• Boarding provides care and attention for your dog when you are away.
• Dogs need exercise and stimulation or they become bored and can act out. While you’re away, they have the option to play with friends with our daycare option or play individually with a team member via play days or enrichment days. Dogs have a full acre of turfed outdoor play yards for cleaner playtime with many fun options.
• Pets enjoy attention from our trained and caring staff. We provide bedding, treats, lots of TLC and hand walks several times a day.
• In addition, we have many add-on services that will make your pet’s stay with us extra-special. These services include daycare, playtimes, video emails, TLC packages, bedtime toys and treats.

• We’re locally owned here in Waterford, Michigan–not a chain location.
• We offer very reasonable prices, especially compared to the national chains.
  See Boarding Pricing section below for current pricing.
• 10% off any Boarding stay for New Clients.
• We offer the convenience of online boarding reservations or you may call us.
• We offer the right environment for every dog. Dogs can be very social and have lots of socialization and playtime with other dogs, and one-on-one playtime with multiple leash walks per day with staff.
• We provide a warm and caring environment where pets will feel comfortable and relaxed. Our staff will lavish your pet with attention and TLC.
• We have large, full-sized runs for each dog with orthopedic beds and comfy wool stadium blankets.
• We have a full acre of turfed play yards for cleaner and more fun playtime.
• The health and safety of your pet is very important to us. We have high standards for hygiene, diligently sanitizing everything several times per day.
• The staff is trained in dog behavior and pet first aid.
• Many of our pet care staff have been with us for 3-15 years (experienced).
• You’ll have the comfort of knowing Union Lake Veterinary Hospital is right across the parking lot with a medical staff of 11 doctors and 12 licensed veterinary technicians in case of any issues.
• ULPS Daycare accepts dogs who have special care needs such as cancer, diabetes, etc.
• Dogs receive 3 meals per day and you can opt for a Frosty Paws bedtime treat.
• We provide optional daily video emails so you can see how your pet is doing.
• You may conveniently schedule training, daycare, or grooming at ULPS during your pet’s boarding stay.
• We have great ratings on Facebook and Google.
• ULPS offers multiple free events to our clients and neighborhood including Howl-O-Ween and Easter Egg Hunts.
• We’re conveniently located on your commute route.
• We stock a small boutique onsite for needed purchases.
• We’re bonded and insured.
• Not sure how to pick an excellent boarding facility? Our blog explains what to look for in choosing the perfect place for successful pet boarding.

• Monday through Friday 6am to 7pm. Saturday 8am to 6pm. Sunday 10am-6pm

• First, we ask that you complete our Boarding Registration Form.
• We’ll review the Registration Form and confirm your pet’s vaccination records.
• When you book, we’ll ask if you’re interested in adding daycare to your dog’s stay. Daycare is optional.
• If your dog has done daycare before, here or elsewhere, you can schedule our 1-day session where an expert spends time with your dog one-on-one to help them become comfortable with ULPS staff and daycare.
• If your dog has never done daycare, you’ll need to schedule our 3-Day Starter Package to help your dog get the hang of daycare with our supervised attention.

• For the safety of your pet and others staying with us, we have certain preventive health requirements that must be current before entering our facility for pet boarding, pet daycare, or pet grooming services:
• Dogs—Rabies after 4 months, Distemper Combo Vaccine needs to have been started for puppies, Flu Vaccine, Annual Negative Heartworm Test, Annual Canine Cough (Bordetella) Vaccine, and Negative Intestinal Parasite Screening twice annually. Canine Influenza Vaccination is normally only strongly recommended, but is currently required for the protection of any dogs who will be around other dogs at Union Lake Pet Services.

Click here for more information.

• There isn’t a specific minimum age for boarding but vaccinations are required. Check with your veterinarian to be sure your pet has had all of their necessary vaccinations for their age.

• Dogs don’t need to know any commands for boarding though they are appreciated.

• No. However, we can’t accept an intact female in heat.

• Almost every dog is a good candidate for boarding, but not every dog is a good candidate for adding group play during their boarding stay.
• Some dogs require more individual attention. For those, see the next question for the individualized options we offer.
• We don’t recommend adding daycare to boarding for dogs that are very anxious about being around other dogs.

