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, Private Lessons, 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

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 2025 holiday schedule:

April 18-21 (Easter);
May 23-27 (Memorial Day);
July 3-7 (Independence Day);
August 29 - September 2 (Labor Day);
November 26 - December 1 (Thanksgiving);
December 23 - January 2 (Christmas/New Year's)

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. If you will be more than 15 minutes late to your scheduled appointment, please let me know as soon as possible. I try to accommodate a time that works best for you, but please be aware that I do have other things scheduled and other commitments. Please stick to your appointment time as closely as possible to avoid having to reschedule your pick up or drop off. Communication goes a long way, please just let me know of any foreseeable issues.

What all is included in your programs?

Boarding (overnight or day stays) includes let outs, one on one time with me, enrichment toys, treats, DogTV, and being absolutely spoiled. Every dog will also take home some special gifts as a thank you for staying that you can spoil them with when they get home or that they used during their stay with me.

Board and Trains include crate training as a default for all dogs and they will be crated during their stay. It also includes everything that is listed in the program on my dog training information page as far as training is concerned. Dogs will also get treated like pets here, with treats and toys and fun time as well as training time. Dogs will go home with a complementary go home lesson, slip leash, snap leash, and a bag of goodies upon graduation from their board and train program as a thank you for enrolling. If your board and train includes any tools, they are not included in the price and will be added to your invoice.

All of my classes include a slip leash and a snap leash to use during your lessons. Please bring these leashes and any tools to each session, as they are my preferred tools. Tools are not included in your class price and will be added to your invoice. Please also bring your dog's favorite treats and a favorite toy to use during class. Make sure you bring lots, but if you do run out I can offer some for purchase and they will be added to your invoice.

Do you require meet and greets or dog training consultations? Do you offer trial stays prior to signup up for a service? What if I decide I do not want to continue with training?

For all boarding dogs, I do not require a meet and greet. You are always welcome to come and take a tour of my home and schedule a meet and greet if you would like. I also offer the option of a 1 night stay before committing to a longer stay to make sure that your dog will do well boarding in my home.

All of my board and trains and my training classes require a meet and greet. This meet and greet will be done at my home so you can see my training space, the kennel room, and take a tour of my home. We will also sit down and develop a training plan together for your dog so that we are both on the same page for their training. We will discuss any goals, concerns, or lifestyle needs that your dog may need to work on during their training.

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 will consider long term boarding on a case by case basis. This service is limited to clients that have a definite start and end date. I will be very selective on who I will allow to come for long-term boarding since it limits my ability to travel or to take days off for my own dogs. I typically will reduce the fee for this service and then just add on anything I use or need for your dog for each weekly bill. If you pay the full price, I will include all the standard treats, toys, and goodies within the price of their stay.

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.