FAQs
Why do the dogs all get along?
What are your qualifications in observing dog behavior?
Is someone at the ranch at all times?
Have you ever had any dogs run away?
Is the area fenced?
Do you have a separate area for small dogs?
Where do the dogs sleep?
Why is my dog so tired when he comes home from the ranch?
What do you do with the dogs in bad weather?
Will you accept puppies?
Will you accept dogs that are blind, deaf or old?
Why must my dog be spayed or neutered to stay at the ranch?
What is your feeding procedure?
What kind of dog food do you use?
Can I bring my own dog food?
Why do you require that my dog be groomed to stay at the ranch?
Why do you require flea protection for my dog?
Do I need to bring anything except my dog?
Why are you open limited hours for pick up and delivery?
Which forms of payment do you accept?
Will you put a picture of my dog on your website?
1. Why do all the dogs get along?
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First of all, this is why the dogs are very carefully screened. Secondly, the dogs aren’t territorial here because nothing belongs to them. This is not their backyard, and their owners aren’t here for them protect, so they behave differently than they would at home. Finally, dogs are looking for leadership, and we provide that at all times. The dogs get along because they aren’t struggling for dominance or leadership.
We are the leaders.
We are strict about the dogs we accept. Depending on their temperament, some dogs are not allowed at the ranch. Dogs who display any form of aggression are not allowed. People are often curious about whether the dogs fight. At the ranch, the dogs do not fight because we do not allow it. While arguments are natural, we are trained to keep the arguments from escalating into full-blown physical confrontations. If a dog is unable to heed our warning, they will not receive a second chance. Reach out today if you have more questions about our pet boarding services.
2. What are your qualifications in observing dog behavior?
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Our owners and staff have well over 100 years of combined experience observing, boarding, and grooming thousands of dogs in a social setting. We are a family-run business, and we have been caring for literally thousands of dogs since opening our doors in 2007. We consider ourselves experts at reading body language and correcting any inappropriate behavior before any problems occur. We are the pack leaders, and the dogs recognize that as soon as they arrive.
3. Is someone at the ranch at all times?
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Yes. Our owners live on the property, so your dog will never be left in a building where the staff drives away and goes home. We are home, and we share it with your dogs when they’re here for boarding.
4. Have you ever had any dogs run away?
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No, dogs love it here. Most of them don’t want to leave.
5. Is the area fenced?
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Yes, all of our property is completely fenced to ensure safety. Call today to get started with our pet boarding services.
6. Do you have a separate area for small dogs?
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No, we firmly believe in keeping dogs together in a pack regardless of size. Dogs see themselves as dogs and not as a little dog or a big dog. Many of the small dogs are natural leaders, and many large dogs are natural followers. Dogs do not want to be excluded because of their size. Whether your dog is large or small, if he or she is intimidated or otherwise uninterested in playing, they will find somewhere to be where they feel more comfortable. Remember, at Lone Star Dog Ranch, all dogs choose where they want to play, inside or outside, playing with big dogs or ignoring them.
7. Where do the dogs sleep?
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All dogs sleep in the ranch building, where oversized dens are provided in various sizes for small and large dogs. In the dens are raised platforms for them to sleep on. Our building is heated and air-conditioned for your pet’s comfort, and we play soft music all night to keep your dog relaxed from any outside sounds that might disturb them. Bring your pet to us today for a great boarding experience.
8. Why is my dog so tired when he comes home from the ranch?
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Most dogs that stay at the ranch don’t ever get as much exercise in their everyday lives as they will while they stay with us. Whether it be playing or swimming they will be kept very busy to make it as enjoyable as possible and to alleviate as much stress as we can. Don’t be surprised if your dog wants to sleep for several days after they come home. When they do we feel we did our job.
9. What do you do with the dogs in bad weather?
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During inclement weather, the dogs will play inside in our 3,000 sq ft building, where they will be protected from rain, heat, and extreme cold. Because of this, in extreme weather, we do not offer daycare. Call today for pet boarding!
10. Will you accept puppies?
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We will board puppies that have been fully vaccinated, usually four or five months of age. Please consult your veterinarian before boarding.
11. Will you accept dogs that are blind, deaf or old?
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Many maladies can afflict your pet to render them unacceptable at the ranch. Unless we are confident that your dog can do certain things for themselves, we have no choice but to decline our services. We draw the line with pets that are non-ambulatory. If your pet is not able to stand or walk on their own, we are unable to give them the kind of care that they deserve.
Boarding facilities regardless of whether it is ours or someone else’s should not be an option. If your pet is infirmed, your best options are with a pet sitter, relative or friend.
For more information, please refer to our liability form on our forms page.
12. Why must my dog be spayed or neutered to stay at the ranch?
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Dogs that are not spayed or neutered can exhibit behavior that we do not tolerate at the ranch. Problems such as marking, dogs in heat, aggressiveness, territorial actions, etc., make this a risk to the other dogs we are boarding, which we cannot permit.
13. What is your feeding procedure?
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All dogs will be fed at 9 AM and at 4 PM. All dogs eat in isolation in their den. Food is one thing that many dogs will be aggressive over, even when they don’t have any other aggressive tendencies. For that reason, all dogs eat in their boarding dens, where it will always be safe.
14. What kind of dog food do you use?
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At Lone Star Dog Ranch, we use Diamond Naturals dog food. It is an excellent dog food that has human-grade ingredients and is rated one of the top dog foods on DogFoodAdvisor. For more great information on what makes a quality dog food, Check out: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/
Call today for pet boarding! We look forward to meeting you and your pet soon.
15. Can I bring my own dog food?
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Absolutely! Fresh or frozen, wet or dry, we can accommodate you. All we ask is that you package it as described on our Requirements Page.
16. Why do you require that my dog be groomed to stay at the ranch?
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This is a two part answer. First, we pride ourselves on the cleanliness of the ranch and any dog that has fleas or that we feel is extremely dirty will require a bath so as to keep the ranch bedding, furniture, etc. very clean. Second, the health of a dog’s coat is an important part of their stay. If your dog is matted or if you have a double coated dog with an undercoat that is shedding out your dog cannot cool itself properly when it is warm. Also, if your dog chooses to swim and it is not groomed properly, its coat will not dry properly by bedtime. We do not want dogs going to bed wet. Your dog’s health and comfort is our utmost concern.
17. Why do you require flea protection for my dog?
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All dogs that stay with us must be on a veterinarian-provided flea and tick preventative. For the protection of every dog staying with us, we cannot risk a flea or tick outbreak on the premises. Because there are many appropriate products available, we do not limit you to a specific brand.
18. Do I need to bring anything other than my dog?
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Nothing is necessary except for the paperwork, which can be found on our Forms page. You can bring a small blanket if you wish, something easy to toss in the wash. You should definitely bring any medication your dog is taking, and you may also bring any special food if you wish. Please package it as described on our Requirements page.
19. Why are you open limited hours for drop off and pick up?
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We run a different kind of place here at the ranch. Our top priority is the comfort of your dog. People coming and going is a huge disruption and this disruption causes stress. This is something that we try to minimize as much possible even if it makes it a little more inconvenient for the pet owner. We are also a very hands-on facility. The time that we are not spending with pet owners is time that we are caring for the dogs that are here. We are happy to try and work with you if your schedule doesn’t work with ours just let us know.
20. What forms of payment do you accept?
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We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Cash payments receive a 10% discount.
21. Will you put a picture of my dog on your web site?
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Always, all dogs that stay with us will be photographed. We post new photos on our website continuously.
