SERVICES OFFERED

WE ARE FULLY INSURED!​

WHAT WE DO AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US.

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​​​ATMOSPHERE: We provide a home atmosphere for your pups. This means your pups are free to roam our home as they are yours. They will not be confined to crates or separate rooms at any time, including bedtime. Your pups will stay in a clean, organized house and have full access to our entire property. Although pups are not allowed on our furniture, we find that giving them access to the rest of our home makes it easier for them to adjust and relax much more easily than they would in a crate or cage at a kennel. Because of this, we accept only passive pups that do not nip or snap at others. We have gates set up at every exit to keep the pups from running out whenever the door opens. We do not crate or kennel the pups since we do not do that to our own pup, Mickey. Our backyard is always available for pup play! We give the pups as many backyard breaks as they want, throughout the day (weather permitting). This way, they can run around with the other pups and play to their hearts' content! Since summers tend to get warm, we make sure our guests stay cool, which is one of the reasons we have air conditioning. We also send regular updates with photos of your pups at play or during walks, if any. 

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DAILY UPDATES: People love our communication.  

• Contact: We create group texts to provide updates during your pup’s stay with us. This group feed can also be used to request future stays.

• Photos: You will receive 2-3 daily messages, including pictures of playtime with the pack in the backyard or joining us on one of our 4-10+ mile walks.

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EXERCISE: We here at Canis Major, LLC, prioritize socialization and play in our spacious backyard (weather permitting), and make sure your pups get plenty of exercise, running, and playing with the rest of the pack. We enjoy walking for our health, and this activity also benefits many of our boarding dogs, as we take some of them along on our long, fast-paced, calorie-burning walks.

• Supervised backyard play: Weather permitting, your dogs are allowed to play in our backyard multiple times each day, helping them burn off excess energy through socialization and play. You will receive photos of your pups having a great time!

• Walks: We prioritize our health by enjoying walks and often cover distances of 6 to 10+ miles around West Seattle. Therefore, we select two lucky winners from our boarding group to join us on these long-distance, fast-paced walks. It’s important to note that, at this time, these walks are exclusively for dogs that are boarding with us. While we may consider offering walking services for daycares in the future, our current walking focus is solely on our boarding dogs. 
  A few things to know about walkies with us: 

• • We avoid dog parks: To ensure your dog's safety, we avoid dog parks to prevent encounters with unfriendly or overly rough dogs.

  • Interactions with other pups: We do not allow your pup to interact with other dogs or humans during walks. This prevents potential injuries from leash-aggressive or overly excitable pups. 

  • Walk Speed: We walk for exercise and do not engage in “sniff walks.” Our pace is fast, focusing on helping your dog burn off excess energy while taking minimal breaks. This walking style ensures that pups eat all their portions and sleep soundly! 

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EVENINGS: After close of business (7 PM).

• Sleeping and Bed Situation: Every night after dinner and potty breaks, we set up the pups' beds around the living room. We spend time with them until bedtime, which helps calm them down before they sleep. The pups often play “musical beds” throughout the night, so any bed may end up covered in fur from three other pups! They also tend to sleep as a pack, which is why we are very particular about the temperament screening process that all pups must go through before boarding with us. 

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SAFETY: We worry about the safety of your pups as much as you do. 

• Screening Pups: Before scheduling a meet and greet for new clients, we send each one a detailed temperament questionnaire. Your answers will help us determine if your pup will be a good fit with our regular pack. We will only schedule a meet and greet if your answers indicate that it will be safe for everyone involved. The meet-and-greets are conducted exclusively with our pup, Mickey. Any guest pups will not have the opportunity to meet the potential new pack member until the boarding begins.

• Toys: We do not introduce toys to the pups during their stay. Instead, we focus on fostering socialization by allowing them to interact with one another. Toys can sometimes make some pups possessive or defensive. By encouraging friendly socialization, all the pups can bond and grow closer together. Many of our regular pups recognize each other and are excited to reunite!

• Feeding: During feeding time, each pup is placed in separate areas that we have gated off around the house to prevent them from stealing each other's food or provoking one another. At other times, we feed them individually in a separate room to ensure they are not distracted by the other pups.

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HOT, AND WET WEATHER During the winter, our backyard can become muddy and filled with puddles, making it challenging for the pups to stay indoors. On hot summer days, some pups are reluctant to venture outside our air-conditioned home. Additionally, our walks can be inconsistent during these times.

• Activities: During this time, we keep the puppies' minds active with treat-based puzzles. All treats must be approved by pup parents, of course. 

• Potty Times: Bad weather can be frustrating for dogs since they can't spend much time outside, and they don't have the option to go potty whenever they need to. In these situations, we take them out individually during breaks in the weather or at least when there's a lull. 

​In addition to providing you with the services you need to ensure your pet's health and mental well-being, we are also fully insured, so you may rest easy knowing your pup is covered in case of any unlikely accidents.

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We want your pups to feel comfortable in a home-like atmosphere, rather than being kept in crates or separate rooms. Your pup will be treated as part of our pack, as if they live with us. To ensure that each pup receives the attention they deserve, we only accept a limited number of dogs. We encourage you to book well in advance for a meet and greet, where your pups can come and meet Mickey and see if our home is a suitable environment for them!

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Follow us on Instagram to keep track of your pups' adventures!

We look forward to meeting your fur children!