Before enrolling, check to make sure your dog meets our requirements. (See the Requirements section on the home page by clicking our logo on the top left, then scroll down to Requirements and click on it)

Then click on the Login/Sign Up bone on the top of the website. 

Create an account with your information by filling out the forms. Then create a profile for your dog. If you have more than one dog, make a profile for each one. 

Upload photos of your dog’s vaccinations to their profile. Make sure the expiration dates for each vaccine are listed. Alternatively, you can have your vet fax the records to us. Remind them to include the “1” at the beginning of the number or it won’t go through. Fax: 1-319-343-1104

We will review your dog’s information and send you an email back letting you know if your dog is approved. Be sure to check your Spam or Promotional folder in your email in case it was filtered out. 

Next, we will schedule a time to do a Temperament Interview, where you will bring your dog/s to our facility for an evaluation of their personality to see if they’re a fit for daycare. For more information about how the Temperament Interview is conducted, see the Temperament Interview section of the FAQ

Temperament Interviews are what we use to gauge if a dog is compatible with the daycare environment. 

After completing the sign up process, we will schedule you for a time to do the interview. 

Temperament Interview Process: When you arrive, there will be some brief paperwork to sign, and then we will take your dog by leash to the interview room. You can remain in the lobby and watch the interaction on the live video feed. This way, we can see how your pup behaves when they are by themselves. Dogs behave differently when they’re with their owner and on a leash than they do when they’re alone and off leash.

For the first part of the assessment, we will remove the leash and be sure your dog responds well to basic handling by staff. Your dog can sniff around the room and get comfortable with the new environment. We check for parasites in the fur, and if all goes well, then it will be time to introduce some dogs.

The first dog we will introduce will be a calm dog. We watch the interaction closely and can step in to help guide it if we see any behavioral indications that either dog needs space. Your dog will be given enough time to get comfortable. Once their body language softens to show they are used to the first dog, then we introduce a dog with medium energy. The calm energy dog will remain in the room as well. 

Once your dog shows body language that he or she is comfortable with both the low and medium energy dog, then for the last part we introduce a high energy dog. If your dog tolerates all 3 energy levels well enough, then the interview is complete and they have passed. After that, your dog can now join in any of our services!

Joining Daycare: Some dogs may be shy at first, and may take a day or more to observe the daycare environment and get comfortable with the group environment. Staff will help ease the introduction by ensuring your dog can be given space to observe others and settle in while they are new to daycare.

Ongoing Behavioral Assessment: Dog behavior is continuously reassessed with each visit as they are in the group. If at any time a dog is displaying behavior or body language that is not suitable in a group commingling environment, then the owner will be notified and the dog will be moved to a separate area until their owner can come get them. Dogs who are not a fit for commingling with other dogs in daycare will not be able to attend future services so we can maintain a safe and happy environment for dogs to play. 

Your Dog! Be sure they do not have any sensitive injuries, communicable diseases, or parasite symptoms (Example: hacking cough, fleas, worms, etc). If you are unsure about a symptom, research it on Google to see what it could be, and check with a vet to verify. 

Their collar and leash (leash must be 4ft or shorter so you’ll be able to keep distance from other guests). Leashes can be kept at Puppy Love so whoever picks them up will have a leash ready for them. It helps to have your dog’s name on the leash so everyone knows it’s yours.

Medication if your dog takes any during the day. Meds must be in their original container with your dog’s name and dosage instructions listed

A meal for lunch if your dog normally eats lunch. Bring the food in a sealed container with their first and last name written on it. Remember, we can’t serve food unless it has a name, just to be sure each dog gets the correct food. This prevents allergic reactions or upset stomachs 

A Dog Coat if it’s cold outside and your dog needs one. However, we also have dog coats and sweaters available here, and if your dog looks cold we can provide one for them. We recommend dog clothing that has velcro closures. Note that since dogs play with their mouths, it’s likely any dog coat worn to daycare may become damaged during play. Be sure to bring one that is okay to become damaged, just in case!

Puppy Love provides the rest!

Prior to a Slumber Party, go over your dog’s profile and make sure their feeding information, your phone number, emergency contact, etc. are all still correct. This will ensure that things go smoothly in case there is any need to reference this information. 

Your Dog: Be sure they do not have any sensitive injuries, communicable diseases, or parasite symptoms (Example: hacking cough, fleas, worms, etc). If you are unsure about a symptom, research it on Google to see what it could be, and check with a vet to verify.

Their collar and leash: Leash must be 4ft or shorter so you’ll be able to keep distance from other guests! Leashes can be kept at Puppy Love so whoever picks them up will have a leash ready for them. It helps to have your dog’s name on the leash so everyone knows it’s yours.

