FAQs

The rabies vaccine is required by law for dogs. In addition, all dogs should have a distemper combination vaccine on an annual basis. Dogs that attend daycare and boarding facilities, receive grooming services, or participate in group training classes are required to receive the Bordetella vaccine. This is easily administered as an intransal. Dogs that frequent environments where deer ticks reside should be immunized against Lyme disease. Lyme vaccine is also administered in a series of two injections, 3-4 weeks apart and then boostered annually. The Animal House also strongly recommends the CIV vaccine which guards against Canine Influenza Disease.

Spaying or neutering should take place by 6 months of age. Spaying a female prior to her first heat cycle significantly reduces the incidence of mammary tumors, ovarian cancer, and uterine infection, and has the obvious benefit of no unplanned pregnancies. Neutering a male pet at 6 months helps prevent future prostate problems and greatly reduces the occurrence of serious behavior issues, such as inappropriate elimination (“marking territory”), aggressiveness, and the desire to run in search of a mate. In addition, many daycare facilities, including The Animal House Groom & Board, cannot accept unneutered dogs after 6 months of age.

Vaccinations for kittens are generally started at 6-8 weeks of age. A distemper combination (FVR-CP) is given every 3-4 weeks until the kitten reaches 12 weeks of age. It is then boostered annually. The rabies immunization, while not required by law, is highly recommended. It is given at 16 weeks of age and is good for one year. After that, rabies vaccines are administered every three years.

Vaccinations are generally started at 6-8 weeks of age. A distemper combination (DHLLP) is given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy reaches 16 weeks of age. The distemper combination is typically boostered annually, however other vaccine options also exist. The rabies vaccine is given at 16 weeks of age and is good for one year. After that, the rabies vaccine is administered every three years.

We strongly suggest testing for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. These diseases are both highly contagious and fatal for cats and family members. Prior to bringing any new kitten or cat into your home, your pet should receive the FeLv/FIV test to check for these serious viruses. A simple blood test provides results in 15 minutes. If the test results are negative and your cat will spend time outdoors, we advise immunizing against feline leukemia with a two-shot series given 3-4 weeks apart and then annually.

Any time anesthesia is administered, a certain amount of risk exists. If your pet is generally healthy and in the normal weight range, it is likely the risk will be slight. In almost all cases the health benefits of performing the procedure are far greater than the anesthetic risk.

To decrease risk to the lowest possible level, we recommend a pre-anesthetic screen on all pets, healthy or not, prior to all anesthetic procedures. This simple blood test, performed the morning of surgery, flags our veterinarians for possible complications by assessing kidney and liver values, glucose levels, etc. Should there be a health concern, additional testing may also may be advised prior to the scheduled procedure.

Yes, during regular Pet Clinic Hours. If you are concerned, your pet can be seen that day. Please call first so we can do an assessment over the phone to determine urgency and how to most efficiently handle your pet’s problem. When the clinic is closed, emergency care is provided by the Blue Pearl Emergency Pet Hospital, located at 2141 Lime Kiln Road Green Bay, 920-494-9400.

We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and Care Credit. Payment is required at the time of service.

Typically your adult pet is checked for intestinal parasites once a year, during the annual exam. If you have a puppy, we recommend running two fecal tests several weeks apart to ensure your puppy is parasite free. If your pet is sick with vomiting and diarrhea we will also ask that you bring in a sample at the time of your office visit.

Pets can pick parasites up very easily from other animals. Undiagnosed parasites make your pet miserable and can result in chronic diarrhea. It is important for your pet’s health and comfort to follow our guidelines.

It is important to test your pet for heart worm disease before starting preventative to ensure the heart worm parasite has not already been contracted.

Whenever you do the recall/come command with your pet, it always needs to be a positive welcome when they get to you.  The best way to start this exercise is to have them on a long leash. This way the dog is able to have some distance, but you have a physical way to bring them to you. Also have a super great treat that the dog loves.  Then make this a game, the more fun you make it, the more willing your dog will come to you. 

With your dog on a long line, back away from them and in fun voice, call them to you.  Be consistent. Use the same word for the recall. This is key with any of your commands.  Once the dog gets to you, reward with the treat and praise.  If your pals get distracted on the way to you, give a tug on the leash to get the attention back on you, and repeat your command.  Never reprimand your dog for not listening once they have come to you. This is very confusing for the dog because the dog is being punished for coming. Disciplining improperly at this point can really set back training on the recall command.

