Our Mission
I will delight our customers by providing a healthy, safe, and loving, home away from home, for every dog.
We’re so excited to show you and your pup our amazing facility and care that the first night is on us!
Discount subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Boarding discount applies to first-time customers only and is valid for any boarding accommodation selected.
Our Play Yard cameras are now accessible through our customer portal, the same portal you use to make reservations.
The link is: https://shadyacres.portal.gingrapp.com/
Once you log in, click the “View” icon in the left menu, then click the “View Live Webcams”.
Choose the “Public” tab in the top menu.
The cameras are only available to owners with pets currently checked in at Shady Acres.
If you do not currently have a dog staying at Shady Acres, you will not see any cameras available.
Hello Pet Parents!
We want your dog’s stay at Shady Acres to be perfect, please read all of this information carefully.
This page contains all of the important information you will need to know before boarding with Shady Acres.
We strictly follow a set of policies for the health and safety of all the dogs within our care.
Illness
Canine Cough
Vaccinations
Spay and Neuter Policy
Online Forms
Drop Off and Pick Up Information
Personal Belongings
Medications
Food
After Hour Emergencies
Holiday Booking Deposit Policy
You will need to understand and follow each of these guidelines, so please read each section’s details carefully to prepare for your pet’s stay.
Failure to comply with these rules may result in you being turned away at time of check in.
Illness
The health and safety of the dogs within our care is our primary concern. We cannot board any dog showing signs of illness. This includes, but is not limited to, Coughing, Eye and/or Nasal Discharge, Diarrhea, Vomiting, and Lethargy. If your dog is showing signs of illness, contact us immediately to discuss options. We reserve the right to transfer dogs showing signs of illness to the owner’s Veterinarian for boarding. Owners will be responsible for Veterinary and boarding bills related to sick dogs.
Canine Cough
Canine cough is infectious trachea-bronchitis, an upper-respiratory disease that is highly contagious and is commonly spread anywhere dogs congregate. Having your dog vaccinated for Canine Cough may reduce, but does not eliminate, the chance of contracting Canine Cough.
Please review our Canine Cough Information here:
http://www.shadyacrespetranch.com/canine-cough-information/
Vaccinations
All dogs must be current on Rabies, Distemper(DHPP/DA2PP) and Bordetella(Canine Cough) prior to being admitted to Shady Acres.
It is your responsibility to provide Shady Acres with records of your dogs vaccinations. Please upload your records to your Shady Acres online profile, have your Veterinarian email your dog’s records to info@shadyacrespetranch.com, or fax to 512-582-8559.
Spay/Neuter Policy
Dogs over 8 months of age must be spayed/neutered for boarding and/or daycare.
Online Forms
If this is your first visit to The Ranch, please fill out our new client forms at the link below. You will need to accept the online agreement and fill out the information on your pet prior to your stay.
http://www.shadyacrespetranch.com/forms/
Dropping off and Picking up your Pet
Monday-Friday: 7am – 7pm
Saturday: 8am – 4pm
Sunday: 3pm – 6pm
Check Out Time: Our check out time is 1pm, all boarding dogs must be picked up by 1pm to allow us to clean our rooms and prepare for incoming dogs.
If your dog needs to stay past 1pm, our late check out fee is $25.
We do not charge this fee on Sundays because pick up is only from 4pm-6pm.
Personal Belongings
The only personal belongings we accept with your Dog are collar, leash, harness, pre-portioned dog food, packaged dog treats, and supplements/vitamins/medications.
We do not accept any other personal belongings. This includes, but is not limited to: blankets, beds, clothing items, toys, bowls, slow feeders, elevated feeders, and food containers. Dogs often destroy these items when boarding, which can become a hazard if ingested.
We are happy to provide your dog with one of our slow feeders, raised feeders, or fleece blankets. Please just let us know when you drop-off.
Medications
For the health and safety of all dogs in our care, Shady Acres follows a strict medication protocol.
Prescription Medications
We will only administer prescription medications provided in the original medication packaging, prescribed to the dog. No “loose pills” are accepted.
Over The Counter Medications and Supplements
Provide over the counter medications and supplements in original packaging or clearly labeled with names, quantities, and strengths in ziplock bags.
We are happy to administer medications in treats such as cheese, peanut butter, pill pockets, etc as long as you supply us with these items. We can not accept medications already prepared in the treats. We must be able to verify all medications in their original packaging and we will prepare the treats at the time we administer the medications.
For your dogs safety, all medications must be verified by Shady Acres Staff at the time of feeding
We can not accept any medications mixed in food.
We can not accept any medication already in pill pockets.
Medication Administration: No Charge
Food
Accurate Feeding is one of the most critical parts of your pets stay!
For accuracy and safety, we require that you individually bag your dogs food by feeding.
We do not accept bulk bags or containers of dog food.
