At Down Home Dog Resort & Training & Training, the well-being of every dog in our care is our top priority. To maintain a calm, stress-free environment for all dogs, we have made a few adjustments to our tour and visitation policy.
- Tours and Playcare Visits: By Appointment Only In order to avoid disrupting the routines of the dogs staying with us, we now offer all tours and Playcare visits by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be accepted. This policy helps us minimize unexpected interruptions and ensure that all dogs, especially those who are shy or anxious, can enjoy their time with us without added stress from unplanned visitors.

- Main Kennel Access: For the safety of everyone—both dogs and visitors—we do not permit entry into the main kennels during tours or visits. This is to prevent any potential risks, including dog bites, possible escapes, or stress reactions from the dogs (ex. Going off of feed, trying to escape, urination/defecation within their kennel, seizure, etc.). We take every precaution to keep our facilities safe and calm, and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

- Scheduling Your Tour: To schedule your tour or Playcare visit, please contact us at 814-547-8091 OR via email ([email protected]) OR via our Portal, to arrange a time that works for you. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to showing you our facility!

Thank you for your support in maintaining a safe and peaceful environment for all the dogs in our care. re.

We require all age-appropriate vaccines:
- Rabies (as per PA State Law, once of age)
- DHPP/DAPP (yearly, or as per vet recommendation)
- Bordetella (yearly)

Lepto & Lyme are Highly Recommended but are per your veterinarian's recommendation.

Dogs must ALSO be current on Flea & Tick prevention.

A NEGATIVE Fecal test (within the last year) is also required.

VACCINATION RECORDS CAN BE EMAILED TO:
[email protected]

They can ALSO be uploaded DIRECTLY to your Registration Portal, or a Physical Copy can be brought in and scanned when you arrive for your booking.

New Pennsylvania law mandates that all dog kennels in Pennsylvania, including Down Home Dog Resort, must have a valid Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection (CVI) on file for any pet arriving from out-of-state including Boarding clients. This mandate only pertains to dogs staying for 30 days or more.

The CVI must be issued by a licensed veterinarian not in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within 60 days prior to your pet's entry into Pennsylvania. As our Resort adheres strictly to these regulations, overseen by the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement's Dog Wardens, it's essential for us to comply fully with this new requirement. Therefore, we have to require a CVI for each dog coming from out of state (even Ohio). along with copies of their vaccination records that state when they were given and when they are due next.

(Pulled from our mandate paperwork we were given by the state: The CVI should state that the dog is at least eight weeks of age and shows no signs or symptoms of infectious or communicable disease; did not originate within an area under quarantine for rabies; and, as ascertained by reasonable investigation, has not been exposed to rabies within 100 days of importation. It is to be a legible official document that is: (1) made on a form issued by the chief veterinarian of the state of origin certifying the health of the animal described in the certificate, and (2) prepared by an accredited veterinarian in the state of origin certifying the health of the animal described in the certificate; and (3) validated by the chief livestock health official of the state of origin. Each dog must have its own CVI.)

We understand that this may present an inconvenience and want to assure you that we are actively engaging with local and state representatives to explore possible exemptions for house-kept pets, like those under our care.

For Boarding stays, please bring your dog's Food from home. We recommend bringing enough food that will last them the entire duration of their stay, and then a little extra in the event that booking plans change. Please bring your dog's food in a SEALED & marked (with their name) CONTAINER (tote, food bin, etc.) in order to help prevent spills/messes.

Please bring any medications your dog is required to take during their stay, and be sure to complete a Medication Intake Form (found below) to ensure proper dosages are given.

We have our own toys, bedding and bowls here, but you are welcome to bring your own as well. All bedding MUST be 100% parasite FREE.

For Playcare, you do not need to bring anything. If your dog typically eats at lunchtime, you can bring along their food and we will feed them lunch.

For all other services, please contact us.

Boarding cancellations are required 48 hours prior to the start of the stay for general dates, 72 Hours for "Peak Times" (Memorial Day through Labor Day) and 12 days prior to the start of the stay for Main Holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years/Easter/Fourth of July).

This is to ensure that we have time to contact those on our waitlist that needed the same dates. 

Cancellations done less than 48 hours (general)/ 72 hours ("Peak Times)/12 days (Holiday) will be charged a 50% Late Cancellation fee, which will be required to be paid prior to the next booking.

NO SHOWS will be charged 100% of the Invoice fee, prior to be permitted to book any future services.

Exceptions may apply in the event of emergency situations.

We do not offer refunds for any services, packages, programs, etc. unless an exception is made directly by us on a case-by-case basis.

There are NO Discounts or Refunds for Early Pickup from Boarding or Daycare.

As our services & programs are becoming increasingly popular, we recommend that you book your reservations as soon as you have them planned. This way, you won't miss out on getting scheduled!

Nope! We welcome ALL dogs of ALL breeds, with NO maximum age limit! 

We accept cash, all major Credit/Debit cards, Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, and AfterPay.

Invoicing is completed via a third-party, and processing fees apply for non-cash payments.

HOLIDAYS: Down Home Dog Resort is closed to the public on day of major holidays. $10/day/dog holiday fee applies for boarders. Holiday Pickups/Dropoffs (for major holidays) will have an additional fee of $20/dog.

