Dogs
Dogs in our care are exercised an unrivalled 4 times per day (weather permitting).
See an example of ‘A Tarbay Day’ here. We have numerous and varied exercise paddocks including grass and sand plus we have agility equipment and plenty of toys. Every kennel has a secure and private indoor cabin as well as a personal outdoor area which is fully sheltered from the elements. We also have the facility to adjoin 2 kennels which means we can cater for larger dogs sharing (from the same household).
Dogs are allowed to socialise with others but ONLY where you have given us written consent to do so and we are always cautious to introduce dogs to those that we think will be likeminded. We never simply let a group of dogs play together without considering their interaction carefully and always with supervision.
Trial Day
We know how difficult it can be to leave your fur babies in the hands of someone you don’t know and how unsettling it can be for them to be away from home.
We introduced a process for you and your dogs to feel comfortable in these situations. Before any overnight stays, we require all new doggie clients to come and enjoy a FREE day on us. This gives them a chance to meet the team and experience ‘A day in the life of Tarbay’.
During the day we monitor your dog’s behaviours, likes, dislikes, social skills at playtime and of course they get lots of treats and fuss. We want to make the day as fun as possible for them so that it becomes a safe space and they enjoy coming to stay with us.
At the end of the day you will receive a ‘report card’ and we will update you and discuss any possible concerns. This ensures that dogs, clients and staff all get the best experience.
Day Care
Whether you are working long hours during the week or just want some social interaction for your furry, we offer 12 hour Day Care sessions Monday – Friday (Except Bank Holidays). This means you can drop your dog off from 7am – 12pm and pick up between 3pm-7pm. This gives you peace of mind that they aren’t at home alone but having some fun time outside in our paddocks or just having a good old cuddle with the team in their own cosy kennel space. We can feed your dogs whilst with us and you are welcome to bring your own snacks too, of course.
We do pop some pictures up on our Facebook page from time to time so do keep a look out.
A Doggy Day at Tarbay
7am – The team are raring to get started and initially let all the dogs out individually or with a paddock buddy, if friendly, to do their morning business.
8:30am – Breakfast is served! We can cater for all types of discerning guests however we find most tuck straight into the hypoallergenic range of food usually on the menu. We can also make sure your pet eats their usual food if you would like to supply some from home. We double check food and administer any medication that the dogs may need at this time – the team are trained and happy to administer any lotions and potions as required.
10am – The team gets a break to eat their own breakfast before getting the dogs all back out into the paddocks to clean their kennels, this allows their food to settle before a good run around again! While the dogs are happily romping and playing in one of our 5 exercise paddocks, the other team members get to work deep cleaning their rooms, replacing freshly laundered fluffy fleeces, changing fresh water bowls inside and out, disinfecting all areas and sweeping to remove any excess water and fur.
12pm – We serve any dogs their lunch if required and check if any pup needs extra medication at this time. Then the team has a lunch break before we start with washing up, deep cleaning the kitchen areas, getting the washing on, getting paperwork prepared and generally having a good tidy up. Dogs usually sleep for 14 hours a day so this allows some quiet time to nap before the afternoon adventures begin.
1.30pm – Wakey wakey it’s exercise time again, usually involving much excitement. The afternoon shift is the team’s favourite as its 2 hours of cuddling, ball throwing, playing, jumps, hoops or just tummy tickling for the quieter dogs. The staff will also take this time to get some beautiful pictures and videos of our furry friends and send them to you and/or post them on our social media.
4pm – It is the afternoon team’s arrival time and we have a good handover discussing allsorts including anyone who may not have eaten their breakfast or who particularly likes those extra tummy tickles, double checking any medication required and discussing any new arrivals or departures for the rest of the day.
4:15 – It is dinner time! After this we wait an hour or so again to ensure their meals have settled. This allows the team to go around the kennels and have a good clean around the facilities and let the dogs have a well deserved snooze!
5:30 – The dogs are let out for a final time to see their friends before bedtime where the team will go around and make sure there are no accidents in their kennels. We will change bedding if needed and put fresh water so they can stay hydrated overnight.
7:45 – Lights out – the team go around and personally tuck each pet into bed. We don’t have remote shutters but walk in with the dogs to make sure they are settled. A tasty bone is usually all the incentive needed before we shut the door of their private sleeping area. We do this to ensure we can keep your pet in the warm and also it helps settle them. In winter all kennels have indoor heating and in summer when it is very hot we have cooling mats. Each dog gets a goodnight cuddle before they drift off to sleep ready to do it all again tomorrow.