Your dog's first stay at Ruffin Inn starts with a quick orientation visit so we can meet your dog and you can see the suites and yards. Pack their normal food, any medications, and a familiar bed or blanket. On drop-off day, keep goodbyes short and calm. Your dog spends the day in supervised group play on 8 acres with a midday nap, and you'll see photos while they're with us. Most first-timers settle in within a day.
The first stay is the one families worry about most, and it's the one that decides whether your dog comes to love the place. Here is exactly how it goes, step by step, so you know what to expect before you ever drop off.
1Before you book: take a tour
You don't have to commit sight unseen. We have an open-door policy, so drop in during business hours or schedule a tour and walk the whole place: the private suites, the play yards, the grooming room. A tour takes 10 to 15 minutes and answers most first-timer worries on the spot. New families also do a short orientation so we can see how your dog does in a group before a full day.
2Get the booking and paperwork done early
Set up your profile and request your dates ahead of time so the first day isn't rushed. Have your vaccination records ready: we require Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella, with Bordetella given at least 7 days before the first stay. See our booking steps and our full vaccination requirements so nothing holds up drop-off.
3Pack what keeps your dog comfortable
Bring the food they normally eat (a sudden diet change during a stay can upset their stomach), any medications in the original container, and a familiar bed or blanket from home. Those familiar smells help a nervous dog settle. Our full packing guide walks through exactly what to bring and what to leave at home.
4Drop-off day: keep it short and calm
Dogs read your energy. A long, anxious goodbye tells your dog something is wrong; a quick, upbeat handoff tells them this is normal and fine. Hand off their food and meds, share anything we should know about their routine, and head out. It feels abrupt, but a clean goodbye is the single kindest thing you can do for a first-timer.
5What the day actually looks like
Your dog joins a playgroup matched by size and energy, with handlers in the yard. Mornings are supervised play, then a quiet nap from noon to 2pm so nobody gets overtired, then more play in the afternoon. Dogs who would rather skip the big group can take a guided nature walk across our 8 acres instead. See our hour-by-hour day for the full routine.
6You'll see them while they're here
More than 5,500 families follow our Facebook for frequent photos. Watching your dog mid-play is the fastest way to stop worrying. If anything comes up during the stay, we call you. No news genuinely is good news.
7Pickup and the first night home
A day of fresh-air play means most dogs go home pleasantly tired, not wound up. Some sleep hard the first night, and some are extra thirsty after an active day, both normal. By the second visit, most dogs are pulling you toward the door. That's the goal: a place your dog is happy to come back to.
Common first-stay questions
How do I prepare my dog for their first boarding stay?
Tour the facility first, get the booking and vaccination paperwork done early, and pack their normal food, any medications, and a familiar bed or blanket. On drop-off day, keep the goodbye short and calm so your dog takes their cue from you.
Will my dog be scared or sad at boarding?
Some first-timers are unsure for the first few hours, which is normal. Supervised group play, a familiar bed from home, and a calm drop-off help them settle, usually within a day. You'll see photos through the stay, and we call you if anything comes up.
What should I bring for my dog's first stay?
Their regular food, any medications in the original container, and a bed or blanket that smells like home. Bring the food they normally eat to avoid stomach upset from a sudden diet change.
Do you do a trial or orientation before a full stay?
Yes. New dogs do a short orientation so we can see how they do in a group before a full day. It keeps the yards safe and confirms boarding or daycare is a good fit for your dog.
How long does it take a dog to adjust to boarding?
Most dogs settle within a day, and many are excited to come back by the second visit. A tour beforehand, a familiar item from home, and a calm goodbye all speed up the adjustment.
Keep reading
- How to prepare and pack for boarding
- A day at Ruffin Inn, hour by hour
- How to book
- Vaccination requirements
Ready for the first stay?
Start with a tour, or book your dates whenever you're ready.
Or call (763) 682-4247