Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to offer options other than group daycare. Some senior dogs, for example, may not be interested in participating in group play, but they may enjoy watching the group from a safe distance or interacting with an individual dog. Other dogs may be content sleeping by a window in the sun or hanging out with a caregiver in the kitchen area. We can provide individual playtime and exercise time in many instances. If your dog is overly fearful or overly aggressive, though, Dogville may not be a good fit. If that is the case we will be happy to refer you to an experienced trainer that may be able to help overcome behaviors that are hindering your dog’s participation in group play.

After business hours, staff members are busy feeding and watering our canine guests, administering medications and preparing the facility for the next business day. We do not keep cash overnight, and the overnight staff is not permitted to conduct credit card transactions after the close of the business day. For an additional fee, we can arrange for additional staff to be available for early drop off (6 a.m. to 7 a.m.) or late pick up (till 9:00 p.m.) provided you pre-pay with a credit card prior to picking up.

Special needs dogs include senior dogs with physical limitations such as difficulty getting up and down or other mobility issues, blindness, deafness, canine cognitive disorder (canine senility), urinary or fecal incontinence. It also includes dogs with complicated medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, heart conditions, or other medical problems that require regular medication or monitoring on a schedule. Special needs dogs do not include dogs with behavioral disorders that display as unpredictable aggression toward people or other dogs. We do work with dogs that have thunderstorm or fireworks anxiety on a case by case basis. There are other conditions that would qualify for “Comfort Care.” Just call us and we will be happy to talk to you about how we can help!

No one knows your dog better than you do. We want to get to know your dog before introducing them into a new enviroment and meeting our staff. With the combination of the information on the application and the temperament test, we have the information we need to make your dog comfortable. Since we are committed to making Dogville “your best friend’s second home,” we want it to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

No one knows your dog better than you do. We want to get to know your dog before putting them in a new environment with other canine guests. With the combination of the information on the application and the temperament test, we have the tools to match your dog to the right play group based on compatibility. Since we are committed to making Dogville “your best friend’s second home,” we want it to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.

Each dog should arrive with enough food for their stay, preferably in a large plastic bag with feeding instructions (amount/times per day) written on the bag, along with the dog’s first and last name. You are welcome to bring blankets, treats and a favorite toy or two. Please do not bring beds, crates or feeding bowls. We have plenty of those and can provide whatever you think will make your dog comfortable--just let us know at check-in! We cannot guarantee that your dog won’t decide to take some bites out of the items you bring (you know how kids are), but we will do everything we can to keep them intact and clean. Daily exercise is included in the cost of boarding, either in a group setting or individually with a caregiver. Be sure that we already have in our possession your dog’s current vaccination records. Proof of vaccination from a veterinarian must be provided before an applicant’s first boarding visit. Vaccination records can be emailed to us by potential clients or veterinary clinics at info@dogville-daycare.com or faxed. The fax number is (918) 516-0637.

We take the health and safety of all our canine guests very seriously. Just like human children and adults, dogs that appear to be healthy can actually be carriers of common viruses that cause diseases. By requiring all dogs to provide proof of vaccination, we are doing all that we can to protect your dog and the dogs that play at Dogville from preventable diseases.

Each daycare applicant must be at least six months of age and undergo a temperament test to determine if they will be compatible with our staff and/or other dogs in a play group. Temperament tests are free for the first two hours and must be scheduled in advance. The test is conducted by Dogville staff after reviewing information on applications to determine if a dog is suitable for group play. Overtly aggressive dogs or overly fearful dogs may not be suitable for group play, so testing ensures the safety of new dogs as well as dogs in our existing daycare population. Each boarding applicant must pass a separate temperament test before their first stay to ensure they are suitable for our facility and comfortable with our staff. It is not necessary for dogs to enjoy group play to board with us. Every applicant must also be current on routine vaccinations, including distemper/parvo and intranasal Parainfluenza/Bordetella (two way kennel cough) vaccination. Proof of vaccination from a veterinarian must be provided before an applicant’s temperament test and first day of daycare or boarding stay. Vaccination records can be emailed to us by potential clients or veterinary clinics at info@dogville-daycare.com or faxed to (918) 516-0637.

Senior dogs are categorized most often by size and breed. Giant breed dogs, like Great Danes, for example, are considered senior at 5 or more years of age. Large breed dogs, like Labs and Golden Retrievers are considered senior at 7 years and older. Smaller breed dogs are generally considered senior at 9-10 years of age. Dogs, like humans, may age differently. Some dogs may begin to lost their hearing and vision early in their senior years, while others may age at a slower pace. Once a dog starts experiencing signs of aging that limit their mobility and sensory abilities, we believe they should be more carefully monitored and protected from dogs with intense play styles to prevent injury.

