FAQS
You’ve Got Questions. We’ve Got Answers.
HOW CAN I CHECK ON MY PET DURING THEIR STAY?
We regularly publish pictures and videos to our Picture site: http://coolwag.com/pictures and other social media sites. You are welcome to text us or email us or even call us if you are a worrisome Dog Mom or Dog Dad! No need to stress. We know how it feels because when we go on vacation and have our pups in the hotel, we need to keep informed as well! For our contact info click here.
WHAT IF MY DOG DOESN'T LIKE TO PLAY WITH OTHER DOGS?
As long as your dog doesn't lunge to try to get to other dogs, we are able to accommodate them. We will give them lots of human time and instead of group play, they will get puzzle time and enrichments such as scent work or fetch... we will figure out what they like and take it from there!
WHAT DO YOU SUPPLY FOR OVERNIGHT BOARDING?
Dogs get a sleeping den or space on the couch with a human, a raised bed, Temperature controlled space, lots of time outside to exercise and play with their friends, nap time with a stuffed kong, access to fresh water, and breakfast and dinner (puppies are fed more frequently). Enrichment activities are also available such as swimming, puzzle games, etc.
Cats get a three-tiered cat condo with glass doors and/or free-to-roam the room and gaze out the windows if the only family. If they are sharing the room with another family, they will rotate between their condo and free-to-roam with the other cat family. Temperature controlled space, a toy or two, a food and water bowl and lots of attention and petting (if that's what they want). Please bring their litter pan with clean litter, their food (if you free feed them, it does not need to be individually bagged), and extra litter.
MY PET HAS A SPECIAL DIET. CAN THEIR NEEDS BE ACCOMMODATED?
Yes! We have refrigeration available as well as a freezer. We have trained staff and can mix food, rehydrate dehydrated food, administer medicines and help your pup to eat, which can be difficult when they are away from home. We will try hand feeding, kefir, a little dab of peanut butter, and/or a sprinkle of dry parmesan cheese. Even after that, If they don't eat two meals in a row, we will open a can of Fromm Remedies and add the charge to your account. This food is easy to digest and we carry the fish flavor due to chicken allergies. If we still can't get them to eat we will pamper them and give them extra attention and if that doesn't work, we will contact you.
Please bring just enough food for their stay plus an extra night just in case you are detained. Any extra food will be donated to the Helping Hands food pantry to help keep animals with their families during difficult times.
WILL MY LITTLE SHIH TZU BE PLAYING WITH GREAT DANES?
No! Although some large and small dogs get along well and love being with each other, it isn't safe in group play. We separate dogs by size, temperament and age (puppies and elders). We typically have at least one of each of the following: large dog (bigs), medium dog (middies), medium-small mixed (smiddies), small dog (littles) and tiny dog (tiny tots). We also have an elder group and a puppy group.
When we need to have multiple groups, we create them based on their play style and their friendships.
WHAT DO THEY DO DURING DAYCARE?
If your pup is a butterfly, they will enjoy multiple group play sessions. Where they will get recall, door manners and other obedience training. They will get naps in between their play&learn sessions. The naps are very important to give their muscles and minds a break from the excitement of playing with friends. They can also enjoy enrichments such as puzzle games and other scent work games, sports such as dock diving, swimming, fetch, lure chase, agility and barn hunt.
Check out our detailed description here.
WHAT IS COOLWAG'S WEATHER POLICY? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN IT GETS HOT IN THE SUMMER OR COLD IN THE WINTER?
The quick answer is play in the pools in Summer and play in the snow in the Winter. Coolwag is climate controlled with dual HVAC systems, Fresh-Air Fans, and 6 inches of Foam insulation! They are inside when it's too hot or cold and outside when it's comfortable.
HOW DO I GET MY DOG INTO DOCK DIVING OR ANOTHER SPORT?
If you go to the training page, you can sign up for an initial session. That session will include an introductory lesson for you and your dog as well as practice time in the yard (pool, barn hunt, agility, etc.).
CAN I SEE MY DOG ON A CAMERA?
While CoolWag has more than 50 cameras in use for operations and monitoring our guests play; however, we do not make them available over the Internet due to limited bandwidth available in our area.
Also, so that you can stay informed while you are away, we post pictures and videos of the dogs to Facebook and try to get everyone in the shots. Occasionally we will have a shy pup or one who is slowly acclimating; but let us know and we will give them extra attention with the lense the next time they are here.
HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE A NEW DOG TO THE PACK?
At their own pace. (See Temperament Test Info). We work hard to make sure each dog gets to know their friends at their pace. We have some dogs that run into a yard of 10 dogs with ease. We have some dogs that take an hour. We have had a few that have taken a week. This is very important. We know that if a dog has a bad experience it may be very difficult for them to recover from it. We try to give them the best experience with everything that we do; whether that's with other dogs or people or sounds or smells. Some sensitive pups just need time, and we won't rush them. It's not worth it!
DO YOU TRAIN DOGS?
Yes! We love to train dogs and humans, too!!! Seriously, there is nothing more fun than figuring out the right approach to helping a dog and their human solve a problem; whether behavioral/manners, fear, tricks, or any roadblock that seems to be in the way. Not all dogs will be able to do all things, but with patience, understanding, technique and experience, we should be able to get a plan together and help put it into action.
We have certified trainers on staff and a combined century+ of dog behavioral knowledge from our highly trained staff. Check out our training offerings.
WHY ARE THERE TWO DIFFERENT SIGN-UP SITES?
We have two different technology platforms and the reason is that both of them have limitations.. so, in order to make things easy for you and manageable for us, we have to use two.
1. PetExec is the system that we use to manage activities that we manage (daycare, hotel stays, enrichments, spa sessions, play & train, board & train)
2. Acuity Scheduling is the system that we use to allow you to schedule and pay for services that you will manage (group training, Individual training, dock and yard rentals, event fees, etc.)
So think of it this way: if you are there, it's Acuity. If you aren't, it's PetExec and they both have their own websites and phone apps!
DOES "LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED" REALLY MATTER?
Well we think it's pretty special and CoolWag is the only pet facility in Bentonville or Rogers that can boast that claim! Heather went to Rogers High School. Eric and Heather met in New Jersey but family and a better way of life brought them back to NorthWest Arkansas. The family lives in Bentonville, the kids work in the business and attend school here.
CoolWag's mission is to serve the community, not just the pets but the people, too. We strive for perfection in all that we do and customer satisfaction is our number one goal... both for our humans and pet clients!
WHAT HAPPEN IF MY DOG IS IN HEAT?
Unfortunately, we do not accept female dogs in Heat. It causes behavioral changes with the others dogs. It's like a Full Moon! However, sometimes their cycle happens while they are here. We need to remove them from the facility, so we have two options; 1. For an additional fee, they can stay at one of our offsite locations or 2. You can pick up your doggy.
WHAT VACCINES ARE REQUIRED?
We require Rabies to be up to date as well as Distemper and Parvo. We will accept a titer test for the Distemper and Parvo but not for Rabies. The reason is that the government is involved in Rabies as it is a law that dogs must have a rabies shot at 4 months of age and every 3 years.
Puppies need to be up-to-date per their vet's recommendations but do not need Rabies to come until they are 4 months old.
We do not require Bordetella or Canine Influenza as they are not considered core vaccines, are not "deadly" unless complications arise and are not effective against many strains of the bacteria that cause the illness. If your pup is coughing, we will isolate them and let you know. If they are boarding and you can't pick them up, we will take them to an offsite location where they will have access to a fenced in yard. We will also provide them with natural remedies as long as it isn't severe, and they are acting normally. If they act differently or are lethargic, we will bring them to the vet where they will most likely be prescribed Doxycycline.
Our air scrubbers and cleaning protocol is very effective at containing illness; although we can't control nose licking. Because there is potentially 7-10 days that a dog can be sick and not show any symptoms.
WHAT IS A TITER TEST AND ABOUT HOW LONG DOES A VACCINE WORK?
A titer test is a test for antibodies using blood drawn from the animal. It tests to see if there are antibodies present which should protect the animal from a disease if exposed to it.
CoolWag accepts Titer tests for Distemper and Parvo but not for Rabies as the Government does not recognize titer tests for Rabies.
How long do vaccines work? Studies show that they work (positive titer--which means they work) for seven years.
If you would like to learn more about this, there is a ton of information on the Internet and most of it will tell you that you need to get the shots yearly or every three years. If you search, you will find studies that disagree. Here is one: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/lifelong-immunity-vets/
There is also a controversial topic that leads many veterinarian professionals to believe that too many vaccines leads to other complications including cancer and therefore should be avoided.
It's a fine line and it's your choice at CoolWag (except for Rabies which by law is required every 3 years starting at 4 months of age).