Medication: Include medicine if your dog will need any during their stay. Meds must be in their original container with your dog’s name and dosage instructions listed.

Dog Food:

• Bring their food in a sealed container that is spill-proof and bug-proof, and write their first and last name on it. Remember, we can’t serve food unless it has a name, just to be sure each dog gets the correct food. This prevents allergic reactions or upset stomachs. 
• For shorter stays, food can be portioned for each meal with the day/time listed on it (Example: Saturday AM, Saturday Lunch, Saturday PM, etc.). For longer stays you can bring the food in a sealed large container and include either a portion scoop or list how much your dog eats for each portion. (Example: 1 cup AM, 1 cup PM)
• Let us know what are options are to entice your dog to eat if they do not have an appetite, which can happen sometimes when dogs are boarding. 

A Dog Coat if it’s cold outside you can include a coat or two for your dog. It can help to have more than one, as snow can make them wet, and we’ll have a spare to use if we need to wash it. We also have dog coats and sweaters available here, and if your dog looks cold we can provide one for them. We recommend dog clothing that has velcro closures. Note that since dogs play with their mouths, it’s likely any dog coat worn to daycare may become damaged during play. Be sure to bring one that is okay to become damaged, just in case!

Puppy Love provides the rest! We have comfortable bedding, bowls, reverse osmosis water, and toys for your dog

The schedule may vary day-to-day depending on the weather or scheduled appointments, but here is our typical schedule:

What a Typical Day Looks Like at Puppy Love

• Around 5:30am the Slumber Party dogs wake up, stretch, and have a potty break in the rubber yards. Waste is immediately picked up and the area is sprayed clean with a hose, soap, and disinfectant. The play yard continues to be cleaned and sprayed for the rest of the day after each dog “does their business”. 

• Around 6:00am, doggie guests are fed their breakfast one at a time in the lobby, then they rest for 30 minutes to digest.

• The lobby opens and dogs begin arriving for daycare and boarding from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. Dogs have free access to go outside or inside via a dog door or by a caretaker letting them in the “human door”, except when a new dog arrives. When a new dog arrives, the dog group is brought outside. Then each dog is let inside gradually, one at a time, to meet the new dog who has arrived. Calmer dogs meet the new dog first, then the more energetic dogs meet them last. Once the whole group is familiar with them, then free access to the outdoors and indoors resumes. If there is a storm, dogs are brought indoors for safety. Once all dogs have arrived, then the grass yards can be open to dogs if it’s not muddy. Some of the most active exercise happens at this time, with chasing and wrestling games between dogs who have befriended each other. 

• The lobby closes at 10:00 am, play begins to settle down around 11:00 and dogs begin their pre-lunch rest indoors for 45 minutes. Relaxing music or audio of people talking calmly is played to inspire rest throughout the lunch period.

• Around 11:45am dogs who eat lunch will be fed one at a time in the lobby. When all dogs who eat lunch are done eating, then a 45 minute rest period begins. Most dogs choose to have a nap at this time. Resting before and after meals can prevent a serious medical condition known as “bloat and torsion”

• After the post-lunch rest is done, the dog doors open up and dogs can have a potty break in the rubber areas where waste is easily cleaned. Then if it’s not raining or muddy, the grass yards will be opened up. This time is often the 2nd most active time of day, when dogs are inspired to play chase and wrestle games. Many like to smell the grass and explore with their noses.

• At 3:00pm the lobby reopens and dogs may begin getting picked up by their parents and going home. Though, usually most dogs start going home around 4:00pm to 5:30pm. As time goes on, most dogs start getting tired and may come inside to nap or rest. More energetic dogs will continue to play outdoors. 

• At 6:30pm the lobby closes down and is locked up for the evening. The grass yard gates are closed to keep dogs close to the building. The daycare rooms are cleaned, and then Slumber Party bedding is brought out. Though, dogs are still allowed to play outdoors if they want to.

• Around 7:00pm all of the dogs go inside, where relaxing audio is played so the dogs can start a pre-dinner rest. Then dinner is fed one dog at a time in the lobby. After all dogs have eaten their dinners, then there’s a post-dinner resting period. 

• Lower energy dogs tend to get drowsy and sleep early, while some higher energy dogs may still enjoy partying outdoors. If it gets dark, lights can be turned on to illuminate the play areas.

• Around 9:00pm to 10:00pm the dogs are let outside for a potty break. Then they return to the inside and the lights are dimmed to encourage sleep. Light music may be played to distract from outside noises. During days with fireworks, white noise or bass-heavy music may be played to camouflage the sound.