Please have your food prepared to prevent delays at drop-off.
Client food not individually bagged by feeding: $5/per dog/per day
Kennel food: $5/per dog/per day
Kennel food is not grain-free. Clients feeding grain-free or specialty diets must provide their own food.
After Hours Emergency Pick Up
After Hours Pick-Up can be requested in case of emergency situations. Availability of after hours pick-up is not guaranteed, it must be requested by client and confirmed by staff.
After hours pick-up is not offered in cases of convenience, a staff member must be dispatched, and paid, to accommodate your request and these requests are granted for true emergencies only.
Please call Shady Acres for details.
After Hours Pick-Up Fees: Within 1 hour of opening/closing: $45, 2 hours of opening/closing: $90
Holiday Booking Deposit Policy
Holiday bookings require a 50% deposit. During holidays we reach capacity and early cancellation of your reserved space is critical. The deposit is refundable if canceled 14 days prior to the start of your stay. The deposit for holiday bookings not canceled 14 days prior to the start of your stay, including early returns, is non-refundable.
By creating a booking with Shady Acres Pet Ranch you are agreeing to our terms and conditions.
https://www.shadyacrespetranch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ShadyAcresPetRanchTermsandConditions.pdf
IBPSA members abide by a Code of Conduct and are committed to continuing education, best practices, and the highest standards in the Animal Boarding Industry.
I will delight our customers by providing a healthy, safe, and loving, home away from home, for every dog.
At most boarding facilities dogs are kept in kennels all day and night, they are walked 2-3 times a day for 10 minutes each walk. This means that your dog spends 23 hours and 30 minutes of every day locked in a kennel.
We never charge for playtime. Most facilities will charge you for extra walks, but to equal the amount of playtime your dog receives at Shady Acres each day, you would need to spend hundreds of dollars per day at a typical facility.
Shady Acres was designed to lower dogs stress and give them the fun experience of playing with other dogs the majority of the day.
No, dogs play outside in groups all day. All play time is included in your pricing.
No, all dogs are placed in play yards with access to the pool throughout their stay. If you would like to guarantee your dog receives pool time each day, you can choose our Deluxe or Luxury boarding which provides your dog reserved pool time each day.
No, we do not charge any fees to administer medications.
Accurate Feeding is one of the most critical parts of your pets stay!
For accuracy and safety, we require that you individually bag your dogs food by feeding.
CORRECT:
One bag of portioned food per FEEDING.
Your dog is staying 5 days and has AM and PM Feedings. 10 Bags.
Your two dogs are staying 5 days and have AM and PM Feedings. 20 Bags.
INCORRECT:
Food bagged per DAY. i.e. One bag of food to be split into two feedings.
Food for Two Dogs in a single bag
Bulk Bags or Containers of food
Food that includes vitamins or supplements
Food that includes medications
We will not accept bulk bags or containers of dog food.
Yes, we charge $5 per dog per day to feed our kennel food.
Accurate Feeding is one of the most critical parts of your pets stay!
For accuracy and safety, we require that you individually bag your dogs food by feeding.
We do not accept bulk bags or containers of dog food.
Please have your food prepared to prevent delays at drop-off.
Client food not individually bagged by feeding: $5/per dog/per day
We are a small family owned facility that can only board a limited number of dogs. As we gained popularity in the Austin area our facility began to operate at capacity most of the year. This started to cause a logistical problem.
About 80% of our outgoing reservations were being picked up after 4pm and about 90% of our incoming reservations were being dropped off before 10am. This meant that between 10am and 4pm we would have double the amount of dogs we could handle.
Having a 1pm check out time allows us to clean our rooms, prepare for incoming dogs, while not compromising the level of care we provide for each animal.
We do not have any breed restrictions.
All dogs 8 months and older must be spayed/neutered. There are a couple reasons why dogs must be spayed/neutered to stay with us:
We are a group play facility, all dogs play in large groups outdoors for the majority of the day. We can not have intact animals in the play groups.
Even if intact dogs were allowed to stay in rooms and not participate in groups, other dogs sense intact animals and it causes all of the animals behavior to change.
We do not recommend placing bedding inside rooms. When dogs stay away from home they can become nervous and will often times chew on and ingest bedding. This can lead to serious health concerns including the need for surgery.
If you request bedding, and sign a bedding waiver, we will provide fleece bedding for your dog.
We do not accept toys to be placed inside rooms. When dogs stay away from home they can become nervous and will often times chew on and ingest toys. This can lead to serious health concerns including the need for surgery.
What is Canine Cough?
Canine cough is infectious trachea-bronchitis, an upper-respiratory disease that is highly contagious.
What causes Canine Cough?
Just as human colds may be caused by many different viruses, canine cough itself can have multiple causes. There are viral and bacterial causes of Canine Cough.
