Dog boarding FAQs Your questions, answered

Send a stay request with your dates and a few details about your dog. Every booking starts as a request: we check availability and confirm with you directly by text, call or email as soon as we can. A 20% deposit then secures your dog’s reservation.

Yes! Meet-and-greets are free and recommended before your dog’s first stay. They give your dog a chance to explore and become familiar with our home, while you meet us, see the space, and ask any questions about boarding. Visits typically last 30 minutes to 1 hour, and we arrange them by appointment.

No. Chasing Cattle is home-based dog boarding: guests stay inside our home, with a comfortable place to rest, a fenced yard to explore, and plenty of affection.

We welcome dogs from 3-month-old puppies to seniors, and all sizes, from small to giant breeds. Dogs must be non-aggressive and suitable for a home boarding environment, and meet our vaccination requirements. Unneutered males are welcome; female dogs must be spayed. We cannot accept puppies under 3 months old, unspayed females, dogs with aggressive behavior, or dogs who do not meet our vaccination requirements.

Pack their usual food, a familiar blanket or bed and a favorite toy, and keep the goodbye calm and short. Then we follow your dog's home routine as closely as we can.

Your dog eats the food you pack, on the schedule and in the amounts you give us. Keeping their usual food also helps avoid upset stomachs. We give treats only with your permission.

Inside our home, in a cozy dog bed in the dog room or a crate in the crate room, depending on what your dog is used to at home. So crate-trained dogs can keep sleeping in a crate.

Days follow a steady rhythm of play, rest and potty breaks, and we always supervise play. Dogs have our fenced yard to explore, with quiet time to rest in between.

Only when it suits them. We always supervise play and introduce new friends calmly. Dogs from the same household can also stay together.

Yes. We send photo updates once a day, every day during your dog’s stay, so you can see how they’re settling in and enjoying their time with us. Updates arrive by text message, or through WhatsApp if you’re traveling internationally.

All dogs must be up to date on Rabies, Bordetella (kennel cough) and DHPP (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) before boarding. Puppies must have their age-appropriate vaccinations. Please provide current vaccination records before your dog’s stay.

Yes. We can administer pills, liquid medications, and insulin injections with clear written instructions and a complete dosing schedule from your veterinarian. Please discuss your dog’s medication needs with us before booking. Dogs requiring IV fluids need veterinary supervision: we’ll need to review their care needs with your veterinarian before confirming whether boarding is appropriate.

For urgent care we use Urgent Paws Veterinary Care in Midlothian, VA, and for emergencies, Partner Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center in Henrico, VA. We will contact you as soon as possible. If immediate treatment is needed, we will prioritize your dog’s care. Please provide an emergency contact person’s name and phone number before boarding.

Responsibility for veterinary costs depends on the circumstances. Our dog boarding insurance provides limited coverage for eligible incidents, subject to the policy’s terms and limits. Costs that are not covered may be your responsibility.

Please let us know as soon as you can. For the health of every guest, dogs with a cough, vomiting, diarrhea or fleas should wait to board until they’re well.

Unneutered males are welcome. Female dogs must be spayed.

Not yet. A request lets us check availability. Your stay is booked once we confirm your dates with you and you pay the 20% deposit that secures your dog’s reservation.

Overnight boarding is $40 per night, and each additional dog is $28 per night. The puppy rate is $45 per night, and long-term stays of 15 days and above are $30 per night. Our pick-up and drop-off trip service is $50 round trip.

Yes. One request can include several dogs from the same household. Each additional dog is $28 per night.

Yes. A 20% deposit is required to secure your dog’s reservation and will be applied toward your total. The remaining balance is due at pickup, adjusted to reflect the actual length of your dog’s stay. Cash is preferred, but we also accept Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App.

Your deposit is refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before your scheduled boarding start time. For cancellations made less than 24 hours before boarding, the deposit is nonrefundable. To change or cancel a booked stay, send us a message from our Contact page or call (804) 338-7902.

Drop-off and pickup are between 6 AM and 11 PM. If you need to extend your dog’s stay, extensions are subject to availability.