More Information
We believe that a website should be more than cute pictures. We want to provide you with all the information you need, and answer those questions you meant to ask when you were here. Please browse below to find more information about:
Webcams, Daycare, Boarding, Training, Cleaning, Food, and Products for Sale

Puppycams, or Webcams
We are happy to provide this service and the glimpse it provides about your dogs day. We offer a feature not available at other facilities. When watching your dog you can click on “Snapshot” and save a copy of the picture of your dog to your computer. We know that this is the highlight of most peoples day, and is a great break from your work day. It is also great to check up on them from anywhere while you are away.

Login: When you click on the Puppycam link a login box will appear. The login ID is “puppy”, and the Password is “password”. Be sure to check the box to save the password so you don’t have to remember it each time.
We have limited the number of people able to login at any one time. This is to provide a better experience. Please DO NOT leave the screen up all day as some were doing in the past. This hurt quality and availability for everyone. Save the links in your favorites tab so it is easy to login when the inspiration hits. If I get feedback that availability is too limited I will increase the speed of our internet connection. The links for each camera are:
Big Dog Daycare Front: 71.146.209.18
Big Dog Daycare Rear: 71.146.209.19
These links can be typed into the address bar of your internet page and will allow you direct access to the cameras without going to our website first. Puppycams will be active from 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday, or on weekends by special request for those away on travel.

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More Info About Daycare
It is important to have proper staff levels to make sure everyone gets the attention they want, to be sure everyone always gets along together, and to ensure that everything stays as clean as you expect. We welcome you to watch on our Puppycams, observe play through our one way window in the hall leading to daycare and coming in to say Hi. If you wish to have valet service to and from your car this has always been available, just call ahead. We don’t want you to feel we are hiding anything by keeping you in the lobby, and it’s fun to watch the dogs play.
Who Can Come: Dogs can begin attending when they reach three months of age and have finished their initial 3 puppy vaccinations. We do this to be sure your new puppy has a properly working immune system. It is for their long term health, not because we discriminate. We appreciate your understanding.
The Interview: We ask that all dogs come to an “Interview” so that we can assess how they will respond to a group situation. We do this for your peace of mind as well as ours so that you know that your best friend will be in a safe, fun, and loving environment while you are away. We want to avoid your dog being stressed about what happened to “Mom & Dad”. We want you to be a part of this process so we will ask you to join us in daycare. You need to know about this process, and know how we treat and discipline the dogs in our care. It makes both you and your dog more comfortable. We don’t believe in telling you to “leave your dog and come back in a couple of hours, we will tell you how it went”. If you wish to leave your dog for a while after the interview to give them more time to become comfortable please ask, this is done at no charge. Everything will be explained when you first come.
We also offer the first three days at half price so that you can be comfortable that your pet fits in and is enjoying their time with us. These can be broken into any combination of half or full days.
We interview dogs on an individual basis, including mixed breed and rescue dogs. We do require that your dog live with you for at least 30 days prior to coming to daycare unless they are under 6 months of age. A new home can be a stressful situation sometimes for your new dog, and we want them to be comfortable in their new home so the daycare environment won’t stress them. We want you to be a part of the process, so we will ask you to participate. This provides comfort to your dog and lets you see how we treat our guests. Some dogs are intimidated by a roomful of dogs at first. We conduct this interview so that your dog will be happy to see us and recognize the surroundings when they come to visit us again. We ask you to allow 20 to 30 minutes for the interview so your dog can get over being overwhelmed and turn their first visit into a fun experience. Please call if you have questions regarding these policies.

Staffing: We seek to maintain a ratio of one person for every 10 to 15 dogs so that we can be sure your pet gets the attention they need and deserve. We do this because it takes a lot of people to give your dog proper attention as well as keep everything as clean as it needs to be. We use a hospital grade disinfectant for cleaning. Check our More Info section for more detailed information about how we clean and why we do what we do. We want to maintain as healthy an environment as possible for your loved one.

How about Their Day?: We will exercise, play and socialize your dog in a loving environment. Dogs are generally separated by size and activity level. This is why you sometimes see a small dog with the large dogs. It’s what makes them happy. In addition to group play, every dog will receive individual attention throughout the day. Every day is different for our friends. Some days everyone has the energy to run all day. At other times they are tired from a day or week of fun. We have rest periods throughout the day to make sure your dog does not get over tired. These vary, but we promise to try to send everyone home tired and happy. We provide a stimulating place for everyone by giving dogs what they want most at any one time. Sometimes that is non-stop ball throwing, sometimes non-stop attention. We work to build confidence and provide a changing environment to give them a variety of activities. Interested in what your dog is doing during the day? We encourage you to log onto our puppycams to see what activity your dog is involved in. Daycare is available when your dog passes its’ “Interview”, and we have a completed Client Information Package including vaccination records:

Hours: We are open for Daycare Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm, to fit your busy schedule. All daycare is available for half days (Any 6 hours) or full days. If you need weekend care ask for details on how we will be happy to meet those needs as well. Boarding is open 7 days- see our Boarding Section for details. We are closed on most Major Holidays.

