Yorkie Camp & Spa

Q:  Do you breed/sell Yorkies?

A:  No, we do not.  We only board them.

Q:  Do you ever board dogs that are not Yorkies?

A:  Yes, we do under a specific scenario:   If a Yorkie has a family member that is not Yorkie but is a small/gentle breed then the family member can also attend Camp along with their sibling!  We currently have 3 Malties that come to Camp fairly regularly with their Yorkie sibling(s).

Q:  Can I tour your facility before deciding to use it?

A:  Absolutely!  All we ask is that you call or email to set up an appointment for the visit.

Q: Do you only take tiny Yorkies?

A:  No.  Our smallest regular guest is 3.5 pounds (Wicket and Maya!!) and our largest regular guest is 16 pounds (Joey!!).  The average size, as you  might expect, is 7 pounds.

Q: Do you provide food for my Yorkie?

A:  No, we don't.  We could, but we feel that it's stressful enough for a little dog to be away from home, so adding on the change in diet would be adding more stress.  We have a frig/freezer in the Camp so that if your food needs to be cool, we can take care of that.  We also have a microwave so that if you want the food warmed a bit, we can do that too (and probably would anyway!).

Q:  My Yorkie is very shy and doesn't socialize well.  I'm afraid he'll be frightened and unhappy.  How do you handle a Yorkie like him?

A:  If we determine after the first visit that your Yorkie is either too aggressive or too unhappy, we'll advise you that Camp is not the place for him/her (we've only had this happen twice in 6 years but it does happen).

But, to answer your question:  The Camp has a "shy pen" area that is wire mesh and provides separation from the other dogs.  With very shy or scared Yorkies we'll usually place them in the shy area for an hour to give them time to acclimate.  In addition, we'll hold/carry the dog for another hour to give them a chance to sniff the other dogs while still feeling protected.  Lastly, we don't introduce the shy dog to all the dogs at once.  After the hour or two of acclimating we'll put him in the Camp house with only one or two of the quietest dogs then gradually add another dog to the group every 15-30 minutes until the shy dog is feeling like part of the pack.

Generally, this approach works very well.  One of our regular guests (Elvis) only wants to socialize occasionally, so we have a cubby hole area in the Camp house where he can "hide" from the other dogs when he feels like being alone.

Q:  Would you rather have a visit scheduled via phone or via email?

A:  Either works well for us.  Email will ensure that we have a record of the request but phone has the advantage of allowing us to ask specific questions about timing/etc.

Phone:  909-477-0343  

Email:  steve_janet@yorkiecamp.com

Q:  Why should I use Yorkie Camp instead of a pet sitter?

A:   First of all, your Yorkie isn't left home alone for the bulk of the day; instead he's being held, played with and is socializing.   Secondly, no one is entering your private residence.  Lastly, pet sitters care for many breeds; they're not expert at understanding the particular needs of this breed.

 Q:  My Yorkie loves lap time and sleep time, how do you manage to give lap time when you have so many dogs?

A:  Well, it's not always easy but here are some examples of what we do:  Everywhere in our home and in the Camp there are comfy beds so, if I'm working at the computer I generally have nearly all the dogs in the beds in the office and they switch off sitting on my lap.

During the day, I may decide to play with my iPad ...I prop my legs up on the coffee table creating lap room for 3 Yorkies as well as the comfort of one on each side and one on my neck (see photo gallery!!).

In the evenings while we watch TV, the dogs are invited in to sit on both our laps (3 each) and we make sure there's trading off so no one gets left out.

We do count ourselves lucky in one respect: our own Yorkies are somewhat unique in that only 2 of them like laptime, the other 3 prefer beds, pillows, etc.

Q:  Do I need to provide you with evidence of vaccinations/etc.?

A:  We are a little unique in our requirements since we're strong believers in vaccinations but not supporters of boosters or re-vaccinations (with the exception of Bordatella). 

Our requirements are that you show evidence of  vaccinations the first time that you board....we do not need to see any further information on future visits. 

We strongly believe that your pet should receive Bordatella vaccinations every 6 months (even though most vets indicate once per year) but it's ultimately your choice. 

We do require that your dog be on a flea program (Comfortis being preferred).

Q:  What should I bring besides food?

A:  A favorite toy is always welcomed since it enhances play time (especially "fetch").  Dogs seem to get attached to their own food bowls, so that's also a possibility.  If it's winter, you can bring sweaters/coats, since we do want the little ones to be comfortable outdoors.

Q:  If I adopt a new Yorkie puppy, can you help with housebreaking?

A:  Well, we can't do the actual housebreaking but we can support whatever method you're using.  We do use piddle pads and we do make access to outside yard area always available.