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View Full Version : Where I work!!


vicklynn
09-04-2009, 06:49 PM
I was reading the thread on what were doing this weekend. Well, were FULL up at the doggy motel, and I thought Id share a bit about what we do.
Anyone have questions, feel free to ask.

First thing in the morning the dogs are let out to the outside play area where they can potty. There are 4 group areas and the separate dog runs also.
We have Separates, Bigs, Mediums(interchangeable with Bigs, depending on who can play with who), Smalls, and Timids. And if needed we make an old folks group, not necessarily old dogs, some dogs just need less play time and more relaxation time.
While the dogs are out playing the crew sets up the inside area with blankets and fresh water. During this time we may have check ins, so the dogs will need to be introduced after all areas are set up. Even dogs that are regulars need introduced(they may of not had their coffee yet, so for safety reasons, introduction is a must for every dog).
After we set up the inside, we go clean up their mess in the outside play area, lay blankets and give fresh water. When all is done with set up, we introduce any dogs needed, then let them have the indoor and outdoor play areas, per play group.
A couple of the crew are sent in to pre-clean. That consists of cleaning up the rooms of any doggy messes, dumping and wipeing water bowls, and feeding. Sounds easy...LOL....ya right. We use ALOT of pee pads in the rooms and they have to be wiped of feces before they can go in the washer, and feed, every dog is fed differently and most with their own food, and some special needs are met.
That can take 1 1/2 hrs to 2, just to preclean.
When preclean is done, some one comes in, vacuums the rooms, hallway, fills water bowls, mops, and shuts down(relays pee pads, rugs, makes sure room is finished for the dog to come in for its nap and food).
During that time, who ever is in is answering phones, taking reservations, answering any questions, doing tours, calling vets as needed, checking dogs in, checking dogs out, doing laundry, getting dogs things ready for pre check out, or setting dogs rooms up. Always on the go, everyone.
The people outside with the dogs are constantly picking up poo, sitting with separates, sweeping mats of rock, checking blankets, pulling them as needed and putting clean ones down, playing with the dogs, and keeping peace as needed.
When the dogs are put up for their AM nap n feed, we then check med cards for any dog needing meds, do more laundry, do dishes, put laundry away, check with the 8 hr crew for any chores need done, garbage taken out(peeeeeuuuuu).
Anway, whew, if you read all that you get 1LB of brownies...LOL

Here is Carolines Pampered Pet Motel. Enjoy!!!
http://www.carolinespamperedpetmotel.com/home.nxg

Remali
09-04-2009, 07:23 PM
What a nice place it is! I bet it's fun to work there!

Gypsy Rose
09-05-2009, 06:02 AM
Wow! Some place! Sounds like a lot more work than the average person would imagine, though!

Vacker Hast
09-05-2009, 09:12 AM
I loved the Photo Gallery so many happy dogs acting like they would at their own homes. I'm sure you get many smiles on your face even with the fast paced hard work it takes to run the place. Busy, busy, busy but I'm sure it helps the day go by faster (I hope) because that's alot of work!!!

Thanks for sharing the great care that goes into making your work so rewarding to the animals that stay there ... you all are wonderful for the hard work you are doing.

Stacy

oursarge
09-06-2009, 05:41 AM
It looks like a real nice place, all the dogs having a good time. I loved those two little buckaroos on the slide! I was thinking about getting puppy one of those beds that sits up off of the floor, do the dogs enjoy them more than a regular bed? Right now she doesn't have a regular bed because she wants to rip it apart, she has one but it's not out all the time only if she doesn't rip it and she's being trained to lay on it and stay on it. She has a towel to lay on but mostly she just lays on the couch with me if I'm sitting! I see some Westies in the picture, the one curled up on the bench reminds me of her, that's how she lays too. It looks like a great place but sounds like a ton of work to keep it all clean and everyone fed etc. Can't think of too many more fun things though than being with dogs [or horses] all the time.

Annie&Dixie
09-08-2009, 07:56 AM
Sounds like a nice set-up. I work at Pet Palace here in Columbus where we offer boarding and daycare, it's very similar although we have different routines and way of doing things, of course. I really like working with the dogs, so much nicer than with people :)

ownedby7horses
09-15-2009, 12:36 PM
What a neat place!! Everyone looks so happy! Here's a couple questions for you Vick, can you take your own dogs to work with you? Are dog fights in that place common or uncommon?

Equine_Woman
09-17-2009, 10:19 AM
I used to work at a vet as the one in charge of boarding! It was a lot of fun but we didn't have near the setup you guys have!! Looks great!!!!!! How many dogs can the place hold?

vicklynn
09-17-2009, 10:42 AM
Ops, sorry folks, forgot about this thread until it came up today.

It is fun to work with the dogs.
I forgot, they get TVs in their rooms to if they want, for a small fee of course, and LOTS of laundry is done every day. Id say no less than 15 loads, except today, summer and holidays are gone for a bit so we were able to catch up on it. No dirty laundry on the floor when I left...woohoooo.

Most all the dogs use the cots we put out. Not sure if they like it better than their own. If a client brings their beds, we still put them on the cot. Some dogs like to eat them, so we lay older blankets down and pad the floors so they are comfortable.
Dog fights, ya, they happen, and thats why there is always supervision with the dogs. They are never left alone. The more dogs, the more people needed, say Fri through Mon, or a week before and after a major holiday. A certain amount of the crew is a must outside, so the boss puts us all on schedule during holidays. Sometimes 4 people have to stay outside, no going in to pee unless one of the crew come out and relieve them. Right now, pretty slow, so were down to a 3 person crew until Friday, then we are on again until Monday. Im off most Sun and Mon, so Im happy...lol.
I was walking through a gate once, we were trying dogs, well, the 2 dogs closest to that gate started fighting, they did not get each other, I put my leg back through the opening, so one of them got me. Perks of the game....lol.
When your adrenaline gets pumped you wouldnt believe the things you can do. We do everything needed to keep them dogs happily getting along and not fighting.
Its alot of fun.

How many dogs, well, depends on how many dogs people bring in per family. We have 33 rooms, 1 of those is a family room where dogs that can board with their kitty can go, or we just use it as a dog room. Its fully enclosed. So, if 33 people have 4 dogs that can board together.....thats what we do. We have 4 bigger rooms that can house more, and some customers have 5 dogs. So it all depends on numbers.
The inside play area has sections that close down, each area has multiple gates and with it having A/C and heat, we also use those areas to board dogs. I think there are 19 or 20 areas there. So we can house ALOT of dogs.