FAQs
How do I register my dog with SkyHi?
We require proof of current vaccinations (rabies, distemper parvo, bordatella), a liability waiver, and a waiver with permission to post pictures of your dog on our social media accounts before your dog can come to SkyHi.
Follow this link to get going! https://skyhikennel.gingrapp.com/customer
What does registration mean?
Registering means your dog has all the necessary paperwork and is in our system. Paperwork includes-a liability waiver, a waiver with permission to post pictures of your dog, vaccination history, emergency contacts, and behavioral & dietary notes. All registered dogs are eligible for reservations at our indoor daycare facility once a trial day has been successfully completed. Training and boarding must be reserved ahead of time. You can make reservations through your account rather than email or calling us. Once registered, you will also be able to view report cards and pictures of your dog during their stay with us.
Does SkyHi have 2 locations?
Yes.
SkyHi Kennel Boarding- 6445 St. Louis Gulch * By appointment only
All weekday boarders are shuttled to the boarding facility. Pickup and drop off on Saturday and Sunday occur between 8:30-10:00 am, or 4:30-6:00 pm at the boarding facility.
SkyHi Kennel Indoor Daycare and Training Facility- 1350 Cherry Ave.
Why does my dog need a day of daycare before boarding?
SkyHi Kennel requires a trial day of daycare before boarding to reduce stress and separation anxiety. All trial days are free of charge. We have found that dogs that come to the facility for shorter stints of time before boarding respond better to the boarding process. Once they have successfully completed a trial day, all dogs interested in boarding must maintain on average half a day of daycare per week to remain eligible for boarding.
Why can't I pick-up and drop-off my dog whenever I want?
There are several reasons we control pick-up/drop-off times and require appointments:
1) The dogs get very excited when new dogs show-up. we try to reduce that arousal by making the arrivals predictable and controlled.
2) We are very small scale and do not have the staff required to have someone in the office waiting for arrivals. Staff at the kennel are in charge of training, cleaning, hiking, feeding, and cleaning, and it makes our duties more easily accomplished if we can get these things done without interruption.
3) We are a board-and-train kennel which means we often are in-training, and/or have dogs out off-lead. We control the environment to make our training safer and more effective.
4) The boarding kennel is also the home of the owner and her family, and they would like some privacy throughout the week.
What vaccinations do you require?
Rabies, Bordatella, Distemper Parvo. We require proof of current vaccination history before your dog can enter any of our facilities. We do not allow self-administered vaccinations unless you have received official verification of paperwork from your vet. All puppies must have had their final round of shots. Additionally, we require owners to keep track of and provide any updated records as they are received in years following initial registration.
What should I send with my dog for daycare?
You can provide any special food or treats if your dog is allergic or on a specific diet. Otherwise, we pretty much have it covered! We have just about every dog item you can think of at our facility.
What should I send with my dog for boarding?
Most boarders come with their own bedding, treats, and food. We recommend that boarders remain on their own food as changing of food and treats can cause disruption to their digestion system. We provide toys, bowls, and bedding.
Do you keep large and small dogs separate?
Our play groups consist of both large and small dogs. We expect all daycare dogs to be social regardless of size.
Is boarding charge by day or night?
We charge by calendar day. This means you will be charged the full rate of $35 even on the day you pick up, no matter what time you pick up. The day you pickup does not count as a "daycare day".
How old does my dog have to be to board and use daycare?
We are happy to accommodate any dog over the age of 4 months with complete vaccinations.
Can my intact dog come for daycare?
For daycare and boarding, we allow intact dogs up to 10 months of age.
Why is my dog so tired?
We often get asked why dogs come home from SkyHi so darn tired! The answer is simple-they had a lot of fun! They receive a combination of physical and mental stimulation all day long. Most of our dogs are playing, hiking, and running around all day. Many dogs get more exercise than they would on a typical day at home. Because we know how exhausting a day of daycare or boarding can be, young puppies or older dogs are offered lots of naps. If you would like your dog to receive more break time, please let our staff know upon drop off.
Why is my dog so thirsty?
All SkyHi dogs have access to water in all yards and all kennels. They are typically exerting themselves more than they would during a typical day at home. Sometimes they are having so much fun playing that they forget to drink!
What are the potential risks of bringing a dog to daycare or boarding?