You need to desensitize your dog to the vacuum. For starters, do not put the vacuum away after using it, leave it out so that your dog can explore it on its own. Make the vacuum very positive by feeding your dog by it, putting treats on it for your dog to go get. Once the dog is comfortable with it turned off and not moving, start to pretend vacuum (have the power off). As you do this give your dog treats as it is moving, again working with the dog coming closer to the vacuum. Now that your dog thinks of the vacuum as a treat dispenser, turn it on but do not move it, again give your dog treats. Slowly start to move it as you give your dog treats. Keep practicing this exercise until the dog is comfortable with the normal movement and sound of the vacuum.

Staying consistent with our dogs is key, if you give them an inch they will take a mile. When other people want to meet your dog, have them follow the rules you have established. Dogs jump to get our attention, so we need to teach them a different way to get this. Whenever the dog jumps, take their paws and put them back on the ground, once the paws touch the ground say “off” and push their back-end into the sit position. Once they are in the sit position, give them soft praise. Try not to over praise, a soft pet is enough, if we over praise we can get them excited and they may jump again.

New puppies do not understand the difference between your shoe and their chew toy,  so you need to teach them the difference. To start, make sure your puppy is getting enough time to play and exercise, a tired dog is a well behaved dog. Then use the 4 “R’s”: Remove, Redirect, Replace, Reward. Remove the object they are not to have, Redirect the dog’s attention, Replace with a proper item (example, bone) and Reward with verbal praise for chewing on the correct object.

Absolutely. Pets prefer consistency. They feel safe when they know what to expect. An excellent way to introduce your pet to the Groom & Board experience is to try our daycare for a few days in advance of boarding. By attending daycare, your dog will feel they “know” the place and in the majority of cases, will truly come to enjoy their visit with us.

We recognize that pet owners have varied concerns about boarding. Most guilt stems from the belief that the owner feels they are somehow “abandoning” their pet.

A quality setting such as ours seeks to decrease stress and creates an environment where pets interact with loving staff and have the option to play with other pet pals in daycare so that most of their “down” time is spent sleeping and resting, just like home. Most pets have such wonderful fun playing, that after a short period of adjustment, they become very comfortable and lose an awareness of how long you have been away from them.

Please call or stop by for a tour during our regular Pet Clinic Hours. Seeing the facility and meeting our staff should provide reassurance. Your trust and confidence in us is so very important. We welcome a frank discussion of your concerns, and truly appreciate your interest regarding your pet’s welfare.

Absolutely. In fact, dogs exposed early in life to daycare demonstrate significantly less anxiety when it comes time to board. Puppy Care is for puppies aged 8-16 weeks, and typically for shorter play periods. At 6 months of age, spaying or neutering is required.

Yes, there is no additional charge and the groomer will be sure to let your pet out for relief breaks as needed.

Your pet will most likely be playing continuously except for rest time. If your dog is not used to this intensity of activity they may experience sore muscles and feet. Consider starting them with shorter days until they adjust to the activity level. Dogs can be very active and physical while playing. Minor nicks and scrapes may occasionally occur. 

The choice to use daycare is similar to the decision to use general anesthetic for medical procedures. Daycare is tremendously beneficial but there is the slight risk that serious injury may occur.  Orthopedic problems are a possibility, and despite diligent screening, it is impossible to eliminate all inappropriate/aggressive behavior.

The first step is to not let the dog out of the kennel when barking. If you do this, your dog very quickly learns that barking behavior is how to get out of the kennel! You want to teach them that quietness gets them out. Our training staff recommends using Interostop.  Interostop emits a sound and an Interomone. It is completely safe and can be used long term. Interostop can be purchased at The Groom & Board or online. Make sure to pair a word or phrase (ie. Quiet, No Bark, Enough) when you spray the Interostop. When using the same word with the Interostop, the dog will learn to listen to the command and eventually you will not need to spray the Interostop. Our staff can assist you with proper Interstop use.

We also recommend desensitizing your dog to its kennel. Kennel your dog  when you are home during the day for short stints at various times. For example: at dinner time or when you are on the phone. This way, your dog’s kennel time is not only when you leave for work or when it is bed time. You can also give a safe toy to play with in the kennel, like a stuffed frozen Kong or a Nyla bone, to keep them occupied. 

Get your pet registered using the interactive Groom & Board Registration Form. Then call and set up an appointment at 920-465-4444 for a behavior assessment.

