Dog Services
Dog Services
At Laughing Dog Kennel, IT'S ABOUT THE DOGS! We provide room service, maid service, climate-controlled surroundings, salon services, and personal attention every step of the way!
We've designed our facility and the activities we offer so as to inspire comfort, confidence, and joy in your dog. We treat your dog like one of our own - offering experienced & loving care.
Scroll or skip down to see the services that we can provide for your pup including boarding, daycare and grooming.
Please note that reservations are recommended, especially on weekends or holidays. Walk-ins will only be taken if space is available and if owner arrives with all required vaccination paperwork and food. *Females over 6 months must be spayed.*
All first-time Guests must schedule a “Meet & Greet” appointment for us to meet your dog to make sure he or she will be safe & comfortable with our interactions, care & facility. We do not have “breed restrictions”, but we do screen for potentially aggressive dogs or extremely fearful/un-socialized or un-handle-able dogs. For the safety & comfort of our other Guests as well as our Staff, we do not board aggressive dogs. So if your dog has never been here before, please call 505-863-DOGS to schedule this (no charge) 15-minute appointment with Jenny or Libby.
Your dog’s comfort, safety, health, and happiness are our top priorities. Our facility and procedures have been designed to allow dogs ample opportunity to rest and play, in a safe, secure environment.
Dogs are let out into a fenced 1/2 acre exercise yard every two hours to run, play, potty and explore! You can relax knowing that your dog is kept within a fully fenced area during his/her entire stay. Jenny & Libby have over 60 years combined experience working as pet professionals grooming, training, showing & working for veterinarians!
FOOD: Any sudden change to your pet's diet results in gastric upset---period. Dogs and cats don't feel good when they are having tummy issues and n0body wants to bring their dog or cat home from boarding with vomiting & diarrhea! Although most dogs & cats will readily eat a new food, whether it is high quality or not, diet changes must be gradual to avoid tummy upset. That is why we require that you bring your dog or cat's own regular food for us to feed during his/her stay. We ask that you bring sufficient food in a seal-able container such as a ziplock or other seal-able bag, tupperware or plastic bin labeled with your pet's name. Dry, canned or raw foods are also fed per your instructions.
MEDICATIONS: If your furry friend is on any oral medications or supplements, we are happy to give those per your instructions as well. There is no additional fee for oral medications or supplements as long as you bring Pill Pockets or other food item to hide the pill in.
HOURS: Hours are subject to change, due to possible staff shortages or other reason. It is best to call to confirm if you are planning to stop by without a scheduled reservation or appointment.
*Due to a major staff shortage—we are currently open Monday - Saturday from 8:00am to 9:30am and from 4:00-4:30pm. Although we are closed on Sundays, we do offer pre-scheduled pick-ups between 4:00 and 4:30 pm. Please note that while we may have shortened our “open to the public” hours, we are still here caring for our Guests!
** All dogs must show proof of current DHLP-P, Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations.
**For their protection, puppies/youngsters under the age of 1 year must show proof of receiving at least two puppy shots (DHLP-P or DHP-P) prior to admission for boarding. Minimum age for puppies to board is 16 weeks.
**Please Note: Females over the age of six months must be spayed. This is for the consideration of all of our Guests, as females in heat upset all the dogs and cause anxiety and/or aggression from otherwise calm dogs, regardless of gender.
** For the safety of our Guests and Staff, aggressive dogs will not be accepted for boarding, daycare or grooming.
Your pets nightly rate includes all of the following services:
Indoor areas are heated and cooled based on the season
Two individually-catered meals (breakfast & dinner) using the food you provide
Oral medications and/or supplements given according to guardian's instructions, using Your Pill Pockets or other food item for administering meds.
Treats, biscuits and/or toys given throughout the day
Fleece blankets or Cool-a-Roo cots (in indoor runs)
Outside free time (off-leash) in a fully fenced exercise area to potty, play and explore approximately every two hours. This gives your dog plenty of opportunity to be active and go to the bathroom.
24-hour-a-day access to fresh, clean water
Goodnight cookie or chewie given at final evening bedtime check
24-hour security and fire/smoke monitoring system with Advanced Technical Services of Gallup
Dogs over 25 pounds enjoy individual indoor/outdoor kennels - providing them with over 60 square feet of space. Each dog is let outside off leash in our securely fenced exercise area approximately every two hours to run, play or go to the bathroom. Each kennel has a Coolaroo elevated cot for your dog's comfort. The outside runs are partially covered, so your dog can enjoy sun or shade. Doors in each kennel separating the indoor area from the outdoor area are left open from 6:30am to 6pm daily (weather permitting). At night dogs are brought inside and the doors are closed for safety and security.
Smaller dogs (under 25 pounds) have their own roomy, indoor cages. Each cage includes bedding for their comfort that is changed daily. Dogs are taken outside into our securely fenced exercise area to go to the bathroom, run, play & explore approximately every two hours. Smaller dogs can reserve an indoor/outdoor kennel if you prefer, at the large dog rate.
