Frequently Asked Questions


What should I bring for my dog while boarding?

We provide everything our guests needs for a comfortable stay; beds, blankets, bowls for food and water, toys and treats. We don't accept customer beds, blankets, or toys and we ask that you keep all your dogs personal belongings at home. Leashes and collars, other belongings, will be stored in guest cubbies and labeled with his or her name.

Do I have to bring my own dog food?

You can decide. We offer "house" food at NO charge. House food is Lamb and Rice Formula, with NO Wheat, Corn, or Soy. Our guests dine twice a day during boarding and upon request for day care. Please bring only the amount your dog will need, stored in an airtight container or zip lock plastic bag, and mark it appropriately with your dogs name and the serving size. We are unable to store large open bags of food so please bring an appropriate container.
-If your dog food needs to be refrigerated or heated, we can do both. If your dog requires a special diet, we will make sure that all your instructions are followed and documented.

Do you offer pet resort tours?

Yes, we do. We are proud of our pet resort and offer tours 7 days a week. The resort was recently remodeled with new private suites, new play yards and fencing, flooring and all accommodations! Tour hours are from 8:30am-10:30am or 3:30pm-5:00pm daily. Please call to schedule a day and time that is convenient for you (951) 588-1200.

Do you accept any breed of dog?

We have some breed restrictions. Unfortunately, we do not accept Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or American Bull Dogs. We may accept "mixed" breeds however a meet and greet is required, for ALL dogs, regardless of their breed. We will assess your dogs play style and temperament and choose which play group is most appropriate for your dog. If your dog is aggressive or fearful towards people or other dogs he will not be accepted.

Do all dogs play together during group play?

Guests are grouped into 2 or 3 different play yards according to their size, temperament and activity level. We have a play group for small dogs, for highly active dogs, and for less active or older dogs. If a guest is not comfortable in their group or they are shy, we may move them to a more appropriate group or provide several breaks. If they play too rough, we will remove them from group play so that we can provide a safe environment and enjoyable experience for the other dogs.

What if my dog doesn't want to play in the group or is not suitable for the group?

We offer individual and private play-time activities to all our guests during their stay. We also have a section of the pet resort, with private cabanas (18ft x 5ft) to keep our guests comfortable and safe during the day. They have plenty of fresh air, shade, water, cot for resting, and a view of the trees. Cabanas are a great alternative to a kennel and guests will have plenty of room to relax or run around. NOTE: All guests sleep indoors for the evening.

Do you have a Veterinarian at Ruff House Pet Resort?

Dr Hodgeson "The Pet Doctor" is a mobile veterinarian that visits Ruff House Pet Resort several times a week. He provides services such as vaccines, microchip, fecal testing, and exams to our guests while they are boarding or attending day care. Please schedule services upon check-in by completing Dr Hodgeson paperwork for services.

How do you keep track of all the dogs?

We use PetDetect ID Collars for identification of our guests. Each collar is printed with our guests name, breed, age, suite #, medication needs and phone number. The collars are especially helpful when we have several dogs from the same family, same breeds, or guests that require medications and special diets!

Where do the dogs sleep?

We have private "tropical" suites that are sure to please even the pickiest guest. Guests spend a minimal amount of time in their suite, designed for eating, relaxing and sleeping in the evenings. Each suite has a raised bed for sleeping, blankets, food and water bowls. All rooms are temperature controlled with heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

Does my dog need to be spayed or neutered?

Guests are not required to be spayed/neutered to stay at Ruff House Pet Resort however depending on age, breed, temperament, and available space we will determine. Guests over 6 months of age, that have not been spayed/neutered, will receive exercise and individual playtime but not group play.
-We do not accept females in heat. If your dog goes into heat during her stay with us we will contact you to pick up immediately.

Why do you require the Bordetella vaccination every 6 months?

It is important that we take precautions to keep our guests free from sickness. Our 6 month policy is consistent with boarding industry best practices. Your veterinarian may schedule Bordetella vaccine yearly, however it is required every 6 months for all guests staying at Ruff House Pet Resort and we strongly recommend the intranasal vaccine as opposed to the injectable Bordetella .
*Ruff House has hundreds of dogs checking in and out each week and the number of dogs contracting kennel cough is less than 1%.
Our cleaning practices, health checks, and vaccine policy ensures a healthy environment for all our guests.

Do you take cats or other pets?

Our pet resort is designed for dogs and our staff is trained in dog behavior, health, and temperament specific to them. We may consider adding a section specifically for cats in the future, but for now we only accept dogs.

What if my pet needs medication?

We can administer medication for our guests. Please bring your medication in the original bottle, labeled with the medication name, pet’s name, and the exact instructions for when and how much to give. Please contact us to discuss your specific medication needs as we may recommend boarding with a Veterinarian as an alternative.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not give insulin injections.

Why are you closed from 12:00pm-2:00pm daily?

We are open 7 days a week from 6:30am to 6:30pm but closed 2 hours for guest drop-off and pick-up. It is very important that we provide nap-time for our guests and we clean the play yards and cabanas during these hours. Dogs need and enjoy a break in the quiet so they can rest and be ready for the afternoon. We understand that this may be inconvenient to customers however it is our mission that Ruff House Pet Resort is a fun, safe, happy and clean place for the dogs to stay!