Helping Dogs Stay Healthy, Happy & Active

Every decision we make is guided by one goal: creating a clean, healthy environment where dogs can safely play, learn, rest, and enjoy their time away from home.

Every group environment carries some level of health risk, whether it’s a dog park, community event, grooming salon, veterinary waiting room, daycare, or boarding facility. Our focus is reducing risk through multiple layers of protection, including vaccination requirements, daily wellness monitoring, thoughtful facility design, cleaning protocols, fresh air circulation, trained handlers, and open communication with pet parents and veterinary partners.

Our Approach to Dog Wellness

Healthy dogs don’t stay healthy because of one policy.

They stay healthy because many small decisions work together.

That’s why our approach combines:

  • Vaccination requirements guided by veterinary recommendations
  • Daily wellness observations throughout every visit
  • Outdoor play and fresh-air environments
  • Facility cleaning and sanitation protocols
  • Air circulation and environmental management
  • Individualized care based on each dog’s needs
  • Open communication with pet parents and veterinary partners

Every layer works together to help create a healthier experience for every guest.

Vaccination Requirements

Vaccinations Are One Part of a Healthier Environment

Vaccination requirements are one of several ways we help support dog wellness in a group setting.

Along with thoughtful facility design, daily observations, sanitation, fresh air, and responsible participation guidelines, vaccines help reduce the likelihood of common canine illnesses and support the health of every guest.

Required Vaccine List

Daily Wellness Observations

Dogs can’t tell us when something feels different.

Throughout the day, our trained handlers observe changes in behavior, mobility, breathing, appetite, energy level, comfort, and overall demeanor.

Recognizing small changes early allows us to respond appropriately, communicate with pet parents, and recommend veterinary follow-up whenever needed. Because every dog deserves personalized attention—not just supervision.

Hospital-Grade Cleaning & Disinfection

Daily cleaning helps maintain a healthier environment for every guest. Routine sanitation is one of several ways we support dog wellness, alongside vaccinations, wellness observations, fresh-air environments, and thoughtful facility design.

Our commitment doesn’t end when the last daycare guest goes home. Best Friends Fur Ever is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. While our overnight team cares for boarding guests, they also prepare the resort for the next day by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting play areas, laundering bedding, sanitizing equipment, and ensuring every space is ready to welcome a new day of happy, healthy dogs.

Air Quality & Fresh Air

A healthy environment goes beyond clean floors and surfaces. Our resorts utilize PetAirapy air purification technology, fresh air circulation, and spacious outdoor play areas to help support overall respiratory health and provide dogs with regular opportunities to enjoy time outside. Together, these measures are part of our multi-layered approach to creating a cleaner, healthier environment for every guest.

Trained Team Members

Every member of our care team is trained to recognize changes in

behavior, appetite, energy level, and overall well-being. Our handlers are PackPro Certified and have completed Basic Pet First Aid and CPR train ing through Pet Emergency Education. Ongoing education helps ensure our team is prepared to provide attentive, professional care every day.

Communication

We believe clear, timely communication is an important part of exceptional care. If we have questions or concerns about your dog’s health or well-being during their stay, we’ll keep you informed using your preferred method of communication. Depending on the situation, that may include updates through the Gingr Pet Parent App, text messages, daily report cards, or a direct phone call. Our goal is to make sure you have the information you need to make informed decisions alongside your veterinarian.

 Veterinary Partnership

Your veterinarian is an important partner in your dog’s care. If questions arise during your dog’s stay, we’ll communicate our observations, provide documentation when appropriate, and encourage follow-up with your veterinarian. If immediate veterinary attention is recommended, we’re conveniently located just around the corner from our trusted veterinary partner, allowing us to help coordinate care quickly while keeping you informed throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Canine Respiratory Disease?

Many pet parents know it as kennel cough.

Veterinarians now often use the broader term Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (CIRDC) because several different viruses and bacteria can cause similar respiratory symptoms.

Rather than describing one specific disease, CIRDC refers to a group of contagious respiratory illnesses that affect a dog’s respiratory system.

The good news is that most dogs recover well with rest and appropriate veterinary care. More importantly, many respiratory illnesses can be reduced through vaccination, early recognition of symptoms, thoughtful facility practices, and responsible pet ownership.

Why Vaccinations Matter

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to help protect dogs from respiratory illness. While no vaccine can prevent every illness, they help reduce the severity of disease, shorten recovery time, lower the risk of complications, and help slow the spread of illness within the dog community.

