Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact you to book a service?

To book any of my services or to schedule a phone consultation, please text me at 814-330-3802. Due to my busy schedule, and the amount of spam calls I receive, I do not answer phone calls. If you reach out to me via Facebook messenger or email and I do not respond, please send me a text message as I do not always see things come through on other platforms. I also have a 24/7 texting policy, meaning text me at any time and I will get back to you as soon as I can. I keep my phone on silent so you will not disturb me, but please be mindful that I may be somewhere without service or where I am unable to respond immediately.

How do payments work? What type of payments do you accept?

All clients will fill out a form for the services that they are requesting. Once that form is complete, I will send you an invoice, or multiple invoices, for the service that you have selected. That invoice will include a due date. All invoices must be paid on that date or earlier, but please do not pay invoices really far in advance in case changes need to be made. If invoices are not paid within 5 days of the due date, a 30% fee will be charged.

Board and Trains and Long Term Boarding are all paid on a weekly basis. You will sign up for the duration of the service, but you will be invoiced weekly. This helps spread out the cost for everyone and it helps me continue to pay for supplies and materials as needed opposed to waiting for one large lump sum payment.

Boarding will be issued as one invoice for the duration of your dog's stay. You will pay for this service at pick up. You are also welcome to pay earlier, but please do not pay too far in advance to avoid billing issues. This allows you to be able to make changes to your dates, book well in advance, and cancel with plenty of notice if needed. I do book up in advance, so this allows people to tentatively plan dates and then formalize things later with me when they know more about their trip. If your invoice is not paid at pick up, you must pay it within 5 days or you will be subject to a 30% late fee for your entire bill.

What is consider a "Special Care" dog that would require an additional fee per night for boarding? What if I am unsure if my dog fits this category?

All of my boarding dogs come from a variety of backgrounds, including got reactive dogs. Since it is so common for me to get dogs in here with some dog reactivity or other issues, I will charge you an additional $10 fee per night if I deem your dog fits any of the bullet points listed below. I do cap this at an overall fee of $100 per invoice, so if you have multiple dogs or a longer stay you will not pay more than $100 for your special care dogs. If I deem that your dog actually doesn't fit this category, I will remove the fee off of your invoice prior to pick up or issue you a credit on your next boarding stay or for another one of my services. Please be honest with me about your dog. I would rather be warned of the behavior so I can plan accordingly to keep everyone happy and safe.

The following Issues will create an additional fee:

Puppies (under 6 months)
Seniors (10 and older)
High-Risk Health Issues (standard meds are okay)
Dog Reactivity or Aggression
Extreme Fear or Anxiety
Overly destructive behaviors when confined or left alone
Overly fearful or selective with people
Difficult to handle for the average person
Dirty in the kennel or crate/not potty trained

What days do you consider a boarding holiday?

Holidays are usually a busier time of the year, so you will have to pay more a night for boarding for any of the dates listed below. A multi-dog discount is still available on these dates, but it will be deducted from the higher, holiday rate. Unlike other services, you will not pay a higher rate for the dates of your stay that are outside of the holiday window. Any dates not listed below that are part of your stay will still be charged at the standard rate.

JK9 Pet Services 2026 holiday schedule:

April 3-7 (Easter);
May 22-26 (Memorial Day);
July 3-6 (Independence Day);
September 4-8 (Labor Day);
November 25-30 (Thanksgiving);
December 23 - January 4 (Christmas/New Year's)

What is your pick up and drop off schedule?

All pick up and drop offs are by appointment only. All pick ups and drop offs must be conducted within the time frames listed below. You will choose a specific time within the time window provided for your pick up or drop off day. Any appointments needed outside of this schedule outlined below will be subject to a $25 fee.

My pick up and Drop Schedule:

Monday: 8am to Noon, 7pm to 9pm,

Tuesday - Wednesday: 8am to Noon,

Thursday - Saturday: 8am to Noon or 7pm to 9pm,

Sunday: 7pm to 9pm

What is your set up like? What is a "kennel run"? What style of crates do you use?