SUNDAYS: Down Home Dog Resort is closed to the public on Sundays, as this is our day of deep cleaning. Drop-offs for boarding are permitted (if absolutely necessary), however, the resort is CLOSED for pick-ups on Sundays, unless otherwise agreed upon between resort and owner(s).

Effective July 01, 2023: Sunday Pickups will have an additional fee of $20/dog.

EARLY/LATE PICKUP/DROPOFF: Pickup/Dropoff outside of regular scheduled hours must be arranged and agreed upon prior to start of boarding stay (unless otherwise ok'd via Down Home Dog Resort). An additional fee of $20/dog will be charged for pickup/dropoff outside of regular scheduled hours.

If Pickup/dropoff is more than 3 hours outside of regular scheduled pickup/dropoff time, the boarding fee will automatically increase to that of an additional 24 hours stay charge.

**Down Home Dog Resort is closed to the public M-F from 11:30am to 1:30pm. This time is reserved for lunch time feeding for dogs, leash walks, baths/grooming, mid-day cleaning, uninterrupted group play, etc. No pick-up, drop-off, or entry allowed during this window of time.**

Dogs with contagious illnesses or parasites are not permitted at Down Home Dog Resort. We are happy to provide care for dogs with special medical or health needs when applicable, but for the safety and health of other dogs at the Resort, we cannot accommodate dogs with contagious disease or parasites.

Common illnesses and parasites include, but are not limited to: Bordetella (kennel cough), Conjunctivitis, Fleas, and Intestinal Parasites/Worms. Symptoms of illness can include: coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth, and/or visible parasites in the stool.

If a dog shows signs of illness while in our care, we will isolate them from the other dogs and the owner will be asked to pickup the dog to take to the vet for a check up. The dog is welcome to come back to the Resort only after the vet declares he or she healthy.

If a dog arrives at the Resort showing signs of an illness, or if a dog is actively being treated for a contagious illness or parasites, the dog is not permitted to stay at the Resort. This is for the comfort, health, and safety of your dog and the other dogs at the Resort.

**WHILE OUR NEW BOARDING BUILDING IS BEING BUILT, WE CURRENTLY CANNOT ACCEPT ANY DOGS THAT ARE SEVERELY DOG REACTIVE/AGGRESSIVE, OR THAT ARE HUMAN REACTIVE/AGGRESSIVE. THIS IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF STAFF AND OTHER DOGS IN OUR CARE, AS WELL AS YOUR OWN DOG. ANY DOGS DISPLAYING AGGRESSIVE/DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE PICKED UP PROMPTY. AN ADDITIONAL $20/24 HOUR STAY "PRECAUTIONARY HANDLING" FEE WILL BE CHARGED, UNTIL PICKUP. ONCE OUR NEW BUILDING IS BUILT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMODATE THESE DOGS SAFELY.**

Please call/text our office at 814-547-8091 for more information about these policies.

ALL NEW Clients (owner/dog) MUST complete an Intake Form. This is to help us get to know your dog better. Please complete ONE form PER dog. The form can be found by clicking HERE. 

Click HERE to Access.

For Boarding dogs that are in need of Medication administration during their stay, please click HERE to access the Medication form.

At Down Home Dog Resort, we strive to take the BORED out of Boarding. While traditional boarding kennels may only allow cage-free time for potty breaks and short walks, that is NOT how we are here!

We focus on ENRICHMENT-BASED Boarding & Playcare. Each month, we schedule a variety of pawties, crafts and activities that all dogs in attendance those days get to participate in. 

Our daily schedule consists of NUMEROUS potty breaks throughout the day (first one is typically around 6-7am, last one is typically around 9-10pm, as well as additional potty breaks every 2-4 hours between those time frames). Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs will medical issues are let out as frequently as they need to be.

Mornings typically consist of free play, whether with other dogs (if dog friendly/social, or with us if they are on the shy/less social side. Duration of free play may be anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours, and is based on each individual dogs needs/activity level.

Approximately 10am - NOON is time for Enrichment activities and Lunchtime (for those that receive lunch). Enrichment activities could be in relation to the scheduled event on the Activities calendar for that day, a sensory activity (leash walk/hike, scentwork, brain games), or another type of mental stimulation. It is important for dogs to receive MENTAL exercise, just as much as physical exercise! Dogs that are with us for a Board & Train or Camp Canine (Day Training) typically get a training session in during this time as well.

After Enrichment/Lunchtime, we encourage a "Quiet TIme" with the Playcare & Boarding dogs. After morning Free Play and Enrichment/Lunchtime, most dogs will naturally choose to settle down and nap for an hour or so. This is important, as constant movement and activity can cause dogs to become too stimulated and over aroused. This can lead to poor behavior, as well as the possibility for dog fights. For dogs that have just eaten lunch, this also provides a time for them to digest in order to prevent stomach upset or more dangerous issues like Bloat.

After Quiet Time, we typically have another Enrichment session, followed by Free Play until dogs are either picked up, or until Dinnertime potties/feeding rotations begin.

As long as the weather is nice, dogs are permitted to enjoy as much outside time as they would like in one of our play/airing yards. The yards are graveled and privacy fenced, to ensure safety and relaxation.