"Personally, I find the daycare service invaluable. My dogs are happy to go there, have a great time, and are well taken care of."

– DQ

"Great Bay Kennel is a great facility for animals and has a committed staff to care for my two dogs who have gone there for daycare, grooming, and occasional boarding. I had looked at other facilities prior to GBK and found none to be as caring, clean, professional, and friendly as they are."

– SJS

"I spent a great deal of time and energy searching for a facility that would suit my needs when boarding my 3 dogs and 3 cats. I am happy to say that Great Bay Kennel is the place! From the moment I drove up the driveway, I knew this was a place that cared. What makes this kennel so great is the individualized attention that they provide the animals. They seem to treat each dog and cat as if they're the only animal in the there."

– EM

About the Program

Our day care service is designed for dog owners who are unable to be with their pets during the day, or those who wish to provide their pets with the exercise, socialization and mental stimulation that only come from being with other dogs within a controlled environment. It is open Monday through Friday (excluding major holidays) from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

Depending on weather conditions and time of year, day care is held either outside, within our climate controlled building, or more commonly a combination of both.

Our trained staff provides constant supervision throughout the day to ensure that the interaction between dogs is maintained at a safe and appropriate level.

Requirements

For your dog to be eligible to participate in our day care program, it must meet several basic requirements.

• All vaccinations must be current and documented*.
• Spayed or neutered (if over 6 months old).
• Dog/human socialized to a minimum acceptable level.
• Passing of an initial interview/screening process.

*For a list of vaccination requirements, please see the sidebar in our "Pricing" section.

Enrollment in basic obedience class or working with a knowledgeable trainer is highly recommended, especially for puppies. All dogs will undergo a trial period to determine eligibility for ongoing admission. Acceptance will be at the sole discretion of the Day Care Manager with consultation from the staff.

Regulations

Dogs must be leashed at all times when outside of fenced areas or buildings. For the protection of your dog and all others on the premises, this is an ongoing, established policy, as well as town law in Durham. Failure to comply with with this basic regulation may result in termination of day care privileges.

Injury release form must be signed. In addition to the Standard Agreement that is required for your pet's file, we also require that you sign a release to limit the liability of Great Bay Kennel in the event of an injury.

Cancellation Policy. If you wish to cancel your day care reservation, you must do so before 8:00 AM on the day you are scheduled to drop off your dog. After this time, you will be held responsible for the daily fee.

Late Pick-up. If you know that your are going to be late, please let us know! Often arrangements can be made to relocate your dog to our boarding facility at an additional charge of $22 for the night. Without prior notice, we must assess a fee of $1 for every minute pick-up is late.

Behavioral Issues

Excessive Barking. Some dogs bark more than others. Out of consideration for community members in proximity to our facility, we must exclude dogs that are compulsive barkers.

Aggressive Behavior. Antisocial and aggressive behavior towards other dogs or humans cannot be tolerated. Behavior modification training is sometimes effective in correcting such problems. We are always happy to provide names of recommended trainers.