Frequently Asked Questions

We send out the address with the service confirmation. We don't post the address on the website since we don't encourage solicitors or the public to come onto the property. We often have dogs out playing and training and it can be distracting.

Whether you signed up for a group class or private service, you can see the address on the paperwork you completed and the confirmation you received.

We are located in Granby, MA if you need to check travel time.

It order to keep things organized and disease transmission low, we have a very strict policy on what you can bring. It might seem crazy, but when you are in a room with ten hungry boarders and 15 amped up Academy dogs, you need every once of organization you can get!

You will receive a lengthy email about what to bring, but here is some info in case you'd like to double check or, like me, you just obsessively plan things and no information is too much information.

BRING THESE THINGS

1. Your dog's food in a package SMALLER than 20lbs. If it's bigger, it's going to the birds. We don't have storage capacity for containers over 20 lbs.
2. Needs to be frozen? No Prob. Needs to be in a fridge? No prob. Needs to be told a bedtime story each night? No prob. Just keep it under 20 pounds.
3. Your dog's leash and collar for identification. We don't need vaccine tags.
4. A completely filled out Gingr profile with current emergency contact info. Please don't have us call Grandma Millie in an emergency only to discover she's not been with us since 2008.
5. Your dog's meds, including flea and tick. If we have to call a vet and get it/them, you will be charged a hefty service fee.
6. Special treats if your dog has allergy issues.

DO NOT BRING

1. Toys
2. Coats
3. Shirts
4. Beds
5. Anything fabric
6. Crates
7. Tupperware
8. Dog bowls or raised feeders
9. Silverware
10. Special equipment like shock collars, retractables, etc.
11. Basically ANYTHING you don't want to be lost forever and ever!

OPTIONALS

1. Treats and chews. We spend at least half our budget on these things but please, send more if you'd like. We use them and the dogs love them.
2. Presents for staff. They don't have food allergies, they aren't picky and they are eternally grateful. We don't expect gifts or tips EVER but when people choose to give them, we don't say no.
3. Collars like Fi or Halo. We don't use collars unless dogs are on a field trip. So you won't have a good sense of exercise or activity from the collar. But it might be good for field trips, especially if they took off on us.

IN CONCLUSION

Our policies are developed to keep your dog as safe as possible while also making sure we can be as organized as possible. Life here with 20+ dogs is nothing like life at home. We streamline a lot in order to make sure we use our time to play and train instead of running around searching for someone's pillowcase. Thank you for understanding.

For multi-pet households experiencing issues, we can usually cover everything in one consultation. This is especially true if the pets are having issues with one another such as dogs fighting, dogs chasing cats, cats fighting, etc.

Boarding at PBC is a unique experience and for the right dogs, it's heaven! The PBC kennel is located in Granby, MA on 18 fenced-in acres. It's a small kennel with capacity for only ten dogs. Runs are indoor-only, climate-controlled, 10x10, and each has a Kurunda bed for comfort. We have huge fluffy beds for dogs that enjoy them, too! It's a simple space, with an emphasis on safety and enrichment - the things we believe matter most for dogs. We have tons of toys and chews to keep dogs busy, calming music, aromatherapy, Thundershirts and more.

Staff come in at 7am and take the dogs out for a morning potty break. Then, they have breakfast. Board & Train dogs eat from feeder toys or earn food via training, regular boarders eat from bowls. After breakfast, it's play time! Dogs go out with staff to explore, run and play on 18 acres. It's back in around lunchtime for a snack and some down time. The, basically, the afternoon and evening are a repeat of the morning. Staff take everyone out for playtime and also spend time hanging out inside for cuddles. Dogs are always supervised, although if they choose to run into bushes or out of sight, they are able to do so. Dogs end their day around 8:30pm and sleep in their runs. Staff do not stay overnight, although Elise is close by in her house and can monitor the kennel via cameras.

Our kennel is a good match for dogs and owners that understand the following:

• This is a farm. Dogs will get dirty because they are running, exploring and having fun. We do have a self-service dog wash station with shampoo and towels set up outside if you'd like to rinse your dog off before taking them home!
• Dogs need to have a decent "Come" command or be able to follow a pack. We can't stop your dog if he runs off, jumps the fence or digs under it. The fence is 4 feet high and is a traditional farm fence made of posts & wire.
• Dogs need to get along with other dogs. Unless your dog is coming as a Board & Train, all regular boarders will be out in a group together. It's great for socialization and exercise!
• We are a small, family-run operation, not a big box commercial kennel. We do our best to accommodate special requests for timing of pick-ups and drop-offs, etc. If we seem rigid it's because our priority is the well-being and quality of time for the dogs.
• Dogs can't be huge barkers. This is a small farm in a residential neighborhood and we like to respect the serenity that comes with that.

