Frequently Asked Questions

First-time clients need to complete registration (click Register at the top of the page) and submit vaccine records. Once forms are received, you can call us at 501-358-6598 (Conway), 870-938-0138 (Jonesboro), or 479-278-2798 (Rogers), or email [email protected] to schedule a visit! 

BOARDING FAQ

Your dog will have a much better stay with us if he has a few comforts of home with him. Specifically, his tummy will be much happier if he eats his normal food, so we ask that you bring food from home in individual bags or a sealed container (no open food bags). We do offer premium house food made by Fromm for $5 per day if requested. You can also bring a tshirt or something from home that smells like you. Your scent will help your pet feel more relaxed. Please bring any medications your pet may need – we administer meds at no additional charge. Beds are provided in rooms, so we ask those not to be brought from home. We prefer that you don’t bring toys, because the dogs tend to take them out of their rooms to share with their friends, which means you may never see that fluffy porcupine again. Finally, please do not bring food or water bowls as those are provided as well (including slow feeders, elevated feeders, or extra large bowls – we promise we have it all!)

Yes. We know things sometimes come up last minute and we will always do our best to accommodate if you give us a heads up. Like most boarding facilities, we sell out during holidays, so we recommend booking several weeks in advance. Daycare in all locations also sells out in advance. We do have a walk-in option for daycare on sold out days for an additional fee. Contact your location for details.

Holiday reservations should be booked as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Most boarding facilities sell out for every major holiday, and we are typically full 6-8 weeks before the holiday approaches. Non-peak travel dates can typically be accommodated with just a few days’ notice.

All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations for Rabies (1 or 3 year), Bordetella (every 6 months), and DHLPP. If your dog is nearing his due date for vaccines, please remember that Bordetella vaccines must be given at least 48 hours before arriving at Hounds’ Hideaway. If you would like your dog to participate in group play (daycare) while boarding, the following requirements also apply: (1) Puppies must be at least 16 weeks old (must have had 3 rounds of vaccination, including Rabies, and a negative fecal test). (2) Dogs must be spayed or neutered by age 8 months. (3) Dogs must be on flea/tick prevention and be flea-free upon arrival. We also highly recommend the canine influenza vaccine.

Naps and goodnights happen in one of our private suites. They’re designed to be large enough for your dog to get up and move around or eat his meals, but small enough that it feels like a cozy den. Doors are tempered glass, so pups can still see everything going on and don’t feel “caged.” Note that dogs are not in their rooms throughout the day and enjoy free play except for feeding and bedtime.

Provided your dog meets the requirements for Daycare, your dog will participate in all the off-leash playtime fun, and it’s all included! Wakeup call is at 6am, and daycare lasts until 6:30pm. Our boarders get a morning break for breakfast in their rooms and dinner in their rooms at 6:30pm. Everyone gets a bedtime potty break at 8pm, and lights-out is at 8:30pm. Learn more in the Daycare FAQ below.

Of course!! If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, take advantage of the evening Tuck In Service for $5 that includes a FaceTime chat with parents – the perfect way to say goodnight. We also believe pictures are worth a thousand wags, so we post them daily on our Facebook and Instagram. If you’d like even more detail throughout their stay, check out our Upgraded Updates package with your boarding stay.

For safety reasons, unaltered dogs over 8 months old are not permitted in group play. We refer unaltered clients to other awesome facilities in the area for Individual Care.

Every pet’s age and any health conditions or advisories are noted on his chart, and staff are informed of dogs who may need extra breaks, medicines, or who aren’t playful like their young counterparts. Oftentimes older pets do enjoy the company of others, and prefer watching them from a comfy cot on the sidelines. And, as always, we administer medication at no additional charge. We do not board pets over 10 years of age overnight except with special permission. 

Your dog will have a better start to his vacation if he is dropped off in the morning. This allows for ample social time and activity, which will help him eat and rest better. Boarding pick up and drop-offs are accepted Monday to Friday 6:30am-6:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 8-10am and 3-5pm. Checkout time for boarding is 11am, but late pickup can be arranged for a half-day of daycare fee ($15 per dog). Pickups and drop-offs are not accepted outside these hours and it is parents’ responsibility to know these hours if your pup is staying with us.