• Your dog always has the option to spend the day in their run rather than join group play. We take them for 3 individual walks each day. You can also add on one-on-one play times with staff.
• Some dogs want more individual attention. For those, we offer other options:
• Our individualized Play Days include:
  • Several hand walks per day with our loving team members
  • Individualized play time (ball play, brushing, toy time, peanut butter kongs)
  • Enrichment activities customized to your dog’s liking
  • Hot lunch
  • Hugs and kisses
  • Off leash time outside
  • SmugMug photos and videos can be sent
• An Enrichment day is similar to a Play Day but includes more focus on Enrichment Training. Your dog is having fun learning and growing, and building confidence, coordination, mental focus and strength.

• Please click here to see our doggie daycare FAQs.

• You can get a great idea of our boarding facilities in our boarding video or photos in our facility tour.

• $47 per night for dog boarding ($54 during holidays when demand is high).
• Bed & Biscuit luxury boarding (closed for remodel at this time)
• There are multiple TLC optional enhancements at very reasonable prices.

• No, all dogs are charged the normal rate.
• Two dogs may stay together in one run for their comfort with each other but the rate is not discounted.

• Our pricing philosophy is to give you a lot in our basic boarding charge then allow you to add on enhancements that matter to you and your pet.
• https://unionlakepetservices.com/pet-boarding

• Yes, you may add-on these enhancements for your furry family members

• Yes, we charge just $.50 per pill per application.
• Just give us the medications and information during drop-off. We will administer your pet’s medications with precise tracking.
• Medications should be in the original container.

• We offer 10% off boarding stay for new clients.
• We occasionally have special offers for boarding. When we do, they would be on our Specials page and/or featured in local mailbox coupons.

• Sorry, we don’t offer boarding packages as we do with daycare.

• We highly recommend making reservations in advance for boarding, especially at the holidays. You may contact us to see if we have last-minute availability.
• We appreciate a call ahead when you’re headed in for drop-off.
• For optional daycare group play, you will need to schedule the Prerequisite 1st Day or 3-Day Starter Package in advance since these require a trainer.

• Very convenient. We have a large parking lot right outside the building.

• If you are not here to pick up your pet by closing time on the day, we will board your pet for another night. Regular boarding rates apply.

• Yes, we provide comfy beds and cozy blankets.

• Yes. We’re happy to put a sweater or other warm clothing on your dog, especially if they will be playing outside. We don’t put hats on dogs though.
• We’ll also apply sunblock as directed if your dog needs it.

• Favorite toys from home can cause problems between dogs as your dog protects his favorite toy.
• We have lots of toys here so we ask that you leave your dog’s toys at home.
• You may bring a favorite toy for your cat.

• Yes. Bring whatever food your pet prefers.
• If your pet is on a special diet, bring in the food with any instructions.
• You may also choose the meals that we serve. Boarding pets enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed.
• For dogs, we provide our quality dry food three times per day. You can add on a peanut butter kong bedtime treat.
• Note: If your pet has food allergies, please let us know, as we do feed treats and don’t want to give him something that would trigger an allergy.

• Dogs get a biscuit upon arrival. We offer our guests plenty of treats to help them feel at home.
• A Frosty Paws Treat or peanut butter kong are optional add-ons.

• We ask that you bring your dog to drop-off on a regular (not retractable) leash. We’ll send you home with the leash and ask that you bring it with you for pick-up.

• Yes, we’ve found that the safest collar for dog group play is a flat buckle collar. If your dog is not participating in group play, any collar is okay.
• We prefer that collars also have ID tags but we also put our identification tags on each dog.

• Dogs who are participating in daycare will play outside with their playgroups for an hour, then come inside to rest in their run for an hour. We alternate play and rest throughout the day. We feed the dogs lunch during one of the rest times.
• When outside, dogs play in our multiple wading pools, play with balls for 15-minute play sessions, chase bubbles, practice their dog sits and comes, and just enjoy free time to run around.
• The daycare staff also puts each dog on a leash during play time and walks them around the perimeter of the yard for special one-on-one attention.
• Dogs who aren’t participating in daycare will receive multiple walks throughout the day as well as meals. One on one play time is also an option.

• As much attention as he or she wants.
• Some dogs want to be social and play with other dogs, and we allow that under supervision if you choose daycare. We are out in the yard with the dogs, observing them and interacting with them, at all times.
• Others just want to sit at a staff person’s feet, and have more personal attention.
• Other dogs prefer to stay in their run and just go for walks with a staff person.
• Optional TLC add-ons include one-on-play sessions.

• 15 boarders per trained staffer. Daycare is 12 dogs per trained staffer.

