A clear, careful process
Booking dog home boarding in Ipswich should feel reassuring, not complicated. Here is exactly how a stay or day-care visit works from enquiry to collection.
Send an Enquiry
Get in touch with your preferred dates and a little about your dog — breed, age, temperament, routine and any special needs. We'll let you know if we have space and answer any initial questions.
Tell Us About Your Dog
Before any booking is confirmed, we gather the details that help us care for your dog properly: feeding routine, sleep habits, exercise needs, health notes, vet details and how they get on with other dogs.
Meet & Greet
New guests meet us before their first stay. After a chat on the phone, we will arrange a time for you and your dog to come and visit us in our home. This allows us to all meet, see how your dog reacts to our house and us and gives us a chance to ask you lots of questions about your dog. No bookings can be confirmed without a meet and greet. This process is always complimentary and is a condition of our licence.
Confirm Their Stay
If a meet and greet is successful a trial day / night will be arranged so we can fully assess your dog to ensure they will fit into the club and be happy.
Arrival
On drop-off day, bring your dog's belongings and any final instructions. We take time to settle them in, show them their bed and let them adjust before any introductions to the other guests.
Life at the Club
Your dog becomes part of the household — walks, garden time, rest on the sofa and calm company. We keep their routine as close to home as possible, with a maximum of five guest dogs at any one time.
Home Time
We are more than happy to keep in contact with you throughout your dogs stay. We can send you messages, photos and videos as much as you require.
The practical details
Everything you need to know
We are transparent about what we can confirm now and what we will agree with you directly before your dog's stay.
Feeding
Dogs are fed their own food, to their usual schedule, from their own bowls — bring whatever they eat at home and we'll keep things exactly as they're used to. Medication can be given by arrangement. Feeding and medication requirements will be discussed prior to any visit.
Medication
Any medication must be clearly labelled with instructions. We are happy to administer prescribed medication as part of the daily routine.
Belongings
Please pack your dogs standard food, enough for their stay. Any special treats they may have. Medication if required. A blanket or something that smells of home so they can snuggle up with it. If they sleep in a bed, please bring that. Lead, collar with ID tag and a harness if they use one.
Sleeping
Every dog sleeps indoors, in the warmth of the house. We follow your sleeping arrangements from home. Whether your dogs sleeps on your bed, on the sofa, requires their own room or is used to a crate, we will follow where possible.
Exercise
Boarding includes proper daily walks on the footpaths and countryside around Ipswich and Suffolk, matched to your dog's age, fitness and habits. All dog will received at least 2 20 minute walks as standard. This can be changed in line with your dogs needs. If your dog is used to walking off lead, we can seek your permission to follow this where is safe to do so.
Compatibility with other dogs
All new friends require a meet and greet. This give everyone a chance to meet. Your dog will also be introduced to our resident dogs and potentially some guests to see how they all get on. If a meet and greet is successful a trial day / night will be arranged so we can fully assess your dog to ensure they will fit into the club and be happy.
Vaccinations
All dogs must be fully vaccinated, included Kennel Cough and be flea and wormed. Details of these will be requested before a meet and greet.
Collection & drop-off
The earliest drop-off is 7:30am and the latest pick-up is 8:30pm.
Owner updates
We are more than happy to keep in contact with you throughout your dogs stay. We can send you messages, photos and videos as much as you require.
Licensed and inspected
The Collar Club Ipswich is licensed by Ipswich Borough Council (licence no. AWL0005) for home boarding and day care in Ipswich. We are inspected against council standards for animal welfare, home safety and record-keeping.
Maximum 5 guest dogs at any one time.
Ready to plan their stay?
Send us an enquiry with your dates and we'll guide you through the next steps.
Going away?
Give them a holiday of their own.