Every dog will have supervised access to my fenced in yard, they will never go outside without me or with unfamiliar dogs. I have a wooden, 6 foot, cedar privacy fence with locking gates. I also have a covered porch with ample shade, water, a cot, and outdoor furniture to lounge on when it is nice outside. Every dog will receive 1 or 2 long let outs per day, but the amount of time will depend on the specific dog, the weather, and other factors. Typically long let out will be as long as your dog wants to be outside or at least 30 minutes, depending on my schedule that particular day. The dogs that are crated will get additional time out on every let out.

My kennel room is on the lower level of my house, which is essentially a walk-in finished basement. You can come in with your dog into my entryway for all drop offs and pick ups so it is secure and safe; this entryway is directly accessed from my driveway. There are no stairs into the entryway and seniors or other dogs that cannot do the stairs have the option to be leash walked out front for potty breaks if needed. Otherwise all yard access will be up my basement steps and through the kitchen, they will never have to leave the security of my home. They will not be provided access to the area of my home where my personal dogs are kept, but they will have access to the common areas downstairs and the kitchen.

My booking system is first come first serve for my 4 kennel runs. These are retriever brand kennels from tractor supply that have been divided into two separate kennels. Each kennel run is 5'x5' and basically reaches the ceiling. Each kennel run will have a Kuranda brand cot and water plus any additional items that you would like to send. I also give them a blanket if they are permitted blankets. You are welcome to send anything that you feel would make them comfortable to add to their crate or run.

Once my kennel runs are full, I do have additional space for crate trained dogs. My kennel license allows up to 10 overnight dogs at one time under my care, but I try not to book more than 8 in case of unpredictable overlap or scheduling changes. I do not use wire crates here; they are not easy to clean and are not the safest option for a boarding kennel situation. All dogs will use either a KBC, Ruffland, or Impact brand crate during their stay. I only have one impact crate, which is my largest crate, that is designed for high anxiety dogs specifically. These crates do appear to be more enclosed and "dark", but they are designed that way to help keep your dog calm and safe inside their crate. This also helps reduce barrier fighting and other stimuli that may trigger unwanted behaviors or anxiety while your dog is in their crate.

I also provide every dog with enrichment toys, all-natural chews, and treats throughout the day and occasionally betterbones for the longer-term stays to help make sure everyone is content and happy. I use a thunder ease brand calming plug-in plus an Alzoo brand essential oils plug in in my kennel room. I also have calming chews and sprays as needed for extra support. The kennel room also has its own designated TV that plays a Dog TV subscription service throughout the day.

Here are the 5'x5' Retriever Kennel runs. Each of the runs has a visual barrier between them. Every run has a Kuranda cot, water bucket, blankets, and anything else you would like to send with your dog during their stay. I will also spray their blankets with a calming spray and I use two different styles of calming plug-ins at all times.

Here is the walkway in the kennel room. The high anxiety impact crate and a KBC crate are located in the kennel room along the back wall. The dogs have their own TV to watch that plays Dog TV all day long. Dog TV is a subscription service that is specifically designed for dogs. Based on scientific studies, they enhanced the colors and sounds that dogs respond to the best. This also helps reduce household noises and can help reduce anxiety. Behind me in this photo is the treat bar where all the goodies are stashed.

Here is my entryway and overflow crates. Dogs may be crated in here upon your arrival, so please be aware that they may bark. However, the kennel room door can be closed to help reduce noise from the dogs in that room to help make your dogs arrival less scary. Shown here is a KBC crate and two ruffland crates. Another KBC will be added on top of this one as soon as it is put together. It is currently sitting in that box in this photo since it recently arrived. The rufflands are only used for smaller dogs or when everything else is full since they are more narrow than the other crates.

How long does my dog stay in their kennel? How often do you provide updates?

