FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

At Olowalu Dog Ranch we realize that dogs require a great amount of physical, mental and emotional stimulation in order to live a happy, healthy life. While staying with us at Olowalu Dog Ranch, they'll experience all-day play that emphasizes enrichment and socialization. Daily sensory stimulation during group play benefits the mental and physical well-being of our guests by;​ ​ - Stimulating their natural instincts - Providing a mental & physical workout - Allowing them to run free and act like dogs while still under trained supervision ​ Since our guests spend so much time together we are very protective of who we allow into our little oasis to ensure it stays a happy and safe environment. We do require an initial interview to make sure we are a good fit for one another. There's more information on this in the FAQ section or we would be happy to talk about it. ​ Ultimately, we know that your dog is your family - at ODR, we are dog lovers and we take the care of yours very seriously. We are here to provide love and support for your furry friend while you are away, showing them all the care and attention we can until you return.

We require an Initial Interview to make sure we are a good fit for each other before you can reserve nights or book Day Camp for your dog. We want you to come see the Ranch to make sure you are comfortable and excited for your dog to stay with us for Day Camp, Boarding or Training. Our property is 100% devoted to dogs and their care and we want to show it off. ​ For our part, we get an opportunity to see how your dog interacts with our in house guests. Since we are a social boarding facility we take great care to keep our furry guests happy and safe. We like to think of Olowalu Dog Ranch like an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness. There are really only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment and we go into much more detail about them further along in the FAQ section. During the Initial Interview, we will get you all the information to get setup in our system.

In a short answer, no. That being said, we welcome all "good boys & girls". The reason for this is we are a communal style Boarding/Day Care facility and need to ensure the safety (and fun!) of our current guests & pack mates. We like to think of Olowalu Dog Ranch like an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness. There are really only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment and we go into much more detail about them further along in this section.

We are located in the Olowalu Valley in West Maui, behind Maui Paintball. Since we are in a rural area, we meet our new clients near the Olowalu General Store so they can follow us back for their Initial Interview. This way we can make sure you don't get lost on the way back to our Ranch.

We want you to come see the Ranch to make sure you are comfortable and excited for your dog to stay with us for Day Camp, Boarding or Training. Our property is 100% devoted to dogs and their care and we want to show it off. ;) ​ For our part, we get an opportunity to see how your dog interacts with our in house guests. Since we are a social boarding facility we take great care to keep our furry guests happy and safe. We like to think of Olowalu Dog Ranch like an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness. There are really only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment and we go into much more detail about them further along in the FAQ section.

We will meet you at the yellow gate near "Fish Taco El Blue" food truck in Olowalu. This way you can follow us back to the Ranch. When we get back to the Ranch gates we will take you dog's leash from you and lead you both into the grounds. We will have you stay in the office while we introduce them to the dogs in the Play Paddocks. During this time we will: • let them sniff out the yard first and get a feel for the area • introduce them to the dogs that are staying here at the time (some dogs prefer one-on-one, depending on confidence) • let them play together as long as they like • let them come inside to check out the Bunkhouse • let them settle down for a while • possibly go out for more play time (if they want) When you return to pick up your dog we will give you a tour of our facility and answer any questions you may have and we will tell you how your pup did during his evaluation :)

All dogs are good dogs, some just might not interact in the best manner with groups of other dogs. Dog's social behavior is the main thing we are looking for during the initial Meet & Greet. Since our guests spend so much time playing together during their stay with us, we make sure that every dog that boards with us shows safe behaviors around other dogs. Dogs can play in ways that are considered rude or aggressive, which can lead to injuries and fights. Some signs of bad dog play are: Rough play: Body slamming, mounting, mouthing too hard, or being pushy Fear: A dog might run away, hide, or stand over another dog for a long time Growling: Growling can be a sign of play, but it can also escalate to aggression Chasing: Chasing can be a sign of predatory behavior that can be dangerous We want to make sure that every member of "our pack" brings good, happy, and safe energy to the others. This way you can enjoy your time away from home knowing your dog is having a great time!

There a few key things we are looking for during the Meet & Greet. Mainly, we want to see how your dog is around the dogs that are currently staying with us. We want to see how they react when approached by the other dogs and how they are being approached. Overtly dominant, aggressive or domineering actions are on one far end of the spectrum but we also look out for the other end of the spectrum; if your dog is too shy, overwhelmed, and over-stressed it might be a sign that our style of boarding may not be best for them. We are trying to tell how they will settle in on a future stay with us by how they handle our group setting. We deeply care about every pup staying with us and want to make sure that yours is happy and excited to be at our Ranch, not scared or aggressive. Lastly, we want to see how your dog is when there is no direct human supervision. There are a few moments during the day where our staff members may be in another paddock or with another dog and they would be let alone or with the pack. Signs of separation anxiety, excessive barking or digging may also be signs that our style of boarding might not be best for them. Some dogs are "human dogs" and really thrive in the company of humans and only humans. Other dogs love to be running free with the pack and are content to be left alone to play. There is room for both types of dogs at the Ranch, we just need to make sure that your dog is enjoying himself and getting along with our guests.