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Health, Safety, and other Informational Guidelines:

Age: Puppies are welcome at Puppy Playland when they reach 12 weeks of age and have completed their DHPP and Bortadella vaccines. They then must receive their Rabies Vaccine at 4 months of age or when your Vet says they are the proper age. All dogs over 8 months of age must be spayed or neutered to help prevent behavioral problem as they mature. Puppies in our program between 3 to 8 months of age interact with the older dogs in order to improve their social skills as they grow. We seek to give your puppy more individual attention to help them learn people skills as well.
Health: All dogs must be in good health. Owners also need to provide proof that their vaccinations and rabies certificate are current in order for us to comply with county regulations. This includes vaccinations for Distemper/ Parvo, Rabies, and Bortadella or kennel cough.
Owners may need to show proof that their dog has not been ill in any 30 day period prior to any time they attend day care. Dogs that have been ill will need to provide certification from their Vet. that their dog is again healthy enough to be admitted, or re-admitted to day care. Older or out of shape dogs may need a note from your Vet. stating they are capable of moderate exercise without risk to their health.
In addition owners must sign a medical release allowing us to act for you if necessary if your dog needs to see a Vet. Things can happen and we put your pets health first. Sometimes you can be hard to reach. This release says that you are allowing us and the licensed vet to take responsibility for your dogs care, and that you will pay any incurred charges. Safety: Both our Daycare and Boarding building are equipped with fire alarms and sprinkler systems for the safety of your pets. Dogs in Boarding and Daycare are checked throughout the day. Just because you ask for boarding only for your pet does not mean they don’t deserve extra love and attention throughout the day. If they need an extra walk- they get it because that is how they would be treated at home.
Temperament: All dogs must have completed an evaluation by our staff prior to admittance. This temperament test is known by us as a “Daycare Interview”. Owners should understand that not all dogs are good candidates for day care and that denial of your dog for attendance does not reflect negatively on your dog as a pet. Not all dogs are happy with the activity of a Dog Daycare. Some dogs that are happy in daycare as a puppy may not be suitable at an older age. A completed client information package is also necessary so that we may know their likes and dislikes, and be aware of any health problems or other issues.
Risks and Discipline: As with any activity involving exposure of your dog to other dogs, there is an increased chance of injury of your animal or the development of illness. We take every precaution possible to reduce this risk, but cannot eliminate it. Examples of common injuries are sore feet and joints from playing, bruises and scratches. Common illnesses are minor respiratory infections and digestive problems. The overall risks of day care however are less than visiting a dog park because they are directly supervised and we have temperament tested all dogs. We discipline dogs that do not behave through verbal commands, spraying of water to divert their attention, and time-outs to give them time to rest and refocus their attention. If a dog continues to create problems discipline can ultimately result in the dog being asked to not return to daycare. Owners are however still responsible for the actions of their dog. While this is uncommon this includes the cost of injuries caused to another dog, or injury to one of our employees. Dogs are supervised to reduce these risks.
Vaccinations: All dogs coming to Puppy Playland for Daycare, or Boarding must be current on all their vaccinations. These include DHPP (Vets provide different variations and names for this vaccination), Rabies, and Bortadella. We also accept a letter from your Vet stating that their blood titer levels are sufficient for protection from any of these diseases.
Bortadella is not always offered by your Vet. It is usually provided for dogs that will be around other dogs in close quarters. Your Vet will probably recommend this vaccine every 12 months. We recommend it every 6 months, but accept your Vets directions. This vaccine is for a disease called Kennel Cough. It is an airborne virus that is very contagious and rampant in this area. It appears most often in the fall through the spring when it can travel through the air more easily because of the increased moisture in the air. The vaccine provided by your Vet does not cover all of the strains of this disease so you can only keep your dog as healthy as possible and current on their vaccinations to try to prevent them from getting this illness. This illness is similar to us getting the flu. If you would like a more detailed information sheet just ask at our office and we will be glad to provide you with a copy to take home.
Reservations: While we will take dogs on a drop in basis. Most of the time there is no need to call ahead, you are welcome to show up at times that meet your schedule. However during the holidays daycare is always busier. At these times you we advise you confirm a space before arriving with your dog as we base availability on both space and available staff. We seek to maintain an adequate staff to dog ratio. Clients on a monthly program or with a reservation will have a guaranteed space available. The time that a reservation is usually most necessary is around any major holiday. At these times dogs that are being boarded that also attend daycare cause us to reach our limit more easily. We appreciate your understanding if we limit attendance due to attendance or staffing levels.
Food: We recommend that you stick to your dog’s regular feeding schedule. If you wish to have us feed your dog during the day please bring the food in a zip lock bag with their name attached along with your feeding instructions. Fresh water is available throughout the day. Snacks are not provided during group play in order to avoid arguments, or because there might be a dog with food allergies. If you would like us to give them one during the day just bring it with you and we will feed them separately.
Toys: We provide toys suitable for the playgroup. Please do not bring toys from home. We would hate to see them damaged so we will not let the dogs share toys from home.
Naptime: There are scheduled quiet times for the dogs in daycare. This is to prevent over simulation. The time and duration of the quiet time is dependent on the activity level of the day and may vary. Most dogs watch themselves and rest as they see necessary throughout the day. If your dog needs a nap but won’t take one we will sometimes put them in a boarding kennel for a short period (probably a ½ hour) so they will get that rest and not get over tired. Through experience we don’t believe your dog needs an extended nap for two hours each day. We don’t think you should have to pay for us to take a two hour lunch.