We adhere to the highest standards to ensure safety, enjoyment, and value by taking the following precautionary measures:

  • Behavior assessments on all dogs prior to admission ensures the most positive play setting.
  • Mandatory proof of spaying/neutering, annual exams, vaccines, and parasite preventative, keeps all play buddies healthy.
  • Health checks for every dog upon admission for parasites and contagious illness.
  • Dry indoor play area, keeps pets cleaner.
  • Outdoor play/relief areas. Fresh air and pool/water fun during warm weather.
  • Constant supervision with a well-trained, friendly staff.
  • Staff directed daycare games to enhance stimulation.
  • Veterinary care, right next door at The Animal House Pet Clinic.
  • On-site trainers to address behavior issues.

Yes. It is perfectly normal for your pet to sleep more than usual for the first few days after boarding. The resulting change is similar to your own vacation experience. The more fun and exciting the getaway, the more fatiguing the adjustment back to “reality.” Please call if you are concerned however, or if anything appears to be out of the ordinary. We will be happy to discuss your pet’s behavior and answer any questions you might have about your pet’s stay.

Daycare is a unique situation where large groups of dogs are playing together for extended periods. Even the most outwardly gregarious dog may experience some anxiety when encountering a pack of high-energy canines and may act unpredictably. If your dog has a good behavior history, the chances are excellent that daycare will work well for your pet.

Therapy Dog:

A therapy dog is trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices and/or disaster areas. Required training is extensive, it is important that your pet not jump or pull on the lead. Your pet must possess a very calm demeanor and dependably obey commands. Our training team at The Animal House Groom & Board can help your dog prepare for the test, however we do not provide therapy dog certification (see below). Note that dogs with this certification have limited access to public spaces and cannot accompany their owners everywhere they go. Only the above listed facilities allow entry. Dogs with this distinction are not eligible to live in rental housing that does not already allow dogs.

Recommended Certification Resource
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Therapydogs.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 307-432-0272
Phone: 877-843-7364
FAX: 307-638-2079

Emotional Support Dog:

An emotional support dog provides therapeutic benefits through companionship to help relieve a symptom or effect of a person’s disability. Under governing law, an emotional support animal is not a pet and is generally not restricted by species. An emotional support animal differs from a service animal. This designation allows the pet owner to live in rental housing that does not normally allow dogs, however there may be restrictions. No training is required, all that is needed is a doctor & veterinarian sign off. For more information and emotional support animal registration go to: www.esaregistration.org

Service Dog:

A service dog is highly trained to work or perform specific tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Access to public spaces are supported by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). A service dog is allowed everywhere with its owner, including grocery stores and restaurants.

Recommended Training Resource
Custom Canines
Customcanines.org
Phone: 844-888-8850 
Fax: 1-844-888-8850
Email:  [email protected]
2310 Mustang Way
Madison, WI 53718

Possibly. Behavior problems must be diagnosed before implementation of a treatment plan. Attempts to self-treat could result in an escalation of the problem. Behavior modification is a special focus for our veterinary staff and many treatment plans include the use of daycare as a means to alleviate excess energy, reduce anxiety, and improve socialization skills. In many situations, our veterinarians will recommend working with our trainer to help alleviate concerns. Our trainers can work one-on-one at our facility or in your home. If you feel your pet has behavior problem, Contact Us! with one of our veterinarians and they can develop the right treatment plan for your pet.

Choose the most appropriate boarding accommodation for your pet. Consider space and noise levels when making your suite choice.

  • Luxury boarding suites provide a quieter atmosphere and a choice of sizes. Larger runs are typically better for larger breeds, multiple dogs and/or the anxious pet.
  • Room with a View provides plenty of sunlight, pets watch outdoor activity keeping them occupied and interested.
  • Standard runs are a great option for the easy going pet.
  • Our reception staff will provide recommendations based on your pet’s size and disposition.

When possible choose daycare.This is great exercise, socialization and an excellent distraction while you are away.

Reduce or eliminate factors that create stress in your pet. Stress is the major
cause of problems. Here is a list of things to remember:

  • Bring your own food, especially for our first-time or infrequent visitors. We strongly recommend this to alleviate sudden changes in their digestive situation. A Premium Low Residue Diet is available for a fee. This diet is easy to digest and is recommended by our veterinarians for pets with sensitive systems. Cat owners must provide a diet from home.
  • Avoid triggering unnecessary anxiety. For instance, if the presence of suitcases creates worry, leave them out of sight.
  • Make your good-byes short, cheerful, and confident. Pets can sense overly emotional farewells and will respond accordingly. Upon welcoming your pet, please do so in a calm fashion. Your pet will sense that you feel secure.
  • Even though your pet had a marvelous time, they will still be very excited to see you. Once at home, many dogs in their excitement may drink or eat profusely, potentially causing vomiting or diarrhea. To avoid this, offer ice cubes or very limited amounts of water until they settle down. Cats typically adapt quite quickly with little or no intervention.