Yes, we have several different enclosed paddocks and regularly separate our guests based on a variety of factors. Size, energy levels, and play style are a few of the key ways we determine where we put our guests to enjoy their day the most.

Before your day comes in for his first day of Day Camp or overnight Boarding we require their health records to be uploaded to our booking system to ensure that all everyone is up to date on their general vaccinations for the safety of all our guests. We require: DHLPP: The DHPP vaccine, also known as the 5-in-1 vaccine, is a combination vaccine that protects dogs from five potentially fatal viral infections. Bordetella: The Bordetella vaccine is an vaccine that protects dogs from kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria and viruses. It can help reduce the severity of the illness and even prevent infection altogether. For Preventatives we do require your dog to be on heartworm and flea/tick preventative and if these are due during his/her stay we would also like to ask you to bring these preventative along so we can administer them.

Please make sure to bring all needed medications with you on Check-In day and we will administer according to the Veterinarians recommendation. As part of our "All-Inclusive" Pricing, we include this in all overnight boardings.

Certainly! When you bring your dog in with you to the Initial Interview, we will give you a full tour of the grounds and show you how your pup will get to spend their days with us.

At Olowalu Dog Ranch, we are committed to ensuring the safest experience possible for your dog. That being said, dogs are like kids and sometimes accidents do happen when playing and running around. Our staff is on the grounds 24/7 and trained in CPR/pet first aid and can handle most knicks and scrapes. For anything more serious, our Veterinary Partners are always there for us in the unlikely event they are needed.

However unlikely and no matter how safe we strive to be, accidents can happen. In the event of illness or injury, the owners of our guest will be notified immediately and the necessary steps will be taken as quickly as possible. Our staff is trained in CPR/Pet First Aid and are on the premises 24/7 to supervise and be there for each and every guest.

For Boarding, Training, and Hikes we require a 48 hour notice for cancellations. For Day Camp we ask you give us 24 hour notice for any cancellation.

Check-In: 9:00am - 10:00am Check-Out: 4:00pm - 6:00pm Any times outside these windows will be to be approved in advance.

If your dog requires any medication or has any special dietary needs, please remember to bring those items with you to Check-In. Outside of that, we have you covered!

Generally, you will find that your dogs is extra happy, slightly tired, and a bit dirty (unless you arranged for a wash). They may be a little thirstier than normal too, so please make sure to keep plenty of water out for them. They may also be slightly sore the next day depending on how hard they normally play, since they will have gotten plenty of playtime while with us!

6:00am - 7:00am : Day starting, dogs are getting up and stampeding over to the play paddocks 9:00am - 10:00am: Interactive play (fetch, maze, hide & seek) 9:30am - 12:30pm: River Adventure Hike (if booked) 12:00pm - 1:00pm: "Lahaina Sun" Sprinkler Fun 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Siesta Time in shady paddock 4:00pm - 4:30pm: CHOW TIME!!! 4:30pm - 5:00pm: Resting in bunkhouse letting dinner settle 5:00pm - Sunset: Final walkabout of the day Past Sunset: Back to bunkhouse and private bunks for sleep

Your dog will have their own private room in our Bunkhouse with their Kuranda Pro elevated, orthopedic bed.

Yes! We have staff here 24/7, including our overnight manager. Someone is always either directly watching the dogs or within earshot of our guests.

For Day Camp we have (2) options for Check-In: 8:00am - 8:30am: Kahekili Beach Park "Airport Beach" 9:00am - 10:00am: Olowalu Dog Ranch Check-Out: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

If your dog requires any medication or has any special dietary needs, please remember to bring those items with you to Check-In. Outside of that, we have you covered!

Generally, you will find that your dogs is extra happy, slightly tired, and a bit dirty (unless you arranged for a wash). They may be a little thirstier than normal too, so please make sure to keep plenty of water out for them. They may also be slightly sore the next day depending on how hard they normally play, since they will have gotten plenty of playtime while with us!

9:00am - 10:00am: Check-In 9:30am - 12:30pm: River Adventure Hike (if booked) 11:00am - 12:00pm: Interactive play (fetch, maze, hide & seek) 12:00pm - 1:00pm: "Lahaina Sun" Sprinkler Fun 2:00pm - 4:00pm: Siesta Time in shady paddock 4:00pm - 4:30pm: CHOW TIME!!! (if pre-arranged) 4:00pm - 6:00pm: Check-Out