Before a new dog can be accepted for regular or extended boarding, they must successfully complete an Overnight Trial Stay. It isn’t just a meet-and-greet.
Dogs can behave very differently once their family leaves.
A dog who seems completely comfortable during a short introduction may experience stress several hours later, or struggle with overnight confinement. A short meet-and-greet can’t tell us how a dog will settle overnight or respond to the normal routine of a boarding environment.
By completing a full overnight stay we can make a far better informed decision about whether Bark Inn is the right environment for them.
We also observe house manners, handling tolerance and stress signals, and overall suitability for Bark Inn. We’re not expecting perfect obedience — we’re looking for dogs who can safely and comfortably function within our specific environment.
One of our resident dogs, Astrid, plays an important role in many new guest evaluations. She received extensive training from puppyhood and has developed an excellent, balanced communication style with other dogs.
When appropriate, introductions take place under direct supervision in our outdoor space, where we can observe body language, social communication, confidence, boundaries and play style while the dogs get acquainted.
Bark Inn also has resident cats with access to a secured catio area. Because the cats are part of our home environment, boarding dogs must demonstrate safe and appropriate behaviour around them.
Dogs do not need to interact with the cats — but they must be able to safely coexist around the secured area.
Dogs who successfully complete their trial become approved Bark Inn guests and may request future reservations.
If we determine Bark Inn isn’t the right environment for your dog, we’ll let you know. This doesn’t mean they’re a bad dog. Different dogs thrive in different types of care, and our responsibility is to make decisions based on safety and the individual dog’s needs.
$50 per dog. Trial stays are exempt from our regular two-night minimum.
New guests begin with registration and a required Overnight Trial Stay. Approved families can request their next stay any time.