As long as your dog passes the initial temperament test, we will do everything we can to match them to a playgroup that fits their personality and play style. If your dog has a play style that limits their interaction with others on a given day, (for example, on a day when daycare attendance is light) we will provide individual play and exercise for him or her with a caregiver. If your dog is uncomfortable or feels threatened in a group, we may take them out with a single dog to give them the change to interact with others dogs on a limited basis. 

For DAYCARE: Dogs begin their interactions with one another largely by scent, in addition to other social cues from the play group and the environment. This can be challenging in group play situations. Intact male dogs and unspayed females add additional mating and dominance dynamics to the mix and those dynamics can result in aggression, competition and other behaviors that can cause serious harm to dogs at our facility. That said, if an intact male does not exhibit excessive dominance behavior at play and passes their temperament test, we are willing to work with them as long as they remain so. Intact females are only allowed to attend daycare on a case by case basis. 
For BOARDING: Intact males that are non-aggressive and remain intact due to your veterinarian's recommendation regarding age of neutering may board as long as they pass a temperament test. Intact females may only board if they have not achieved their first heat cycle or the owner signs a waiver agreeing to pay additional fees PER DAY if their dog comes into heat while in our care. Females that are in heat at the time of their reservation cannot be boarded at Dogville without express permission of Dr. McNac. Additional fees PER DAY are non-negotiable for females in heat during their boarding stay.

Just like humans, dogs can experience digestive upset from sudden food changes, resulting in diarrhea and other symptoms of indigestion. There are so many different brands of food and types of diets on the market today, it would be impossible to keep them all on hand within their proper expiration dates. We want your dog to have an experience at Dogville that is as close to your home as possible, and that means keeping his or her diet consistent. We do have food available for purchase, including our own Dogville Select brand of premium dry food.

Our policy is and always will be to do what is best for each dog that comes through our doors. Unfortunately, not every dog will be comfortable or happy at Dogville. Overly aggressive dogs, for example, put both canine guests and Dogville staff at risk for injury. That is why each dog that comes to Dogville must undergo a temperament test before we accept them into daycare or boarding. Excessively fearful dogs will also be unhappy at Dogville. Just like kids, new dogs may be somewhat apprehensive at Dogville until they are familiar with the other dogs and our routine. That should lessen with time and experience. That said, there are some dogs that are so fearful, being in the presence of other dogs and humans will be traumatic for them. These dogs will react to every experience with fear and they will have the potential to cause harm to themselves or others. With both kinds of dogs (overly aggressive and overly fearful), we will always choose what is best for the dog and offer other resources to owners.

Four reasons:
1. In December 2022, several confirmed cases of Canine Influenza were diagnosed in the Tulsa Metro area, resulting in a number of hospitalized dogs with pneumonia and one death. This and several cases in the Oklahoma City area comprised the first known outbreak of Canine Influenza in Oklahoma.
2. At Dogville, we serve the most vulnerable population of boarding clients in the area--seniors with feeble immune systems, dogs on chemotherapy, dogs on hospice, dogs with complicated medical issues, etc. Some of them cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, so herd immunity from as many diseases as possible is necessary to protect them in case of exposure. 
3. Because of our excellent care and 24 hour staffing, we also serve a number of show dogs that travel out of state to areas where canine influenza has occurred. They are vaccinated, obviously, but we want to make sure all of our regular boarding clients are protected, too, in case they are exposed to the disease during their travels. 
4. We also board a number of dogs from other states when their owners attend graduations, holiday gatherings and family reunions here in the Tulsa area. We require that these dogs are also vaccinated for canine influenza to protect in state dogs and our vulnerable population of boarding guests.
5. If there is a MEDICAL reason your dog cannot be vaccinated, your veterinarian can send us a vaccination waiver. If you are concerned about over-vaccination, we also accept vaccine titers in lieu of vaccination for distemper and parvo, but not the other required vaccinations.

We require current vaccinations for distemper/parvo, rabies and the intranasal or new oral Parainfluenza/Bordetella (two way kennel cough) vaccine. We also require the bivalent Canine influenza vaccine for all dogs. All vaccines must be adminstered by a veterinarian and copies of current vaccinations must be provide to us prior to any scheduled boarding or daycare visit.