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FAQS

We offer as much information as possible
so that you feel comfortable leaving
your pup in our hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

General

I want to board my pup. What are my next steps?

Go to our Registration page. You will be asked to:

  1. Set up an account
  2. Add your pup’s name
  3. Upload vaccination records
  4. Make your reservation. You will be contacted shortly thereafter.
Where are you located?

Our home sits on a fully fenced 30-acre property in Grayslake, Illinois. The first floor, where the pups sleep and play, is 4,500 sq. ft.

How does your chauffeur service work?
  1. As part of our services, and to help keep schedules running on time, a complimentary chauffeur will pick up and drop off your pup.
  2. We pick up 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday, and 10 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday within a 1-hour window.
  3. You will be contacted the day prior for your pick up/drop off time.
What are your holiday hours for chauffeur service?
  1. We do not allow pup pick up or drop off during the holidays. Holidays include Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
  2. On other national holidays, our hours for pick up and drop off are shortened to 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. These holidays include: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Days, Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.
What vaccinations does my pup need?
  1. We cannot accept a pup without current vaccinations.
  2. The vaccinations can either be updated through the GINGR Customer Portal or emailed to Gabby at [email protected]. Note we do not have a fax.
  3. For puppies under 6 months, we require a clean fecal.
  4. The vaccinations required for pups older than 6 months include: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus), Bordetella, Rabies, and a clean fecal result within the last six months.
  5. We accept titers for DHPP and Bordetella.
  6. We are unable by law to accept titers for Rabies.
Where do I send vet records?

Vet records can be either emailed to [email protected] or uploaded as scanned files via the GINGR Customer Portal (preferred).

What does my pup need to bring?
  1. Please provide your pup’s food in a disposable bag, such as a Ziploc.
  2. For raw diets, we ask for each meal apportioned out in disposable bags.
  3. We provide everything else your pup needs, such as bedding, towels, crates, dishes, etc.
  4. We are NOT responsible for anything additional you may send, such as Rabies Tags, containers, pup toys, etc.
  5. If your pup needs medications during their stay, please include only enough for the days they are here. Extra medication may not be returned. Please enter medication instructions into the GINGR portal when registering.
What forms of payment do you take?

Currently, we are accepting payment in the forms of:

  1. Venmo @Gabriela-Sloan,
  2. Zelle/QuickPay [email protected] or (847) 902-0773,
  3. Cash
  4. Check made payable to Happy Pup Manor.
What does a day look like for my pup?

In the morning, the pups go outside for supervised potty and play. While the pups are playing, our team refreshes their crates, refills water, and breakfast is served. After mealtime, the pups continue the play and fun in the family room or outside in the backyard.

Last potty outing is between 10 and 11 pm, and the pups go to bed after this for the evening in their individual crates in our custom-built pup room.

What time does my pup eat?

Pups eat between 8:30 and 9:00 am and at 4:30 to 5:00 pm.

What kind of water will my pup drink at the Manor?

We have a state of the art water filtration system.

Do you offer grooming services?

All pups boarding or training with us receive a complimentary bath before they return home. Other grooming services are not currently being offered at the Manor at this time.

Where does my pup sleep while here?

Your pups will stay in the first level of our home. All adult pups stay in a custom-built room in their individual crates. Puppies, 4 months and younger, and grown pups under 20 pounds, stay in their individual crates in our new Training house.

How will you update me about my pup?
  1. You will receive an update with a video or picture every couple of days via email or text to keep you informed of your happy pup.
  2. Please include your cell number in your registration so that we can stay in touch with you via text during your pup’s stay.
My pup has not been crated in a few years, or doesn’t like to be crated. Are they still required to be crated?

Yes, all pups are required to stay in their individual crates while boarding or being trained.

What do I do if my pup is not spayed or neutered?

We welcome your pup either way, but please make us aware of this at registration.

I have a dog that needs to be boarded alone. Do you accommodate these dogs?

For everyone’s safety, we DO NOT accept aggressive dogs.

Can I come to visit my pup at the Manor?

We do not allow visits while pups are at the Manor in order to minimize any separation anxiety. We will share fun updates every other day through videos or pictures.

Can I come to a tour of the Manor?

You can call and schedule a tour of the Manor.

Boarding

What’s the boarding experience like for my pup?
  1. Boarding is a wonderful way for your pup to be cared for in our luxury family home. There’s plenty of time for play and socializing with other dogs. We care for your pup like our own.
  2. Here at the Manor, we specialize in Doodles, Retrievers, and some smaller breeds.
  3. Your pup will sleep and play in our family home. They can play in the family room and in our backyard.
Is there a minimum for boarding stay?
  1. We have a 3-night minimum for any boarding stay, with the exception of the holidays below.
  2. We have an 8-night minimum for holidays, including end of the year celebrations, Spring Break, and the first two weeks of August.
How many pups are boarded at a time?