Every dog will get a potty break 3 to 4 times a day, minimum. The amount of time spent outside varies on the individual dog, weather, and my schedule. Typically I will let the dogs have plenty of time to sniff around and I usually let them tell me when they are ready to come back in. In inclement weather, potty breaks are shorter and additional enrichment toys or chews are given to pass the time in their kennels. They also usually get some indoor time with me too helping with cleaning or other chores.

I try to provide updates twice a day, but sometimes the day gets away from me. If I forget you are always welcome to text me to see how your dog is doing. I have a 24/7 texting policy, because I know what it feels like to miss them randomly when you are doing something during the day that reminds you of your dog. My phone is kept on silent, so feel free to text me at any time to check in and I will respond as soon as I can. Please just keep in mind that I may be busy doing something, be without service, or cannot respond immediately for whatever reason.

Do you conduct dog play groups?

My boarding style focuses on individual let outs only. I do not offer day care style play here and dogs will not interact or play with strange dogs. Dogs from the same household are welcome to play together and go outside together as long as it is safe for them to do so and they get along well. If you are interested in a play group type of setting, I can offer some recommendations for some trainers that may offer this service.

What is your policy for females in heat?

Sometimes we can't plan for when our dogs have their lady time. While all of my girls are now spayed, I lived with the female dog heat cycle in the same house as intact males for over 8 years. I do not accept females in season that are sent here strictly to get them away from the other dogs in the home. However, if your dog happens to go into heat while they are here for their stay, I will crate them to separate them accordingly into another area of my house to avoid any stress or unwanted breeding. I own several intact males and board them regularly, so they must be crated if this happens or picked up to be taken home. If you do have a trip that you cannot cancel and you know your dog is going to go into season, please communicate with me and we can probably work something out for an additional fee.

What happens if my dog gets sick or injured during their stay?

As my waiver states, if there is any risk of your dog needing emergency care I will act immediately to do what is best for your dog. I will try to contact you once, but if it is urgent I will just seek treatment at the best facility that I can find that will see your dog. If they get sick or just aren't feeling well, I will communicate that information with you immediately. I am also overly paranoid so I will communicate anything I may seem that is a bit off to you as well if I feel it might justify a vet visit or mentioning, even if it may seem minor. If your dog is sick and deemed contagious, you will need to come pick up your dog. If your stay is cut short due to injury or illness, your remaining boarding fee is waived. If your dog gets sick or injured during their board and train, I will just reschedule the remaining portion of their training for a later date.

Do you offer long term boarding?

I do offer long term boarding, but it is preferred that you have a specific start and end date in mind. Rescues are provided the option of an open-end boarding that will be billed on a weekly basis, but that is not something I do for clients. All stays that are 14 nights or more will receive a 10% off discount for their entire bill. This discount does not apply if you already have a rescue discount or are already receiving a discounted rate on your stay. This discount also does not apply for board and trains.

Are you licensed and insured?

I hold a PA kennel license through the department of agriculture for my boarding business. I also am insured through state farm for standard business insurance. I carry insurance through Pet Care Insurance for boarding as well as for dog training. I am also a PA licensed retailer and have the ability to sell products to individuals. If you would like any products to take home, please let me know and they can always be added to your invoice. Also check out my Pet Product Discount Group on Facebook. I am also a certified magna wave practitioner and I am certified in Dog/Cat first aid and CPR.

What is the JK9 Pet Product Discount Group? Can I join to get discounts too?

I run a Facebook group called the JK9 Pittsburgh Pet Product Discount Group. This group is run solely by me and only me. Whenever I place an order for a particular brand or product, I will post within the group to allow others to request items at a discounted rate. All you have to do is contact me by the order deadline for that particular brand and let me know what you want. I will then send you an invoice, which must be pre-paid, and I will let you know when your products arrive. You will be responsible for arranging for pick up or paying for any shipping fees if you would like your items shipped to you.