Boarding

We admit dogs of all breeds and temperaments into our kennels, and we don’t require an evaluation for your dog to stay with us. We may, however, limit eligibility for certain activities based on temperament and other factors. Customers who feel that their dogs present a significant threat to strangers may choose to decline any included walks. Similarly, if we feel that a dog presents a significant threat to our staff or that our staff cannot safely handle a dog, then we reserve the right to forgo the included walks and cancel any additional exercises scheduled for said dog.

Tours

We generally suggest that new customers take a tour of the facility prior to booking, though we don’t strictly require it. If you have concerns about our facility’s suitability for your dog due to your dog’s age, temperament or other factors, then we highly suggest taking a tour. We conduct tours Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 3 PM and on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM, except for on major holidays. You don’t need to schedule a tour ahead of time; just stop by the front office, and our office staff will contact the kennel staff for you.

Since we don’t require an evaluation for boarding, you don’t need to bring your dog for the tour. To limit potential disturbances for boarding dogs, we don’t allow dogs to tag along during tours, though you can feel free to walk your dog along the front of the grounds once your tour has concluded.

Daily Rates

We always charge for the first day of boarding. To avoid the cost for the new day, please pick up your dog(s) by 11 AM on the last day of the stay. You can avoid the boarding fee for the last day by scheduling your dog for a bath/groom and/or Playcare on the last day of the stay.

* Solo activity will generally be spread out between 2-3 sessions, though anxious/territorial dogs may have their solo activity condensed into fewer sessions so our walkers don’t need to bother them as often in the kennel.

** Playcare requires a behavioral evaluation that costs $20. You can schedule an evaluation during your dog’s stay if available, though you can also schedule an evaluation ahead of your dog’s stay if you prefer and if availability allows. Since availability varies, we highly suggest booking your dog’s stay well in advance and scheduling an evaluation at that time. Always have alternate activities in mind in case we can’t evaluated your dog or in case your dog fails the evaluation. Please note that dogs ages 7 months or older must be spayed or neutered to attend group play.

Our Kennels

We assign dogs to kennel runs based on various factors, and we generally cannot accept requests for specific kennel runs, nor can we guarantee availability in any specific building. All buildings have heating, and each kennel run has both an indoor and outdoor portion. We can board up to two dogs (no more, no exceptions) from the same family in a single kennel run. Customers who board multiple dogs at the same time receive a 5% discount off of boarding and exercises.

We provide each dog with a raised cot and bedding, and we close off access to the outdoor portion of the kennel run at night to keep the heat (and noise) in. Kennel runs for medium- to large-size dogs measure approximately 4’ by 6’ on the inside and 4’ by 12’ on the outside. Kennel runs for smaller dogs measure approximately 3’ by 4’ on the inside and 3’ by 6’ on the outside, with the outside portion having overhead cover.

Requirements

• Your dog must be at least 16 weeks old

• You must be able to provide us with proof that your dog is current on the following vaccines:

  • Bordetella

  • DHPP

  • Rabies

• Your dog must be in good health, capable of standing on his/her own, and reasonably coherent of what’s going on around him/her

Scheduling Boarding

We generally accept boarding reservations on short notice, but we suggest that you book as early as possible to ensure that we have space. If you’d like to book a stay more than three days in advance, and if you don’t need an immediate response, then feel free to use our online reservation form.

If you need to drop your dog off within the next 2-3 days, however, then please call our office directly at 650-359-1627. If no one answers, then please leave a voice mail with the following information:

• Your first and last name

• Your dog’s name

• Your intended drop-off date

• Your intended pick-up date

• Your phone number

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have availability?

Availability can change a lot in a short time, especially during the summer or close to holidays. Rather than asking for availability, we suggest that you instead make a reservation for the dates you need to board your dog for. We don’t penalize you for changing or canceling a stay; we only ask that you change or cancel the stay as soon as possible so we know how much space we have available for other customers.

During the summer, we recommend booking at least three weeks ahead of time if you need your dog to stay over the weekend. For holidays, you should try to book at least four weeks ahead of time, though you’ll probably want to book for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s at least 6-8 weeks before Thanksgiving, just to be safe.

When can I drop off or pick up my dog?

You can drop off or pick up your dog any time during office hours.

Office hours are as follows:

• Mon - Fri : 9 AM to 4 PM

• Sat & Sun : 10 AM to 2 PM

We suggest that you drop off or pick up your dog at least half an hour before we close, as traffic can be unpredictable, and we can’t guarantee that our office staff and/or kennel staff can stay late to accommodate a late drop-off or pick-up. Please don’t jeopardize your travel plans by waiting until the last minute to drop your dog off. We always charge for the first day of boarding, regardless of what time you drop off, so we encourage customers to drop their dogs off earlier in the day, since it won’t affect billing.

Please note that our pricing works similarly to hotel pricing in that we have a “checkout time” of 11 AM. If you pick your dog up after 11 AM on the last day, then you’ll incur a charge for the new day. To avoid this charge, simply pick your dog up by 11 AM.

You can also avoid the cost of the last day of boarding by signing your dog up for a bath and/or Playcare on the last day.

Can you accommodate drop-offs or pick-ups outside of office hours?