Each dog is let out into the fully fenced area every two hours to run, play, potty or relax. We play fetch or tug during this time. Frequent interaction with people during their boarding stay keeps dogs from feeling isolated or lonely.
(Under 25 pounds)
Single (1 dog per cage) $22.00/night
2nd Dog sharing cage $ 18.00/night
(Over 25 pounds)
Single (1 dog per kennel) $28.00
2nd Dog sharing kennel $ 24.00
Boarding reservations are STRONGLY recommended.
Walk-ins for boarding will only be taken if space is available and if owner also provides proof of current vaccination status & food as per our standard boarding policy.
We offer doggie-daycare for puppies, geriatric dogs or any dog who needs more constant supervision and care while you're working long hours, going shopping, or having home renovations - or simply for when you need time to attend to any of life's matters. Daycare is limited, based on availability. Typically we only have space Tuesday-Thursday. Please call to check for availability.
For puppies in particular, daycare provides hourly opportunities to go potty outside, so that your house-training efforts at home can progress while you are at work and puppy can succeed! Daycare dogs are rotated from outside/off-leash play and potty time to inside play area time to nap (crate) time to short training sessions to work on the basics (leash manners, sit, wait, off, etc.). Appropriate puppy socialization includes exposure to many new things. Daycare is a great way to keep your puppy stimulated and learning throughout the day while you are at work.
While we do want all of our daycare guests to have fun while they are here, our first priority is SAFETY. It is important to remember that most adult dogs do not readily socialize or "play" with unfamiliar dogs. This is a human concept we have imposed unfairly on our dogs, where we expect them to "play nice", "share toys" and otherwise interact appropriately (by HUMAN standards), with unfamiliar dogs in a group setting. It is fine to teach our children to play nice with other children, take turns & share toys on the playground. But we should not expect or believe that our dogs will do the same. In your own multi-dog house-hold, your dogs are part of your "pack" and may play well together because they know each other. But unfamiliar dogs are viewed as non-pack members and can be met with suspicion, fear or open hostility/aggression. Dogs can have unknown issues of toy/resource guarding or possessiveness, food aggression, dominance, high prey drive and fear/submissive behaviors which can be expressed in group settings with unfamiliar dogs. This is particularly dangerous in a group of dogs where a "pack mentality" can take over and weaker dogs can be ganged up on and seriously hurt. Even if dogs appear to get along initially, subtle canine body language and posture are missed entirely by most people and if left unattended a fight can start in an instant. Many a dog has been injured or even killed at daycare facilities where dogs of different ages, sizes, temperaments, genders and energy levels are thrown together and expected (by human standards) to "play nice".
At Laughing Dog Kennel we do not mix adult dogs from different house-holds together for safety reasons. Jenny & Libby have many years of experience that have taught them that personality/breed characteristics and inherent dispositions can often mean that they may not play well with others, and they should NEVER be left unsupervised! Dogs did not evolve to play in groups. Play between dogs is primarily between two puppies/adolescents or familiar individuals, not strangers. Experience has also taught us an extremely important rule: COLLARS OFF FOR SAFETY!. Leaving collars on unsupervised dogs is very dangerous. Collars and/or tags can get caught on another dog's teeth, lower jaw, or on fencing and result in strangulation.
Jenny and Libby have attended numerous classes and seminars on canine body language/communication and appropriate canine interaction. But because a dog fight can start & escalate in the blink of an eye, we do not feel it is safe to mix together canine "strangers" & hope for the best. Ignorance is bliss until somebody gets hurt, or worse! It's just not safe & at Laughing Dog Kennel your dog's safety is our top priority!
*Please note: Females in heat will not be admitted for daycare. Females over the age of 6 months must be spayed. Puppies must have proof of at least two puppy vaccinations (DHLP-P or DHP-P), in addition to Bordetella, prior to admission for daycare. For the safety of our canine Guests and Staff, aggressive dogs cannot be accepted for daycare..
Doggie Daycare will benefit puppies' house-breaking training by providing more frequent opportunities to go outside to go to the bathroom, as well as introduce them to basic manners.
As our beloved dogs age, they may need increased, individualized care. Geriatric dogs may not be able to “hold it” for more than an hour, so Daycare allows them plenty of opportunities to go outside - and attention when accidents do happen. We are also happy to provide your dog with whatever medication you supply that they may need throughout the day according to the schedule that you prescribe.
Some dogs are just a little too mischievous when left to their own devices. The extra supervision as well as training in basic manners that we provide can be extremely beneficial. Dogs with separation anxiety will also enjoy having companionship and a reduced stress level.
Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Full Day (4 hours or more) $18.00
Half Day (less than 4 hours) $12.00
Reservations are recommended.
Walk-ins for daycare will only be accepted if space is available and if owner also provides proof of current vaccination status.