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More Boarding Info:

No Flat Rates: The other companies out there limit your choices. You may have to fit your dog into a “Boarding Only” kennel were they get no attention unless you pay extra fees, and then the time is very limited. Others require you to pay a flat rate for a package of daycare and boarding as their only option. Others charge based on the size of your dog. We have found that you need more choices.
Choices: Sometimes you can only afford half days of daycare but want your dog to get love and attention. Sometimes you have a multiple dog house were only one dog wants daycare due to age or other issues. We believe in giving your dog the attention they need and deserve without charging you for every little thing. We will find a plan to fit your needs and budget that keeps both you and your dog happy to come visit us.
If you wish for your dog to also participate in daycare please see our guidelines for all dogs that attend our daycare program in the more info section as all dogs must pass these requirements. If your dog does not meet these requirements they can still be boarded, but they will be left in their kennel away from the other dogs. All dogs must still meet temperament guidelines to be boarded. These dogs will be walked at least two times during the day to give them exercise and attention. At this time we do not offer boarding for cats or other animals. All dogs are left unattended in their secured kennel during non- business hours that include 7pm to 7am, plus 11:00am to 4:00pm Weekends and Holidays.

Aggressive and dog aggressive dogs will not be accepted.

Pickup and Drop-off Times Many Kennels are closed one or two days a week. You still get to pay for their boarding even when they won’t let you pick up your dog. We are open 7 Days with AM & PM hours for your convenience. We care about both the quality of our care and the value of the money you spend.

Puppy Playland will be open for drop-off and pick-up of dogs seven days a week during the following hours:
Monday through Friday 7:00am to 7:00pm,
Weekends: 8:00am to 11:00am, and 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
If pets are not picked up by 10:00am the day of their scheduled pick-up they will be charged an additional fee up to the full day boarding fee depending on their actual time of pick-up. Pick-up and Drop-off of pets can be made any time during business hours. You will be charged according to the time your pet spends at our facility and their activities while here.
We are closed for drop-off and pick-up of pets on most major holidays. We do still come in and take care of your dog, we are just not open for business. Family is important and we want our employees to enjoy this time with them.

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Food: We feature “Chicken Soup For The Pet Lovers Soul” due to its’ high nutrition values and its’ superiority over other dry foods. We feel that your pet deserves the best. Compare us to what other kennels feed you dog and you will see another reason why we are the place of choice for all of our repeat clients. We also provide retail sales of this food. Ask for details about why it should be the choice food for your pet. If your dog has any special needs or a special diet you will need to provide the required food. If your dog requires any medication or other care we will be happy to provide that care if possible. There may be an additional charge, which will be discussed at drop-off.