The Animal House Pet Clinic is literally 50 feet from the daycare. If a serious injury occurs during regular Pet Clinic Hours our veterinary staff will do an assessment and develop a treatment recommendation. You will then be called immediately. Upon your approval, we will administer care. In the rare occurrence that an Animal House veterinarian is not available on evenings or weekends, the Green Bay Animal Emergency Center will be utilized. Please see the Groom & Board Registration Form for full details on our emergency protocol.

Daycare officially starts at 9am and runs continuously until 4pm. Depending on the season and weather, your pet will play outdoors as much as possible. Mini-group training sessions and games are integrated into the daily routine. Lunch or treats are given upon request.

When dogs play together, they mouth one another, roll on their backs, and generally pick up some dirt. If you allow outdoor play in the warm months, a pool for cooling off is available. The pool is for swimming only and is not contaminated with animal soil. Dogs love water fun but it can leave your pal a bit messy. If this is a concern, you can request that your pet be given a bath at the end of the day or kept outside of the pool area.

No, but you will want to call us before coming in to ensure a groomer is available.

Yes an appointment is needed, we provide nail trims during Pet Clinic Hours,  please note that proof of rabies vaccine is required for all services.

It is preferable to use the same groomer because your pet will become comfortable with the groomer and the groomer will become familiar with your pet’s personality and health history. Just like human hair stylists!

Slicker brush and a wire toothed comb. You want to use the proper grooming tools that get down to the skin to detangle the hair. You should also brush/comb your pet daily

We recommend reading “Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age” by Karen B. London, Ph.D. and Patricia B. McConnell, Ph. D. You can purchase this book at The Groom & Board or online. This book is very informative and has helped many owners teach their dogs to eliminate outside.  When house training your dog, you must watch your pal at all times when they are roaming in the house. When you can’t keep an eye out, the dog needs to be in a kennel or on leash (even inside).  This way, there is no opportunity to for the dog to have an accident without your knowledge. 

Consistency is the key to success. Always take the puppy out the same door, this will help the puppy know what door to go to later.  When you take the puppy outside, you need to go outside too, to make sure he/she actually eliminates. Keep your pal on leash to help stay on the task at hand.  Once your puppy goes, walk then around a little longer to make sure they are complete done with their business. This process takes patience.  If the puppy did not go, keep them near you when you go back inside and then try again a few minutes later.  Setting a timer can be very helpful.  If your puppy can hold it for 30 minutes, set the timer for 30 minutes.  After a week of no accidents, set it to 45 minutes and so on.  The timer is only for daytime, at night the puppy should be housed in a properly sized kennel and should sleep all night without getting up to go outside.  

If you find an accident, the only thing you can do is clean it up.  Never put the dog’s noise in it and punish him/her. If you catch them in the act of potting in the house you can make a loud noise, for example, saying “Oops” or “OH NO” in a loud voice but not an angry voice.  Do this to distract the puppy and hopefully stop them from potting inside.  Then, with a happy voice, get your puppy outside to finish. Take your puppy outside even if they fully went inside. This teaches that potting is an outside activity.  

Do not use an angry/scary tone to correct a potting accident in the house. This will cause the puppy to think that potting in front of us is bad.  When pet owners yell or hit or otherwise punish their dogs for having accidents, the dogs  may never feel comfortable potting, even outside, if the pet owner is present. This  can create a major house training set back and cause life long elimination problems.

Your groomer will make a recommendation. If possible, get on a set schedule, so that you know your pet will receive his/her groom at the optimum time with the same groomer. For example, every 4th Monday.  If that is not possible, set up the next groom the day you pick up your pet up from the groomer.  Pre-booking is highly recommended as the grooming schedule is exceptionally busy.

3-5 hours. We take into consideration: drying time, blowing/combing as much hair out as possible, and making the pet look great.

Every 4-10 weeks depending on the type of pet and what type of hair style you want.

Yes, you must brush and comb them completely before getting them wet. Mats/tangles become much worse after getting wet. Re-brush/comb after they are dry. Always use pet shampoo, never human shampoo.

Depending on the size of mats we may be able to thin them out, but if the pet is severely matted, we shave your pet down. Combing mats can be very painful and traumatizing to pets

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