One of the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica m– which is why canine cough is often called Bordetella. Other common viruses and bacteria that can cause Canine Cough include, but are not limited to: canine adenovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, canine influenza, and mycoplasma.
How do dogs catch Canine Cough?
Dogs “catch” canine cough when they inhale bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. This tract is normally lined with a coating of mucus that traps infectious particles, but there are a number of factors that can weaken this protection and make dogs prone to canine cough infection, which results in inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
Are vaccines 100% effective against canine cough?
No, Canine Cough can be caused by many different viruses and bacteria, often in combination. Canine Cough vaccines are typically targeted against Bordetella bronchiseptica +/- canine parainfluenza, two important causes of Canine Cough, but not the only causes.
No vaccine is 100% effective. Vaccines help reduce the risk of illness, but they don’t completely eliminate it. Some vaccines are better than others, and some animals respond better to vaccines than others.
Where can my dog catch Canine Cough?
Your dog can catch Canine Cough anywhere they have exposure to other dogs, no matter how brief. Because viruses can be passed by airborne droplets, dogs can catch Canine Cough without direct contact with another dog.
Is my dog more likely to catch Canine Cough at a pet care facility?
Yes, just like your child is more likely to catch a cold at daycare than in your home, your dog is more likely to catch a virus at a pet care facility. While boarding, your dog will be exposed to many more dogs which increases their chances of catching a virus. Your dog will also experience more stress than when at home. Just like in humans, stress lowers your dog’s immune system, making them more susceptible to becoming ill from a virus.
What are the symptoms of Canine Cough?
Symptoms typically show within 3-10 days of exposure. The classic symptom of Canine Cough is a hacking cough, a persistent and forceful cough. Some dogs with Canine Cough may show other symptoms of illness, including sneezing, a runny nose, or eye discharge.
Not all dogs who encounter these diseases show symptoms, but they can still transmit the disease to others.
What is the treatment for Canine Cough?
Just like a virus in humans, there is no cure for Canine Cough. The virus must run its course. Most dogs are able to recover without veterinary intervention. However, they should be seen by a Veterinarian right away. Veterinarians will provide supportive care such as cough suppressants and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.
While recovering, it’s necessary to keep dogs away from other dogs for approximately two-three weeks to prevent spreading of disease.
7am-7pm
8am-4pm
3pm-6pm
We are a group play facility with Boarding and Daycare groups outside throughout the day. This makes it difficult to give tours with dogs coming in and out of rooms and play yards. For your safety, and the safety of the animals we care for, we have allocated time slots to tours during times that dogs are inside for nap.
Please call our office to reserve a time to tour our facility
12pm-3pm
Call to Reserve
12pm-3pm
Call to Reserve
Sorry, No Tours on Sundays
After Hours Pick-Up can be requested in case of emergency situations. Availability of after hours pick-up is not guaranteed, it must be requested by client and confirmed by staff. After hours pick-up is not offered in cases of convenience, a staff member must be dispatched, and paid, to accommodate your request and these requests are granted for emergencies only.
Please call Shady Acres for details.
Within 1 hour of opening/closing
Within 2 hours of opening/closing
We believe your dog deserves to be cared for by a well trained and knowledgeable staff. All Shady Acres staff members undergo extensive training from leading industry programs Pack Pro, Dog Gurus, and IBPSA in Body Language, Group Management, Canine Health, Behavior Evaluation, and Customer Service.
Shady Acres Leadership completes extensive Leadership Training and IBPSA Facility Management Certifications.
How long have you been at Shady Acres?
Since October 2021
What pets do you have?
1 mini Aussie named Max
What is your favorite dog breed?
Mini Australian Shepherds
What is your favorite thing about working with animals?
How much love they offer. It doesn’t matter what kind of day I’m having, my dog and many clients dogs simply put a smile on my face. Getting to love on them, play with them, slobbery kisses and tails wagging away just melts my heart.
Certifications
IBPSA Pet Care Provider
Pack Pro Certified
Dog Gurus
Shady Acres opened our doors November 20th, 2012 hosting 15 dogs for Thanksgiving week.
It looked a little different back then… and you’d be likely to find my kids riding a bike, or chasing a chicken in the driveway as you pulled in.
We’ve grown up in 14 years, but our mission and values remain the same. We are a boarding facility where dogs can run and play with friends in a safe and natural environment with lots of love.
I am thankful for our family of clients who have supported us, trusted us with your four legged family members, and helped us bring our dream to life. You are the reason we are here today.
Thank you all for 14 wonderful years!
Animal Heath and Safety are our number one priority.
We want to build long lasting relationships with our customers.
We will love and care for your dog like they are a member of our family.
We strive for excellence in everything we do.
We are focused on delivering consistent quality in our services
Doing the right thing for our Clients and their Animals.