Regular clients love the freedom, fresh air, and social adventures that their dogs have here. We commonly hear that dogs come home tired, relaxed, happy, and often with improved manners (we don't train every dog that comes, but boarding with a behaviorist/trainer has some positive side-effects)!

Rates for in-home services include travel time with no extra fees if you are within 10 miles of us. For out-of-area clients, we base travel fees on the current IRS rate and will let you know the cost before you commit to any services.

We also offer video and phone consultations for out-of-area clients.

Consultations need to cover so much important information that there’s often no time left to carry out any hands-on work in that initial meeting. Consultations set the foundation and prepare you, your family and your pet for the work you need to do.

It’s a little like trying to jump into painting a room without moving the furniture, taping the trim and collecting the right supplies for the job. We want to prepare properly, because our goal is to do the job RIGHT.

No, we don’t. It’s difficult to get a pet to perform negative behavior on demand – think of it like a therapist asking someone with an anger management problem to show what it’s like when they lose their temper! Not recommended.

Generally, consultations provide us with all the information we need to determine the issue and provide recommendations for corrections. If we feel we do need to see your pet’s behavior, we may ask that you send us a short video before we meet for the consultation.

Remember, we do this for a living, and we see all sorts of pet behaviors, every day. It’s important to understand that while you may be feeling overwhelmed and upset about your pet’s behavior, we already have plenty of experience and know what’s going on.

One final reason we don’t ask to see your pet’s behavior is because we want to focus on giving you the tools to manage and correct it successfully. It’s much easier to do that in a calm environment without trying to talk over loud barking or other negative behavior!

More than 98% of our clients report being completely thrilled with their consultations and our services! And we have equally high percentages across the board for clients seeing improvement with their pet, restoring harmony to the home and feeling confident about maintaining their success long-term. Check out the Testimonials section! Want more? We are happy to provide current and former client references.

For fixable issues, absolutely! Your participation, dedication and follow-through on our recommendations is very important, of course, so we depend on you to commit to resolving the problem as much as we’re devoted to helping you reach success.

For certain behavior disorders like aggression, there honestly is no such thing as “fixing the problem for good”. Aggression is a very complicated issue, and may always exist on some level. Aggression issues can definitely be managed and your dog rehabilitated to a point that no one would ever suspect an aggression issue ever existed.

Again, this management and rehabilitation depends on your dedication to working with our recommendations. Resolving aggression issues is a group effort that requires hands-on training, compliance with managing the dog, and doing your homework in between training lessons so you maintain a good foundation focused on improvement.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us now.

And if you’re ready to get started, the next step is easy. Click here to book your consultation. We’ll send a history questionnaire by email for you to fill out, and we’ll be all set to get started.

Please review the following list for vaccine requirements.

NOTE: We require all new clients to provide proof of vaccines for their dog prior to coming to our facility. You can send us a legible picture or screenshot of a recent receipt with vaccine information or have your veterinarian forward us the information.

PUPPIES (under 6 months of age):

• Bordetella (kennel cough)
• Current flea/tick/heartworm treatment
• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• recent clean fecal within three months of your appointment
• We follow the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position on vaccination and socialization. To read more or provide your veterinarian with a copy, please visit this link.

PUPPIES (6-12 months of age):

• Bordetella (kennel cough)
• Current flea/tick/heartworm treatment
• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• recent clean fecal within three months of your appointment
• Rabies

Adult dogs over one year of age:

• Bordetella (kennel cough)
• Current flea/tick/heartworm treatment
• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• recent clean fecal within 6 months of your appointment
• Rabies

For ALL dogs, we recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about your dog coming to a dog-social environment so you make sure that your dog has the best protection possible. We are an active farm so there is livestock and wildlife on the premises. For this reason we recommend the Lyme and Leptosporosis vaccines, but we don't require them. We also recommend the canine influenza vaccine.

GROUP CLASS, POOL/TRAINING ROOM RENTAL and CONSULTATION dogs are not required to have the Bordetella vaccine, with the exception of puppy playgroup and conformation/breed handling classes.