Evaluations
What Is an Evaluation & Why Do We Do It?
An evaluation helps us make sure every dog is safe, comfortable, and a good fit for our pack. It allows us to observe your dog’s temperament, body language, and comfort level around new people and other dogs in a calm, controlled setting.
With years of experience reading pack dynamics, we can spot stress or tension early and step in before small issues become problems. Evaluations also give your dog a chance to meet us while you are present, helping build trust and familiarity before their stay.
The result is a safer environment, less anxiety, better social experiences, and a more enjoyable stay for everyone involved.
Why Do You Need to Meet My Dog?
Meeting your dog helps us understand their stress level, confidence, and excitement in a new environment. We watch simple signals like body language, eye contact, and whether they are comfortable taking a treat. This tells us if a dog is just excited, cautious, or truly anxious.
Based on what we see, we tailor the introduction. Shy or nervous dogs are introduced slowly, often starting with a calm, friendly dog who helps them feel safe. More confident dogs may move into social time more quickly.
We also observe how your dog interacts with others, whether they are overly excited, respectful, or calm. Taking the time to do this upfront helps us create a positive first experience, which builds confidence and keeps every dog safe and comfortable.
Ready to Schedule an Evaluation?
Evaluations are held Saturday afternoons only and are by appointment only. Scheduling them this way allows us to carefully control which dogs your dog meets and keep the environment calm and positive during their first visit.
This extra step helps reduce stress, creates a better first impression, and keeps both dogs and people safe.
Human Behavior At the Ranch
For safety reasons, small children are not allowed inside the play yard during evaluations. This rule protects both the dogs and the children and is not negotiable. Some dogs have had limited or negative experiences with small children and may become frightened by sudden movement or loud noises.
Children are welcome to watch from outside the play yard as long as they remain at least 12 feet from the fence and are supervised by a parent. Our goal is for everyone to have a safe and positive experience. Preventing risky situations is always better than dealing with accidents.
***PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH THE PLAY YARD FENCE.***
We rarely have dog altercations at the ranch and we prefer to keep it that way. Most dogs will not fight without a reason, however they will fight, and brutally so, for the attention of a human. For this reason, we request that you stay at least 12 feet away from the fence at all times.
PLEASE Drive Slowly On Our Street:
The lives of our pets and neighbor kids depend on it.
Java and Dakota Thank you