• The dogs go to sleep on the airbeds and have in-room supervision by staff throughout the night. Most nights the dogs sleep through the night, but if a dog wants to have an overnight potty break or two, then the caretaker can let them outside to go potty as needed. Any indoor accidents from puppies are immediately cleaned and disinfected.  

All visits are appointment only. We cannot accept walk-ins, as we have a maximum capacity rule that we have to follow. Our property is also our private residence, so we like to know who will be coming to our home business for security purposes. 

Please be mindful of our business hours so we can provide uninterrupted service to our guests. Dogs do best with a structured and predictable schedule, so we like to minimize disturbances. 

We do not change hours for any holidays at this time! 

We are also open on “snow days” and other severe weather days, since we live on-site.

All reservations begin before 10:00 AM

Drop off is from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and 9:00 AM to 10: AM on weekends, then Pick Up hours are from 3:00PM to 6:30 PM.

The lobby is closed mid-day for lunch and outdoor activities.  

While Puppy Love cares for dogs 24/7, the lobby closes mid-day between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM for the following reasons:

1. We have a structured rest period prior to feeding dog lunches, as well as a rest period after the dogs who eat lunch are finished. This not only allows them to digest their food better, but it also can help prevent a fatal condition known as Bloat and Torsion that can be triggered by too much excitement and exercise around meal time. By preventing activity at this time, we’re able to better control the environment so it is quiet and conducive to rest. 
2. Dogs are fed their meals individually in the lobby or introduction room. Since this is the path that arriving or departing dogs take to get into or out of daycare, we have to stop arrivals and departures at this time so dogs can have time to eat their meals. 
3. When dogs are arriving or departing, staff has to stay close to the building to be sure we are ready to assist in that process. However, some of the funnest areas of the facility are the grass fields that are far from the building. Closing mid-day allows us to take the dogs to the grass fields after lunch rest is over without having to worry about customer traffic. 

On the checkout date of the reservation, if you check out before the early checkout time, that day is not charged.

The early checkout time on weekdays is 8:00 am.

The early checkout time on weekends is 10:00 am.

If you’re experiencing problems using the website, here are some common solutions:

1. Try updating your browser or switching to a different browser (Example: Instead of Internet Explorer, try Chrome)
2. Restart your browser
3. Restart your computer or device
4. Clear your browser cache

If none of these solutions works:

1. Send a screenshot of the error or problem to us. If you can’t get a screenshot write down the error code if there is one, or what the problem is, and email it to us at puppylovedoggiedaycare@gmail.com …be sure to note what the browser and operating system you are using is. If all else fails, call us! 319-535-3861

We require morning arrivals for several reasons, including:

1. Quiet Overnights: Traditional kennels allow drop-offs in the evenings because they will be caging the dogs overnight, staff won’t be present, and they do not mind if dogs are awake all night barking. However, at Puppy Love, we prefer to provide an environment for your dog that is conducive to sleeping.  In order to create such an environment, we need to provide structure, exercise, and plenty of opportunity for relaxation and familiarity. Arriving in the morning gives dogs time to accomplish all of these things before it’s time for bed. Making sure dogs get proper rest ensures they can stay healthy and in good spirits. If we did not do this, then having energetic or nervous dogs show up before bed time would mean those dogs would be walking around, making noise, having potty accidents on the bedding, and otherwise disturbing the peace of the rest of the group. Arriving in the morning is not only a much better idea for each dog individually, but it also benefits all of the other dogs in the group.
2. Relaxed and Confident Dogs: Since dogs can’t understand our language or our plans, a change in their schedule (such as a boarding stay or starting daycare for the first time at a new place) can cause most dogs to have anxiety due to uncertainty. Arriving in the morning gives dogs enough time to gain their confidence and relax in the group so their stay is much more enjoyable. Each time a new dog is added to the group, the group dynamics will change and each dog will have to readjust their behavior before they trust the new dog enough that they can be fully comfortable to play again. By limiting the times when new dogs can enter the group, it allows dogs the entire afternoon to feel comfortable since they have already met and become comfortable with the other dogs. 
3.  Familiarity: Due to our schedule consistency, dogs who attend daycare regularly know what to expect from each day. They know to expect new dogs to be added to the group in the mornings, the group calms down and relaxes together mid-day, then the group of dogs who all know each other play in the afternoons. Then dogs will go home one at a time. However, if we were to have new dogs arriving it would b
4. Keeps dogs on the same schedule. Keeping all arrivals in the morning makes sure that dogs are active and resting at the same times. The morning is the most energetic time when dogs play, then they  
5. Provides more value.  all