• Yes. Our trainers are involved with each dog who participates in daycare. Before a dog can add daycare to their boarding package, we confirm whether they have done daycare before. If so, they can do our 1-day intro to daycare. Dogs new to daycare will need our 3-Day Starter Package before engaging in group play.
• Our trainers are also available to help if we observe issues.

• In addition to blogs, we have an extensive pet services staff including an entire team of dog trainers who can answer questions.
• The kennel staff is trained in dog behavior and first aid by our Karen Pryor Certified Training team and our 11 onsite veterinarians.
• Many of our pet care attendants have been with us for 3-15 years and treat each pet as their own.

• Dogs are fed 3 times per day. Staff will serve either the food that was brought in with them, or our quality dry food.
• We also offer an add-on peanut butter kong Frosty Paws bedtime treat.

• Absolutely. With the daycare option for dogs, our normal schedule alternates 1 hour of group play followed by one hour of rest or nap time in the runs (or in crates for smaller dogs and puppies).
• Without daycare, your dog can nap to their heart’s content between walks.

• We have one full acre of fenced yards, divided into three outdoor play areas for dogs.
• Yards are covered in turf for cleaner dogs and less impact on your dog’s joints.

• If your dog is part of our normal daycare schedule, each dog receives on-leash walks around one of the daycare yards.
• Dogs who are not part of group play receive three on-leash walks around the neighborhood.

• We offer a SmugMug photo and/or video package for $5.00 per day.

• We will attempt to contact you if there is an urgent issue. For minor behavior issues or concerns, a boarding attendant will chat with you when you return about what we’ve observed.

• We do not discipline the dogs. If we see that a dog is worked up or needs extra one-on-one work, we have the option to separate them from their playgroup (since daycare is where bad behavior is most likely). We can take them for a walk to get things under control. Once they are calm and ready, they are normally allowed to rejoin their playgroup.

• Although your dog will have time to rest and nap, if your dog participates in group play, he will likely run around quite a bit during play time. Dogs will usually go home tired. That is one of the benefits of boarding with us–your dog has had plenty of movement and socialization while you were gone.

• Dogs use their mouths and paws in group play. You may notice minor cuts, scrapes, or even tiny chunks of missing fur as a result of dogs playing. We would notify you if a serious incident were to happen while your dog is here but those are very rare since we closely monitor their play behavior.

• You may notice that your dog seems stiff or sore if they participate in group play. Most dogs do not get this much exercise at home, so some temporary soreness is normal. If your dog is limping or seems to have serious issues, please let us know.

• We place a high priority on cleanliness and hygiene in our boarding facility. Managed alongside Union Lake Veterinary Hospital, we understand better than most kennels and catteries just how important cleanliness is.
• We sanitize everything twice per day to protect your pet’s health.

• Every step we can. In addition to sanitizing everything in the boarding area and cattery twice per day, we require certain vaccinations in order to board with us.
• We won’t admit an obviously sick pet. We listen and watch for signs of illness, and make sure that any pets requiring veterinary attention are separated and receive attention as quickly as possible.
• We refuse dogs that are coughing, vomiting or suffering from diarrhea and we watch to see if any pets are becoming ill.
• With the canine flu outbreak, we were one of the first daycares in the Detroit area to require vaccination for daycare guests.
• We do not share runs or cages. Once a pet comes in, their cage or run is theirs for their stay.

• A good pet care facility like ULPS requires vaccination against kennel cough. But, just as with humans getting a flu shot, your dog may still catch it. See more information above in the previous answer.

• Your pet is unlikely to get fleas from boarding. It is your responsibility though to make sure that your pet is on regular flea treatment (same is true for ticks and heartworms).
• Please consider applying your pet’s topical flea treatment in the evening time, so that it can dry before they come to stay with us.

• It is always possible. Dogs that lead social lives are exposed to viruses, bacteria and parasites more frequently than their counterparts who lounge at home in solitude. This is true whether your dog attends daycare, goes to training, or sees other dogs in the dog park or pet store.
• It’s the same as sending your child to school. Some exposure is good for building their immune system and resistance.
• We do ask that if your dog is coughing, vomiting, or has diarrhea, keep him at home or make other arrangements for protection of the other dogs and so your dog can rest and recover.

• We don’t accept dogs who are coughing, vomiting or having diarrhea and we check that pets have had their required vaccinations.
• Once a pet is boarding, we listen and watch for signs of illness. If we see a pet that appears ill, we will separate them and contact their owner.
• We also contact the owner in case of injury.
• With your approval, we will ensure that your pet receives veterinary attention at Union Lake Veterinary Hospital across our parking lot.

