Boarding & Training
Boarding
Let your pet stay with us! Our facility is clean, modern, and designed for the comfort of your pet. Our cat and dog boarding areas are totally separate, so even the most anxious feline will be comfortable in his or her surroundings. Kitties are seen throughout the day by our staff and have a window view where they can watch birds at the bird feeder.
Our dog boarding area is spacious and comfortable. You have the choice of medium and large kennels or large and extra-large runs to accommodate even the largest dog breeds. All pets are housed inside and are exercised in our spacious fenced-in yard at least three times per day, including weekends. Younger pets and boarders with special needs are exercised as needed. Do you have more than one canine friend and wish to house them together? We will happily accommodate them in the same kennel space.
All boarding guests are fed Purina EN diet (both dry and canned formula). We encourage you to bring in your pet’s food from home if you would like.
We are proud of our facility and are happy to give you a tour. Feel free to stop by and meet our friendly staff.
Boarding Requirements: Before staying with us, all pets must have up-to-date vaccines, including: distemper, parvo, rabies and bordetella. These vaccines must be administered at least 48 hours prior to check-in and must be given by a veterinarian. All guests must have had a fecal check within past 12 months and be free of intestinal parasites. Pets also must be free of all external parasites (fleas) or they will be treated with Capstar at your expense.
Boarding Rates
Dogs:
- Medium cage (30" x 30") - $19.25 per night.
- Large cage (30" x 36") - $23.10 per night.
- 3' x 5' run - $28.05 per night.
- 6' x 5' run - $36.30 per night.
Double occupancy is available for additional $19.80 per dog. Guests needing medicine administered are charged an additional $5.50 per night.
Price includes: All pets are walked a minimum of 3 times per day. Dogs are fed Purina EN for sensitive stomachs. You may also bring your pet's own food from home. Dogs staying 5 nights or more receive a bath the day before check-out. All pets are monitored by a trained technician.
Cats:
- Single Condo - $19.25 per night.
- Double Condo - $38.50 per night.
Price includes: All pets are monitored by a trained technician. Cats are fed Purina EN Sensitive Stomachs. You may bring your pet's own food from home. Guests needing medicine administered are charged an additional $5.50 per night.
Why do we recommend boarding your pet with us instead of with a pet sitter or at another kennel? We are a full-service hospital with a highly-trained staff that cares for your pet's needs. When you are away for vacation or other events, you need the peace of mind that your pet will be safe. If your pet's condition does change, our staff alerts one of our veterinarians of the situation. Our vets are on call after hours for any questions or needs that may arise. Boarders are monitored throughout the day. Pet sitters imply that pets are watched through out the day, but usually this is not the case. Other kennels may not have access to emergency medical care, which could delay treatment if a problem does arise. Many kennels do not have medical personnel that can recognize the early signs of illness in a pet.
Grooming
Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital offers basic grooming services to keep your pet looking and feeling great. A basic grooming session may include nail trims, a bath, anal gland expression, ear cleaning and, if necessary, a medicated bath. For pets with fleas and ticks, we use Sentinel, Capstar and Frontline. Flea dips are no longer recommended, as the harshness of flea and tick shampoo is detrimental to pets. For information about pricing or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 817-431-3735.
Puppy Classes
At Woodland Springs Veterinary Hospital, we want every dog to be a good neighbor! To achieve this, we have enlisted the help of Hannelore Orkis, a trainer who uses positive reinforcement to help you teach your pet to be the best companion he or she can be.
Hannelore is gifted in working with animals and has a kind, soft way of helping you train your pet. She has more than 35 years of obedience experience and has a strong background in working with horses. She truly believes that with just a little bit of training, any dog can become a delightful pet! Our puppy classes begin when puppies are between 8 weeks and 6 months of age.
Positive reinforcement methods are used for each obedience class. We use the clicker method to communicate with each dog. The clicker marks the correct behavior for the dog. The clicker is a wonderful communication tool. Once the dog learns how to respond to the clicker, the sky is the limit regarding what you want to teach your dog. Once the dog learns a new behavior, we quickly phase out using the clicker. Clicker training is a lot of fun both for you and your dog. Dogs love our training class and enjoy the fun "jobs" we give them. It's a great way to learn.
Clicker training builds a strong relationship with your dog. By the end of the session, the dogs in the class build a reliable recall and willingly work off lead. This recall is very important and, most importantly, can save a dog's life. We also work on all the basic obedience behaviors (sit, down, jumping on people), including stress-free stays and tricks! With just a bit of training, you can help your dog become a delightful pet.
Positive training works well with all age groups, from pups to older dogs - just remember that puppies have shorter attention spans. Puppies are born with a "clean slate", but have a "window of learning" that closes somewhere around 5 months of age. That is why socialization and positive training is very important at a very early age. Puppies may be more leery and fearful of anything they have not been exposed to before that time period. The sooner you start your training program, the better!
Suggested reading material:
The Complete Guide to Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison - This is an excellent, easy-to-read book on dog behavior and training. We highly recommend this book to all students.
Clicker Training by the editors of Dog Fancy Magazine - This is a very fun magazine full of lots of great info. A wonderful compilation of many famous dog trainers' ideas with step-by-step guides to basic commands, obedience, agility, tricks and more. This book is available at Pet Smart.
The Cautious Canine - How to Help Dogs Conquer Their Fears by Patricia McConnell - Great information for the re-active/aggressive, fearful, or timid dog. An easy-to-read 30-page booklet.
Living With Kids & Dogs...Without Losing Your Mind - A Parent's Guide to Controlling the Chaos by Colleen Pelar - Provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all.
Puppy Training for Kids by Sarah Whitehead - A complete guide for children who want to train their puppy properly, with supervision & advice from parents. This book is loaded with interesting facts, valuable safety tips, and fun-to-follow training tips. It also explains dog behaviors and how to become a responsible pet owner.
Tails Are Not for Pulling by Elizabeth Verdick - A delightful picture book full of wonderful tips to help preschoolers learn how to treat all pets kindly, as well as safety tips.
Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age by Patricia McConnell - Everything you need to know about this subject to be successful in one quick easy read. Only a 20-page booklet.
You can order books from amazon.com or dogwise.com. We also recommend Dog Fancy Magazine, The Whole Dog Journal, and Bark Magazine.