Suitable Dog Boarding Candidates

At Mountain Pets, we welcome most types, ages, sizes, and genders of dogs for boarding. Our facility provides a warm and inviting environment that caters to various needs.

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• Sizes ranging from tiny terriers to large golden retrievers

• Dogs with low to high energy levels

• Dogs 10 months and older who are spayed or neutered (if you are waiting to alter your dog until it is a bit older, please feel free to reach out once that is done)

• Puppies at 6-10 months of age, who have completed their puppy vaccination series, are crate trained, are fully house trained (not via a dog door), and have a basic foundation in formal training, socialization and leash walking

• Seniors who require a low-stress environment, a relaxing place to unwind, and attentive supervision

• Dogs needing medication administration during their stay

• All dogs must be 100% fully house trained, without the use of a dog door, should be free from occasional accidents indoors or marking inside, and must be able to go through the night without needing a potty break

• Have good social skills with other dogs, understanding other dogs cues and boundaries

• Have completed a minimum of basic obedience training or are otherwise attentive, listening to basic commands, come when called, and overall well-mannered behavior

• If leash-required, they must be leash-trained to walk without constant pulling or lunging

• Have NO history of biting humans or other dogs

• Veterinary vaccinations and preventative requirements:

  • Up-to-date Rabies vaccination (1 year or 3 year)

  • Full DAPP puppy series (for puppies 4-12 months old)

  • Current DAPP vaccination or + titers (for dogs > 1 year old)

  • Annual Bordatella vaccination

  • Annual negative fecal and heartworm test (even if on preventatives) and/or treatment for recent infections

  • Preventative medications for external parasites (fleas and ticks) required year-round

  • Preventative medications for internal parasites (worms) or recent negative fecal test

  • For out of state only: CVI, a Health Certificate for Importation is now required by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to accompany any dog coming in to PA from another state to be boarded at a licensed facility. Please inquire within for more detailed requirements.

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Unsuitable Dog Boarding Candidates

While we strive to accommodate a wide range of dogs, we want to be very transparent that there are certain breed types and behavioral issues that are not a good fit for our in-home boarding environment. Unlike in most kennel environments, dogs in our home boarding environment are in very close quarters with each other 24/7. We do not crate or room dogs or otherwise separate them here, so they must meet all of our criteria in order to ensure a safe environment for all.

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• Dogs of extra-large size (roughly greater than 90 lbs)

• All mastiff breeds, and most bully and wolf dog breeds and any of these as mixed breeds

• Individual dogs which slobber/drool

• Incontinent dogs or males who mark inside

• Intact or unaltered males and females older than 10 months of age

• Dominant or triggering behaviors, such as nonstop sniffing of other dogs' private parts, marking indoors, mounting other dogs, muzzle nudging/punching, teeing off or otherwise bullying behaviors (re: a dog who strives to be a bit too Alpha with other dogs)

• Strong resource guarding behaviors, such as with toys, which may trigger your dog to bite another dog

• Inability to settle down and rest in someone else's house (high anxiety)

• Excessively high play drive that might overwhelm other dogs and necessitate intervention

• Poor indoor house manners and social boundaries, including aggressively stealing other dogs' toys and not respecting individual dogs' cues, pushing through and past humans, running over smaller dogs, attempting to steal human's food

• Lack of sufficient obedience training, failure to respond to basic commands, requiring constant correction, and/or reliance on an e-collar inside the house for basic obedience

• Dangerous behaviors like jumping or lunging at or on people

• Intense separation anxiety when away from home/owners or displaying a strong desire to run away/get out, bark/howl excessively, scratch doors/damage property, open mouth breathing/panting/pacing, refusal to eat, etc.

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Considerate Policy Regarding Dog Boarding

At Mountain Pets, we believe in providing a serene and nurturing environment for all our furry guests. To ensure the well-being and comfort of each dog in our care, we kindly request that dogs currently experiencing major life stress, such as moving or undergoing a divorce, be boarded at a later, more settled time. We value their emotional health and strive to offer a stress-free experience during their stay with us. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out, and we'll be happy to assist you in finding the best solution for your dog's boarding needs.

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Alternate Boarding Options

For dogs with specific behavioral challenges or separation anxiety, we recommend considering pet sitting services in the comfort of your home or boarding at a kennel facility. 

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If you have any questions regarding the suitability of your dog for boarding here or need information about our pet sitting services or local kennels, please don't hesitate to contact us