• Yes, occasionally in daycare. We’ve had broken toenails and dogs can injure themselves in small ways during play. These injuries are normally minor and can be easily treated.
• We would contact you in case of injury and get your approval for treatment.

• It’s appropriately addressed. We try to figure out what occurred and why. We then take the appropriate steps to ensure that it doesn’t continue.
• Sometimes it is just a matter of separating dogs as these incidents are usually due to over excitement during group play. Our Quirky K9s trainer can get involved if a behavior issue surfaces.
• If there was a more serious issue, we would discontinue group play for one or both dogs.
• If there were to be a more serious injury, we would contact you and get your pet treatment at Union Lake Veterinary Hospital next door.

• Our trained boarding team is staffed with dog lovers overseen by a team of more experienced staff.
• The staff who works with your dog initially during the Daycare 1st Day or Starter Package are all certified trainers who have spent years studying dog behavior.

• Yes, we offer a climate-controlled environment inside for dogs.
• Outside, we have built-in heaters where the dogs may warm themselves in cool weather.
• For warm weather, we have covered areas, shady areas, sprinklers, misters and wading pools to help dogs stay cool and comfortable.
• We monitor the temperature and decrease outside playtime during extreme heat or cold.

• If you’ve opted for group play/daycare, the dogs love playing outside even when there is snow on the ground or it’s raining.
• We don’t allow the dogs to play outside during a thunderstorm.
• With our turf yards, dogs stay cleaner than with dirt or regular grass yards.
• We have covered areas where dogs can play during inclement weather.
• We shovel paths through the snow in winter for those who want to play in it.

• In extreme weather conditions, outdoor walks and playtime will be decreased. We monitor the heat index and, if necessary, adjust play time for safety, ensuring that we don’t endanger the dogs.
• Yards have built-in heaters so that dogs can warm themselves up. They are usually running around so they stay fairly warm anyway.
• In the summer, we have covered areas, shady areas, misters, sprinklers and wading pools.
• We monitor individual dogs. If a dog is lifting his paws due to cold weather or appears uncomfortable, we will bring that dog in sooner than the rest of his playgroup.
• Dogs with smooshed faces can’t stay outside in the heat as long in summer.
• We’re more conscious of heat and cold for our senior dog boarders.

• Our outdoor play area has several large, sturdy wading pools and they are a very popular item with our doggy guests.

• Our runs range from 6 to 10 feet. We also use crates for smaller dogs and puppies.

• Yes, unless you have requested that your two dogs stay together.

• Older dogs get extra padding in their beds.
• We’re more conscious of heat and cold for them. We notice that they are more likely to stay undercover in the shade in the summer, and near the heaters in the winter.
• Our turf play yards are softer on older joints so they are more comfortable for senior dogs.

• We observe a regular schedule with plenty of time outside. This should help reinforce your puppy’s potty training efforts. If we observe an issue, we would discuss it with you so that you are aware of it.

• Absolutely. You would need to pre-book any training. Otherwise, our trainer’s schedules may be full and unable to accommodate the desired training time.
• Click here to learn more.

• We can groom pets on the day that you’re picking them up. Once they are groomed, we would not send a dog out for group play unless you request it since they may get hot and disheveled by the time you come to pick up your pet.
• Click here to learn more.

• You may view daycare, training or enrichment services that you can add to your dog’s boarding schedule on our Union Lake Pet Services website.

• Yes. See the list of optional upgrades in the dropdowns at https://unionlakepetservices.com/pet-boarding

• Absolutely, we offer individualized Play Days include:
  • Several hand walks per day with our loving team members
  • Individualized play time (ball play, brushing, toy time, peanut butter kongs)
  • Enrichment activities customized to your dog’s liking
  • Hot lunch
  • Hugs and kisses
  • Off leash time outside
  • SmugMug photos and videos can be sent
• We also offer an Enrichment day similar to a Play Day but it includes more focus on Enrichment Training. Your dog is having fun learning and growing, and building confidence, coordination, mental focus and strength.

• Yes. During check-in, just provide us with the medication and instructions.
• There is a small additional charge for administering medications. $0.50 per pill.

• We’re very well equipped for that. We have pets that have cancer, diabetes, are prone to seizures, etc. We pay even closer attention to their care.

• If you’re unable to pick up your dog by our 8pm closing time, Monday through Friday, or Saturday closing time (6pm), we will automatically board your pet another night. Regular boarding rates will apply.