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.
Each morning pups can’t wait to bounce in the door and play at Shady Acres Pet Ranch! Our group play means best friends get to have all kinds of fun together! They have a marvelous time with friends and our loving staff and you have the peace of mind knowing your precious pup isn’t home all day just waiting for you to return.
Our days follow a steady rhythm of outdoor group play, meals, and some downtime.
Outdoor group play happens in four windows between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, with indoor breaks for meals and digestion in between.
7:00–9:00 AM | Morning group play |
9:00–11:00 AM | Indoor rest, breakfast, and time to digest |
11:00 AM–1:00 PM | Late-morning group play |
1:00–3:00 PM | Midday rest, lunch, and time to digest |
3:00–4:30 PM | Afternoon group play |
4:30–6:00 PM | Indoor rest, dinner, and time to digest |
6:00–7:00 PM | Evening group play and the last trip outside |
Every meal has a calm period before it and a rest period after it, so dogs never go straight from the yard to the food bowl or from the food bowl back to the yard. These windows are when you’re most likely to see dogs in our play yards and on our webcams, though weather, the mix of dogs in each group, and individual needs can shift the timing on any given day.
We match every play group by size, temperament, play style, and how well the dogs get along. Once a group heads out, our team keeps a close eye on body language, energy, comfort, the weather, and how the dogs are interacting, and makes changes as the day unfolds.
We don’t run group play on a stopwatch. Some dogs could romp with their friends for hours, while others play hard for a stretch and then make it clear they’re ready to head in and relax. Our staff responds to the dog in front of them instead of holding every dog to the same clock.
More stimulation doesn’t automatically make for a better day. Dogs need quiet time to decompress, nap, eat, and digest comfortably before they head back to the yard, so we schedule indoor breaks on purpose.
Those breaks help prevent overstimulation and give each dog a chance to recharge between sessions. The result is a day that balances exercise, socialization, and enrichment with the recovery dogs need to stay happy, comfortable, and engaged from drop-off to pickup.
Add up our four play windows and you get roughly 6.5 hours of outdoor time available to group-play dogs each day. That number describes the opportunity, not the amount every dog spends in the yard.
How much of it your dog uses depends on the weather, the group’s dynamics, their energy and behavior, and most of all, what they need that day. A dog having the time of their life might stay out for most or all of a session. Another might play enthusiastically, tire out, and be better off resting inside. Our team watches for those cues and adjusts all day long.
There’s no single number of outdoor hours that’s right for every dog. Our focus is making sure each one gets plenty of exercise and social time, balanced with the rest that keeps their day safe, comfortable, and fun. Dogs in Individual Play Boarding or Dayschool follow their own schedule of one-on-one time with our staff.
It’s completely normal not to see your dog during every play window. Some dogs are happy to spend most of playtime outside with their friends, while others are ready for a break sooner, and our team adjusts each dog’s yard time throughout the day.
Our webcams also don’t cover every play yard. On busier days, we open additional yards that are off camera, so your dog may be outside having a great time even when they aren’t on your screen.
We’re always happy to tell you how your pup is doing. Call or text us at 512-333-2673 or email info@shadyacrespetranch.com, and a member of our team will fill you in.
