcome to check in any time between 7am and 7pm, everyday; including holidays.
- On the day of departure, there is no charge for check out before 10 AM. Dogs who check-out between 10 AM and 7PM incur a daycare charge of $35.
- 10% discount on overnight boarding for visits of 10 nights or longer
- 10% discount on overnight boarding for First Responders (EMS, Firefighters, Police Officers)
Our Rates Are ALL-INCLUSIVE:
- 2 early morning & late evening pottywalks.
- 2 mid-morning & mid-afternoon playgroups.
- 2-3 individually prepared meals per day.
- Private, luxury rooms with raised bed & bedding.
- No extra charge for puppies or senior dogs (compare to other facilities).
- No extra charge for special diets or medication requests (compare to other facilities).
- Complimentary bath after boarding stays of 5 nights or longer.
Day Care
- $35 / day
- 10 visit package for $315 (our 10-packs never expire)
- No extra charge for feeding breakfast, lunch or dinner!
- No extra charge for puppies or senior dogs! (compare to other facilities)
- No extra charge for special feeding or medication requests! (compare to other facilities)
Adventure Hikes:
- Only hiking-approved dogs eligible. Please refer to our Adventure Hiking page for more information regarding eligibility requirements, why our service is the best and how to get your dog enrolled!
- Chauffuered Hikes (within our chauffuer zone): $35/dog, $31 for each additional dog residing at the same address
- Upgrade Hikes (added to a daycare or boarding stay): $23/dog
Individual Sessions:
- $10 for Love Supreme, T-Touch Massage or Extra Play
- $15 for Basic Obedience, Intro to Agility or Tricks Training
Grooming for boarding and day care guests:
- Ear cleaning ($5)
- Nail trims ($10)
- Basic baths including shampoo & conditioner ($15 for dogs <25lbs / $20 for dogs >25lbs)
Policies
Hours
Citizen Canine is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Check-in is 7 AM to 7 PM, 7 days per week.
Check-out is 7 AM to 10 AM. On the day of departure, if your dog says with us past the morning check-out time, a day care charge will be added for that day.
Late evening check-out (between 7 and 9 PM) can be arranged in advance for a $15 fee.
Reservations
We recommend reserving your dog’s stay as far in advance as possible. During summer season and holidays, we can fill up 4 – 6 weeks in advance. We require a 2 night minimum stay over weekends and longer minimums for major holidays. Please cancel your reservation at least 72 hours prior to drop-off to avoid charges. We hold all reservations with a Visa or Mastercard.
The best way to make a reservation is to email (info@citizencanine.net) or call us (510-562-1750). Our front desk staff are often busy checking guests in and out, so if you call during regular business hours and get our voicemail, PLEASE leave a message including your name, dog‘s name, best phone number to reach you, and the specifics of your reservation request. We will return your call as soon as possible.
Eligibility
For overnight boarding stays and day care visits, Citizen Canine welcomes well-socialized dogs at least 15 weeks old. We cannot accept dogs who are not social with people or groups of up to 10 dogs of same size, age & activity level. Intact dogs over the age of 7 months will not be able to board with us.
All dogs and their guardians must make an appointment for an interview, which is conducted at our facility with a staff trainer. We use this time to learn about your dog’s social, behavioral and medical history, to explain our services, to answer your questions, and to give you a complete tour of the facility. 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.
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.
If your dog has never boarded before, or has a history of separation anxiety or fearfulness, we may require a trial overnight in advance of a long stay. Citizen Canine offers a highly interactive boarding experience where your dog will socialize with many people and dogs on a daily basis. Therefore, this is not necessarily an 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 overnight boarding or day care dates. We do not charge a fee, but we do request that you call to cancel or reschedule any interview appointment you can’t make.
Vaccinations
All guests must be vaccinated for Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella (annually). Rabies is required every 3 years by law. Distemper/Parvovirus boosters or titers are required every 3 years, or according to your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Bordetella is an intranasal vaccine for canine cough that should be administered at minimum 7 days prior to boarding. We require Bordetella vaccines be updated annually, but many veterinarians recommend vaccinating every 6 months if your dog is in regular social contact with other dogs. Similar to a flu shot, this vaccine covers only a few strains of canine cough and is not a guarantee of immunity.
Please provide us with copies of your dog’s vaccination records or ask your vet to fax them to us at 510-562-0132. Many dogs have two guardians with different last names. Please make sure the owner name on your vet records matches the owner name on our client records.
Meals and Medications
Our guests receive two or more individually prepared meals each day. We are pleased to accommodate special feeding instructions. It is best for your dog’s health to maintain a consistent diet, so we recommend you bring an adequate supply of your dog’s own food. Alternatively, we feed our guests high quality dog foods, Taste of the Wild and Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul, which are rated by Whole Dog Journal as among the best dog foods available.
If your dog is taking prescription medication, we ask that you bring written instructions for administration. Please do not pre-mix medications or vitamins in your dog’s food – we are happy to administer these items according to your instructions at no extra charge.
What should I bring?
For safety reasons, your dog should be wearing only a flat or limited slip collar, not a metal collar or chain. Lupine brand collars and Premier brand limited slip collars are available for purchase in our retail area.
All our guests are provided with raised beds and blankets free of charge. You do not need to pack any bedding for your dog, but if you choose to do so, please make sure it is machine washable and labeled with your dog’s name. We discourage you from bringing toys that are not safe for unsupervised chewing. Sometimes personal items get chewed or go missing in our laundry, so please do not pack anything you can’t bear to part with.
It is helpful to us if you bring dry dog food in individual baggies for each meal (2x/day). You are welcome to bring special treats for your dog. Our staff offers dogs various types of food rewards during the day. If your dog has food allergies or sensitivities, please pack a supply of whatever non-perishable training treats you use at home.
For each visit, we will ask you for updated emergency contact information at check-in.
Grooming
All dogs are eligible to receive a complimentary basic bath after a five night stay. (Dogs with extra fluffy or long coats receive a brush and spritz). We use Earthbath grooming products. As an extra service we offer paid baths for shorter stays, nail trimming and ear cleaning.
We want all our guests to be as comfortable as possible in our care. For this reason, we will not force a grooming procedure if your dog is stressed or scared.