Generally, no. For safety reasons, we require that someone who’s trained in the front office AND someone who’s trained in the kennels be present for all drop-offs or pick-ups. If your travel plans would require that you drop-off or pick up outside of office hours, then we suggest either of the following:

• Drop your dog off a day early. Yes, you’ll get charged for the extra day, but it’ll be worth it for the peace of mind.

• Have someone else drop off and/or pick up your dog. You can leave a credit card on file to apply the cost of the stay to.

• Pick up a day later. If you pick up before 11 AM, then you won’t incur a charge for the extra day.

If we do accommodate a drop-off or pick-up outside of office hours, then we may apply an early/late fee of $5 for every ten minutes you’re early/late. NEVER assume that you can drop off or pick up early. If your travel plans absolutely require that we adjust our schedule to accommodate you, then you should consider boarding your dog at a facility with hours that work better for you.

What’s your cancellation policy?

There’s no penalty for changing or canceling a stay; we only ask that you change or cancel the stay as soon as possible so we know how much space we have available for other customers.

What should I bring with me?

We generally suggest that you bring your dog’s own food, as that’s one less thing your dog will need to adjust to during the stay. You can bring other things as long as you keep in mind that belongings may get lost or destroyed, and we can’t guarantee that you’ll get everything back, nor will we compensate you for belongings that you don’t get back.

We suggest bringing something that smells like home, such as an old t-shirt of yours or a lightweight blanket. Please limit toys to a single toy, ideally not bringing soft toys made of absorbent fabric. Please DO NOT bring tennis balls or Chuck-It balls, as we have plenty of these on hand for use outside the kennels, and these items present a choking risk to dogs inside the kennels and tend to get caught in the drains.

We prefer that you NOT bring beds, as we provide raised cots that suit most dogs very well. If you insist on bringing a bed, though, then please ensure it’s a bed with a removable and washable cover. Also, please don’t bring your dog’s food and/or water dishes, as we use our own to ensure that they’ll withstand our sterilization process. We also provide our own food scoops, collars and leashes, so we usually won’t accept them during check-in.

What payment methods do you accept for boarding, and when do I need to pay?

For boarding, we accept cash, check and credit card. Effective August 15th, 2020, stays costing in excess of $500 will no longer be payable via check. We usually collect payment when you pick your dog up, but we may require payment upfront and/or monthly for longer stays.

How many times can you feed/medicate my dog each day?

We feed and medicate dogs twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Since we prepare food and medications for many dogs prior to distributing it, we generally can’t accommodate really strict schedules for food and medications. Also, while we can administer most medications, we DO NOT administer injections. If your dog needs to eat or get medicated more than twice a day, needs to eat or get medicated at very specific times, or needs injections, then please board your dog at a veterinary facility.

Please note that we don’t have an on-site veterinarian, so we can only provide basic medical care. As such, if your dog needs extensive medical attention, cannot stand on his/her own, and/or isn’t reasonably coherent of what’s going on around him/her, then please board your dog at a veterinary facility so your dog can receive the appropriate level of medical attention, as we may be unable to provide it, especially during busy periods.

How should I package my dog’s food?

Honestly, we don’t care how you package your dog’s food as long as you do so clearly and consistently. Also, please label any food (or medications) with your dog’s name and your last name and the packaging/container. Here are some examples of how our customers package their dogs’ food:

• Leave the food in the original container and provide us with measurements (in actual cups, NOT in scoops) for each meal

• Leave the food in whatever storage container you use at home and provide us with measurements (in actual cups, NOT in scoops) for each meal

• Divide the food into individual meals, putting each meal into a single Ziploc bag - DO NOT put more than one meal’s worth of food into a single bag, as this will cause confusion

If you decide to divide your dog’s food into Ziploc bags, and your dog eats different amounts of food in the morning and evening, then please label each bag ‘AM’ or ‘PM’ accordingly. DO NOT rely on different bag sizes to differentiate meals without labeling them.

Can you accommodate raw diets (or other diets)?

We regularly accommodate a wide variety of diets. As long as the food you provide will keep for the entirety of the stay (or you don’t mind having some dropped off regularly), and the food doesn’t require any cooking/heating, we should have no problem fulfilling your dog’s dietary needs. Should the need arise, we have plenty of refrigerator and freezer space for storing food.

How much time will my dog spend in the kennel each day?

We keep the activity level low by default, as we board many older, anxious and/or aggressive dogs whose owners don’t want them out much (if at all). Basic boarding includes 20 minutes of solo activity each day, which we usually split into two 10-minute sessions. If your dog requires more exercise, then please choose from our various boarding packages to tailor your dog’s activity level accordingly.

To ensure the safety of the dogs, as well as our staff and our customers, we do require that dogs remain in their kennel runs when not under direct supervision. Each individual run has its own indoor section and outdoor section, however, giving each dog plenty of space.

How do I send vaccination records ahead of time?

You can email vaccination records to contact@shamrock.dog or fax them to 650-434-3970. Please ensure that all vaccination records include either of the following:

• the date on which each vaccine was administered and how long it’s good for (usually 1 year or 3 years), or

• the date on which each vaccine is next due

Please DO NOT send your dog’s full veterinary history. Only send pages that include current vaccination records.