When more dogs are vaccinated, everyone benefits. This concept, known as herd immunity, helps reduce community spread and offers added protection for puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with underlying health conditions who may be more vulnerable to respiratory illness.

That’s why Best Friends Fur Ever requires core respiratory vaccinations before dogs participate in daycare or boarding. Our vaccination requirements aren’t just about protecting one dog—they’re about helping create a healthier environment for every dog in our care.

How does Best Friends Fur Ever help keep dogs healthy?

Every place where dogs gather carries some level of health risk, whether it’s a dog park, grooming salon, veterinary waiting room, daycare, boarding facility, or training class.

Our focus is reducing that risk through multiple layers of protection, including vaccination requirements, daily wellness monitoring, thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor environments, fresh air circulation, sanitation protocols, trained handlers, and open communication with pet parents and veterinary partners.

While no group environment can eliminate every possibility of illness, we believe prevention, early recognition, and transparency are the best ways to support lifelong dog wellness.

Understanding Herd Immunity 

One vaccinated dog helps protect one dog. A community of vaccinated dogs helps protect everyone.  This concept is called herd immunity. 

When more dogs are vaccinated: 

  • Fewer dogs become infected.  
  • Illness tends to be less severe.  
  • Dogs recover more quickly.  
  • Outbreaks spread more slowly.  
  • Puppies who are too young to be fully vaccinated receive added protection.  
  • Senior dogs and medically vulnerable dogs benefit from reduced community spread.  

Every vaccinated dog contributes to a healthier dog community. That’s why vaccination requirements aren’t simply about one dog. They’re about protecting every dog who shares that environment. 

What Are the Symptoms? 

Every dog is different. 

Some dogs develop only a mild cough and continue acting completely normal. Others may need veterinary care, especially puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with underlying medical conditions. 

Common symptoms include: 

  • Dry or honking cough  
  • Sneezing  
  • Nasal discharge  
  • Eye discharge  
  • Mild fever  
  • Decreased appetite  
  • Low energy  
  • Difficulty exercising  
  • Difficulty breathing (requires immediate veterinary attention)  

If your dog develops coughing, sneezing, or other signs of illness, it’s best to contact your veterinarian before returning to daycare, boarding, grooming, or other places where dogs gather. 

How Respiratory Illness Spreads 

Respiratory illnesses are not unique to daycare. 

Dogs can be exposed anywhere they spend time around other dogs, including: 

  • Veterinary hospitals  
  • Grooming salons  
  • Dog parks  
  • Boarding facilities  
  • Training classes  
  • Community events  
  • Playdates  
  • Apartment buildings with high dog traffic 

When a Dog Isn’t Feeling Their Best

If one of our handlers notices changes that suggest a dog may not be feeling their best, we follow established wellness protocols, communicate promptly with the pet parent, and work alongside their veterinarian whenever appropriate.

This thoughtful approach helps us care for the individual dog while supporting the health of the overall play community.

Our goal is simple: to respond quickly, communicate openly, and ensure every dog receives thoughtful care while keeping you informed every step of the way.

Working Together for More Good Days

Our Commitment to Your Dog’s Health & Safety

Every policy, protocol, and decision we make is guided by one goal: creating a safe, healthy, and enriching environment where every dog can thrive.

Protecting dogs’ health isn’t the result of one product or one procedure. It’s the result of thoughtful planning, daily wellness observations, comprehensive vaccination requirements, professional cleaning and disinfection, trained handlers, quality air management, and open communication with pet parents and veterinarians.

As new research emerges and veterinary recommendations evolve, we remain committed to reviewing our protocols, collaborating with our trusted veterinary partners, investing in our team and facilities, and continually looking for ways to strengthen the care we provide.

Thank you for trusting Best Friends Fur Ever to be part of your dog’s journey. Together, we can help create a healthier community—and more good days—for every dog.

Information Disclaimer

The information provided in this Resource Center is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace the advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations of your veterinarian.

Best Friends Fur Ever regularly reviews this information with guidance from veterinary professionals and current industry best practices. As recommendations regarding canine health and respiratory illness continue to evolve, our health and safety protocols may be updated to reflect the latest available information.

If your dog is showing signs of illness or you have questions about your dog’s individual health, we encourage you to contact your veterinarian.

Last reviewed and updated: August 2026