DAYCARE FAQ

For the first visit, yes. After that, reservations are needed to get the Advance Notice daycare rate. Daycare does typically sell out ahead of time, so book as soon as you know the dates you will need. Also ask about Standing Reservations – a recurring option we can set up for you!

Click here to complete our registration forms online! From there, you’re ready to schedule your dog’s first day of daycare with us. On their first day, we ask that you drop your dog off with us between 6:30 and 8;30am, and pick up between 3 and 6:30, so we have plenty of time to integrate him into playgroups at whatever pace he’s comfortable with. New client integrations require one-on-one time with a Pack Supervisor, so reservations are required. New furry clients are accepted Monday through Thursday and spots are limited on each day to ensure your dog is not rushed in his introductions to all the new activity. We’ll spend time getting to know your dog, and will introduce him to our own pack dogs slowly throughout the day. Based on his play style and interactions with dogs, he’ll be integrated into playgroups that are most compatible with what he prefers. We will call you midday to let you know how it’s going, and you can see pics in the Pet Parents Group on facebook throughout the day. Keep in mind that dogs who show signs of aggression toward people or other guests will not be approved to participate in group play.

All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations for Rabies, Bordetella, and DHLPP. If your dog is nearing his due date for vaccines, please remember that Bordetella vaccines must be given at least 48 hours before arriving at Hounds’ Hideaway. The following are also required for dog daycare participants: – puppies must be at least 16 weeks old* (and have at least 3 rounds of boosters and a negative fecal exam) – *puppies age 8-16 weeks can participate in Puppy Playschool – dogs must be spayed or neutered by age 8 months – must be on flea/tick prevention and be flea-free upon arrival. We also highly recommend the canine influenza vaccine.

Congrats! We offer a modified Puppy Playschool for little ones that are not quite old enough or ready to participate in regular daycare. Socialization is critical for your young puppy, and daycare is THE best way to start him off on the right paw! Visit the Daycare page for more details!

No. If your dog has a specific diet that requires him to eat more often or is a very young puppy, you may bring food from home and we are happy to feed your dog midday if requested. Keep in mind that if your dog goes up for lunch, he will be out of playtime for approx 90 minutes for “rest and digest” time.

Rest easy; this is totally normal. Starting dog daycare is like asking a human couch potato to hop up and run a 5k! Dogs at home are used to sleeping most of the day, but in daycare it’s all about mental and physical exercise. That said, if we notice that your dog seems to be overly tired during the day, he’ll get a nice nap break to help him catch up. You’ll probably also notice your dog drinks a lot of water after a play day. The pups always have access to as much water as they like, but they play a lot during daycare and may still need to rehydrate more than usual.

Yes. Constantly. By a highly-trained-human. There are also runners, supervisors, and managers who spend time in groups throughout the day.

Monday through Friday 6:30am-6:30pm. Saturday and Sunday 8-10am and 3-5pm (location hours may vary – contact yours for specific details).

Yep. Most of the time, they are things that have nothing to do with us humans. A few examples:

  • Dogs playing together may nicely get carried away but still be poked or cut by a long nail or an accidental bite.
  • A playful puppy may get too far into another dog’s personal space, causing the older dog to snap back out of reaction (not aggression).
  • A pair of dogs might play chase and jump off a platform or toy and sprain an ankle.


Additionally, it is important for pet parents to be aware of dogs’ ability to share the doggie equivalent of the common cold (kennel cough) and other mild illnesses with each other – most of which are not covered by vaccines. Because dogs play with their mouths and because most of these viruses are airborne, it is more likely for dogs in off-leash play settings to catch bugs like this.

Risk situations described above are normal and no one is really at fault, even the dogs. We absolutely monitor the dogs very closely and they are in happy harmony most of the time, but they are still dogs, and we can’t fully understand every single thing about them. Additionally, much like children starting human school for the first time, a new dog starting daycare may not be immune to all the colds and bugs the other kids at school have already dealt with and gotten over. It is very possible for dogs to develop things like kennel cough during their first few visits, particularly during warmer months and particularly if they are socializing with other dogs for the first time. As a parent bringing a dog into an off-leash group facility, you must accept and share in these risks.