We offer dog daycare (Monday to Friday only), overnight boarding, grooming, and canine wellness services.

Office Hours :

Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (excluding holidays)

Operational Hours:

Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday & Sunday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Daycare is not available on weekends with the exception of special promotions.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Windows:

Monday to Friday (excluding holidays)

• 8:00 am - 9:00 am

• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

• 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Saturday & Sunday for boarding only (including holidays)

• 8:30 am - 9:30 am

• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

• 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Yes, we require new clients to schedule a Meet & Greet with their dog(s). Your dogs must be up to date on their required vaccines. Prior to scheduling your visit, we’ll need to set you up in our online portal for you to provide necessary information about your dog. Visit our New Clients page for more important information and how to schedule your Meet & Greet.

Our special service of an off-leash, open play environment is not suited for all dogs, so the Meet & Greet is our chance to meet you and your dog and decide if we are a good fit together. You must schedule a Meet & Greet with us and complete the required documentation prior to your visit. Your dog must be up to date on their required vaccines in order to visit our property.

During your 30-minute visit, we will review your dog’s information, give you a tour of our property, and assess your dog’s behaviour. Successful candidates can stay the remainder of the day in our daycare service at a discounted rate when we have availability. Visit our New Clients page for more important information and how to schedule your Meet & Greet.

Yes, we welcome dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes!

Sometimes and only if necessary. We continually assess the behaviours of all dogs when they are in our care, as safety is our top priority. We provide special accommodations for dogs that are a risk to themselves or others. For instance, dogs that are at risk for jumping the fence or have very high prey drive may need to be trained on our Invisible Fence (extra charges may apply), remain leashed even in our fenced areas and leashed on our walks. Any dog that becomes antisocial or aggressive will be removed from the group immediately. Depending on the severity of the behaviour, the dog may not be welcome to return to The Homestead or may only be able to participate with safety precautions such as a muzzle and/or have limited access to other dogs. Any dogs that are not easily managed by these strategies (or not supported by the owner) will not be able to continue participation at The Homestead.

Our maximum capacity for daycare is 25 dogs, excluding our employees’ dogs who sometimes stay with us when their owner is working their shift. We have one staff member to every 10 dogs or less during daycare hours. For overnight boarding, our capacity is up to 12 dogs in the Canine Cottage or Spa and 2-3 dogs in our home, The Red Brick House.

Dogs do not need to be neutered or spayed to attend The Homestead if they are younger than one 1 year old. However, we will not accept females in heat and may refuse intact males who are overly aggressive or not accepted by the group. If your dog comes into heat while under our care, you will be contacted to pick her up. The Homestead Nottawa always reserves the right to revoke attendance to dogs who may pose a danger to others.

All dogs must be up to date on their core vaccinations, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella (kennel cough). We will verify these during the Meet & Greet registration process for new clients. Existing clients are required to ensure their dog’s vaccines are current and noted in their dog profile in our online portal.

Plan to vaccinate your dog at least 2 weeks prior to any boarding or daycare visits. Vaccinations do not work immediately. For example, an oral or intranasal Bordetella vaccine takes 3-4 days to achieve a level of protection. Injectable versions will take 7-10 days. Speak to your vet to receive the best advice and plan your visits to The Homestead accordingly.

We ask that clients drop their dog off and leave promptly to avoid distractions and maintain a steady drop-off process. You can see the fun they have with us in the pictures and videos we send you!

As much as possible! This depends on the weather. Our goal is to allow as much outdoor time as the dogs desire.

We assess the weather conditions and adjust the outdoor time accordingly. For example, on colder days we offer shorter hikes and more opportunities for the dogs to warm up. Owners are also welcome to send their dogs with coats or booties, but these should be clearly labelled. We are not responsible for missing or damaged items.

We don’t clean dogs before pick up, as we don’t have the resources to provide this level of customer service. We strongly encourage owners to dress their dogs for the weather and trail conditions, and bring a towel for pick ups.

Because we offer the off-leash experience, dogs get to enjoy the freedom of being in the environment, including the mud and ponds! It’s the experience we strive to provide for our furry guests. If you are concerned about having a dirty dog, we recommend dressing your dog in clothes that will keep them dry and warm.

Whenever possible we try to group our packs by both size and temperament. Some of our older dogs prefer a smaller and less energetic group. Some dogs love to run around and play well in larger groups. Some dogs need their alone time outside. All dogs are different and we cater to your individual dogs' needs. Playtime is monitored by staff, all trained in dog behavior.