Day Camp to Prep for Boarding
If your dog has never boarded with us before and you're planning a trip, the worst time to find out boarding is stressful for them is the morning you're flying out. The fix is a two-week confidence ramp built around Day Camp, designed to make boarding feel like a sleepover at a familiar place instead of an abandonment at a strange one.
Here's the schedule we recommend, why it works, and what to do if your dog needs longer.
Week 1: Familiarity
Two Day Camp visits the week before your trip. Standard full days. The goal is for your dog to know the building, smell the same staff and dogs, and form a positive association with arriving and being left.
By the end of week one, your dog should walk in confidently, settle into the play group quickly, and come home pleasantly tired. If any of those isn't happening, we'd extend the ramp by another week before booking the overnight.
Week 2: Overnight comfort
One trial sleepover (a single night, ideally a weeknight) plus one Day Camp visit. The trial sleepover gives your dog the experience of being dropped off, sleeping somewhere new, and being picked up the next morning in a low-stakes context.
We'll send you a report on how the night went: did they eat dinner, did they sleep through the night, did they show signs of stress or settle in. That report tells us (and you) whether a multi-night stay is going to land well.
Why this matters for your trip
Dogs read the energy of a goodbye. If their first time being left somewhere overnight is also the time you're stressed about a flight, they will absorb that stress and remember it. Boarding becomes "the bad place" instead of "the fun place."
A dog who has done the ramp arrives for their actual stay relaxed, eats dinner on the first night, and sleeps through. When you come back, they're happy to see you but not desperate. That's what successful boarding looks like.
Planning a trip in the next month or two? Get on our schedule now. We're often booked out for weekday Day Camp and weekend boarding, especially around holidays, and the ramp takes two weeks of runway. Tell us your trip dates and we'll work backward.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How far in advance should I start the ramp?
A: Three weeks before your trip is ideal: two weeks of ramp plus a buffer week. For dogs who've never boarded anywhere, we sometimes recommend four to six weeks.
Q: Does a trial sleepover cost the same as boarding?
A: Yes, a one-night trial is billed at our standard boarding rate. We consider it an investment in your dog's comfort and the success of your actual trip.
Q: What if my dog doesn't pass the trial?
A: We'll tell you, and we'll suggest alternatives: an extended ramp, a different service like in-home boarding for that specific trip, or a referral to a partner if we're not the right fit. Honesty over revenue.