Reservations: In order to maintain fairness and accommodate clients who may be on our waiting list at times we have the following reservation policy. When a reservation is made especially during major holidays we may require a deposit to secure your reservation. This deposit will be taken at the time of confirming your reservation. This deposit will equal the cost of 4 days of your reservation. If you need to cancel your reservation it must be done before 72 hours from the beginning of your reservation or you will forfeit the cost of 2 days of your reservation. You must contact us to receive a refund of the other two days of your deposit. There will be a $5.00 charge for canceling a reservation to pay for the cost of processing. During holiday periods you must make a reservation for at least 3 days in order to maintain room for those needing long term boarding.
Cost: All fees are determined prior to boarding and must be approved by the owner or their agent before leaving their dog. Fees cannot be changed once pets are boarded unless owner is notified. Fees are collected when your dog is picked up unless other arrangements are made in advance. If medical attention is deemed necessary owner agrees to accept charges for medical services provided by a licensed veterinarian that is approved by us until they can be notified and assume responsibility for care. Other services may be available upon request. Please tell us if there is any way we can serve you better.

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Training:
Puppy Playland no longer provides training classes. We can provide a wide range of referrals to training resources for classes and/or private lessons to fit your needs. Tell us about you needs and were you live and we will find the right fit with a trainer that has the education and experience not found at the pet stores.

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Think Clean
Here is the why and how of keeping your dog clean and healthy. We don’t believe in masking dirt or odors by use of incense or discouraging you from coming in to say HI. Clean is clean- Period. That is what you should expect.

Why: In addition to being the best at giving your dog the attention they deserve we believe in keeping them healthy. When we had the opportunity to move to our new facility we also had the opportunity to build in what worked, and eliminate what didn’t work from our first location. We eliminated the rubber mats. Installed to be a better play surface they became a place that held bacteria and odor. Stress injuries were not the problem, dirty dogs were. In our new building you will see that we have painted and plastic non-porous surfaces in our dog areas so bacteria and odors don’t have a place to hide. Grass if not installed properly will cause the same problem if it does not have proper drainage, we don’t think it can be cleaned to prevent the same bacteria from sticking to its’ surfaces.
How: We use products from the Spartan Company to keep Puppy Playland clean. We use “HDQ” to clean and disinfect everything on an ongoing daily basis. This is a product used by many Veterinarians and Boarding facilities for years and is considered “Safe and Effective”. If you wish to check their website you will see that the safety of these products is equal to “Natural” products on the market. We rinse the daycare and boarding areas regularly to remove any residues and also use “BH38” once to twice weekly based on usage as a deeper cleaner to more thoroughly keep Puppy Playland clean. We believe you should know, and we depend on the experience and knowledge of the staff at Cole Supply- Super Clean Warehouse in Pleasant Hill for their expertise in our cleaning choices. We invite you to visit the Spartan website for more information on these products. We will be happy to get additional information from our supplier if requested regarding why these products were recommended and their use and safety.

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Products We Sell and Recommend

Puppy Playland is proud to offer you products to meet your specialty needs.

You will find Pet and Human health products from Oxyfresh are featured as well as Dry Food from Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul that is featured as the food of choice for our dogs that are being boarded. Look below for information about these premier products, and then contact us for more information.

Oxyfresh:
At Puppy Playland you will find products from Oxyfresh. Puppy Playland is an Oxyfresh Independent Distributor. Oxyfresh is the premier provider of health and wellness products for people and their pets. Their best known Pet Product is their Pet Oral Hygiene Solution that you can simply add to your pets water to eliminate bad breath and keep their mouth healthy.
Call and ask us for more detailed information or visit our Oxyfresh website at www.oxyfresh.com/puppyplayland
You can also call Oxyfresh directly at 1-800-223-7374 to order any item they feature and even set up your own account with no commitment to make a regular order. After you use their products that all come with a 30 day money back guarantee you will be as committed to these products as we are. When you call just give them our distributor number which is 180605608 to set up your own account and order products directly, or you can pick them up at our store.
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul: Puppy Playland feeds and recommends Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul. This is a super premium food that contains four kinds of meat, no artificial preservatives, no fillers, no corn or wheat, and no by- products. We feel that your dog deserves the best just like you. We feel that you deserve to know that your dog is fed the best as part of the care we give your best friend. We don’t think you will find that other kennels are willing to spend this much on your dogs food. You deserve to get this value for the money you spend with us.

Questions or Comments We hope you have found this information helpful and educational. We look forward to your comments and always seek to be a resource for any questions you may have. We want to help you with any issues you might encounter. We would rather help you sort out an issue before it becomes so big you “Can’t Take It Anymore”. This causes problems of having to unlearn bad behaviors that are more difficult t address. I will seek to answer any inquires as soon as possible.

Thank You for Your confidence in Puppy Playland.
Jim Barbour, Owner
info@puppyplayland.com
Office: 925-725-2300
Cell: 925-639-5539

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