We board 20 to 30 pups at a time, with an increased number during the holidays.

Can any pup board with you, even if the pup has not been trained by you?
  1. Yes, we will be happy to board your pup whether or not they have been trained at the Manor.
  2. We only accept specific breeds. We specialize in Doodles, Retrievers, and some smaller breeds.
Do you offer day care?

Unfortunately, we do not offer day care.

Training

How much is it to train my pup?
  1. Our training, along with our cost, is customized for each pup. We base our pricing on several factors, including age, and past training experiences.
  2. We have 10-day, 14day, and 28 day training programs, for puppies and adult pups. We can customize a training stay as well, with a min of 10 days. Contact us for more information.
  3. We specialize in training Doodles, Retrievers, and some small breeds.
When should I start training my pup?

The ideal time to start training is before 12 weeks. This is due to a critical socialization window that closes after that time. Starting with puppies before 12 weeks to instill the good foundation which they learn quickly, versus an older pup that may have learned naughty behaviors that may have to be unlearned.

Is my pup too old to be trained?
  1. Pups are never too old to be trained, but the older they get, they become more cemented in their naughty behaviors and become more challenging to change. Because of this, we limit our training to age 2 and below.
  2. However, it is never too late for training! We are able to train puppies and pups past 12 weeks. Please contact Gabby for advisement.
How many pups do you take at a time?
  1. With our new Gigi house, we can train about twenty pups at a time. Click here to book a training reservation.
  2. We have a team of twenty people caring for the pups during their stay.
Does my pup stay with you while being trained?
  1. Yes, your pup lives in our home for the entire duration of the training.
  2. Pups that have gone through our training course before can do shorter, custom refresher courses.
  3. While they are with us, they play with other pups at the Manor, and report cards with pictures will be sent to you of your pup.
  4. Pups in the 28-day program are taken out in public, usually at shopping centers, accompanied by our training team member.
How long is the training program?
  1. We offer many different length training programs: 10 days, 14 days, and 28 days. Our training programs have a 10-day minimum for pups that have not been trained by us before.
  2. For more information on our training services, please contact our training team and visit our Facebook and Instagram to view training videos.
Am I able to shorten the training program?

We do not offer programs shorter than 10 days unless your pup has been trained by our team previously.

What happens in the Go Home Lesson?
  1. The lesson is in your home for 60 to 90 minutes
  2. Our trainer will  come  to your home to show you everything your pup has learned and how to keep the training going.
  3. Everyone who wants a relationship with your pup is welcome to attend the training, children included. We make a point to work with children in the lesson to build their confidence in working with their puppy.
How much training does my pup receive each day?
  1. Because the pups live in our home with us, they are trained throughout the day. Each pup receives at least an hour of individual attention each day and participates in group training, to work through distractions, to reach a level of excellence in training.
  2. To learn more about our training sessions, please watch our training videos on Facebook and Instagram.
Have you ever trained my breed before?
  1. We have trained a variety of pup breeds and ages. We specialize in Doodles, Retrievers, Cavaliers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundland, and most small breeds. Visit our graduation page to see our past graduates and contact us for training evaluation.
  2. Breeds we have trained include:
American Eskimo Collie Maltipoo
Australian Labradoodle Coton de Tulear Morkie
Bernedoodle Doubledoodle Papillion
Bernese Mountain Finnish Lapphund Pomchi
Bichon Flat-Coated Retriever Poochon
Biewer Terrier Goldador Poodle
Bolognese Golden Retriever Samoyed
Boston Terrier Goldendoodle Schnoodle
Cavachon Golden Bernedoodle Sheltie
Cavador Havanese Shih Tzu
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Irishdoodle Shorkie
Cavapoo Labernese Silky Terrier
Chipoo Labradoodle Springerdoodle
Chihuahua Labrador Retriever Teddy Bear
Chinese Crested Malshi Yorkie
Maltese Yorkiepoo
I have more than one pup. Can they be trained at the same time?

If you have more than one pup, we highly encourage you to train them all at once to keep them on the same page and create good behaviors together.

Do you provide the food when my pup trains with you?
  1. We do not provide the food because of each pup’s individual dietary needs. We ask that owners provide the food in a disposable bag, but the food does not need to be portioned out by day. We recommend not sending TOO MUCH food, but enough for the stay.
  2. You can also send/mail the food to us ahead of time.
What is your training philosophy?

Training methods are customized to each dog. We offer positive reinforcement with some correction where needed. Since we specialize in fewer breeds, our methods are tailored to get you the most well-rounded pup possible.

Do you use shock collars?

We never use shock collars.

Will I get a training video during the stay?

We Do send a Video home the week your pup departs from the Manor fromHappy Pup.