*Note, each owner sings a waiver stating that SkyHi is not responsible for illness, injury, or property damage when registering their dog. Once you sign this waiver, you are choosing to use SkyHi knowing there are potential risks.
Illness- Any time you send your dog to a place that sees are large amount of dogs (dog park, the vet's office, pet stores, kennels) you run the risk of exposing your dog to disease. This could be equated to a child catching a cold when they go to daycare or school. It is common for illness to spread throughout heavily populated dog places in Helena multiple times per year. Also, understand that even if you vaccinate your dog, they may still catch an illness. The same is true for humans who vaccinate against the flu, but may still able to contract it. Please seek your vet's advice if you have any concerns about disease.
Injury- SkyHi Kennel dogs are monitored by staff throughout their stay. We take a highly-managed approach to introducing dogs into play groups. Dogs who are sent to daycare or boarding will be put in yards with other dogs, unless the owner specifies otherwise. When dogs are with other dogs (or by themselves), they are susceptible to injuries.
Property Damage- SkyHi Kennel provides each dog with the bedding and toys their owners provide. Dogs may behave differently when boarded than they do at home. This means there is potential for their belongings to be chewed or damaged. If you choose to not send belongings with your dog, we provide Kuranda hammock beds, blankets, and toys. If you are concerned about damage being done to your dog's belongings please opt to use our supplies rather than risk your own!
We require proof of current vaccinations (rabies, distemper parvo, bordatella), a liability waiver, and a waiver with permission to post pictures of your dog on our social media accounts before your dog can come to SkyHi.
Follow this link to get going! https://skyhikennel.gingrapp.com/customer
What does registration mean?
Registering means your dog has all the necessary paperwork and is in our system. Paperwork includes-a liability waiver, a waiver with permission to post pictures of your dog, vaccination history, emergency contacts, and behavioral & dietary notes. All registered dogs are eligible for reservations at our indoor daycare facility once a trial day has been successfully completed. Training and boarding must be reserved ahead of time. You can make reservations through your account rather than email or calling us. Once registered, you will also be able to view report cards and pictures of your dog during their stay with us.
Does SkyHi have 2 locations?
Yes.
SkyHi Kennel Boarding- 6445 St. Louis Gulch * By appointment only
All weekday boarders are shuttled to the boarding facility. Pickup and drop off on Saturday and Sunday occur between 8:30-10:00 am, or 4:30-6:00 pm at the boarding facility.
SkyHi Kennel Indoor Daycare and Training Facility- 1350 Cherry Ave.
Why does my dog need a day of daycare before boarding?
SkyHi Kennel requires a trial day of daycare before boarding to reduce stress and separation anxiety. All trial days are free of charge. We have found that dogs that come to the facility for shorter stints of time before boarding respond better to the boarding process. Once they have successfully completed a trial day, all dogs interested in boarding must maintain on average half a day of daycare per week to remain eligible for boarding.
Why can't I pick-up and drop-off my dog whenever I want?
There are several reasons we control pick-up/drop-off times and require appointments:
1) The dogs get very excited when new dogs show-up. we try to reduce that arousal by making the arrivals predictable and controlled.
2) We are very small scale and do not have the staff required to have someone in the office waiting for arrivals. Staff at the kennel are in charge of training, cleaning, hiking, feeding, and cleaning, and it makes our duties more easily accomplished if we can get these things done without interruption.
3) We are a board-and-train kennel which means we often are in-training, and/or have dogs out off-lead. We control the environment to make our training safer and more effective.
4) The boarding kennel is also the home of the owner and her family, and they would like some privacy throughout the week.
What vaccinations do you require?
Rabies, Bordatella, Distemper Parvo. We require proof of current vaccination history before your dog can enter any of our facilities. We do not allow self-administered vaccinations unless you have received official verification of paperwork from your vet. All puppies must have had their final round of shots. Additionally, we require owners to keep track of and provide any updated records as they are received in years following initial registration.
What should I send with my dog for daycare?
You can provide any special food or treats if your dog is allergic or on a specific diet. Otherwise, we pretty much have it covered! We have just about every dog item you can think of at our facility.
What should I send with my dog for boarding?
Most boarders come with their own bedding, treats, and food. We recommend that boarders remain on their own food as changing of food and treats can cause disruption to their digestion system. We provide toys, bowls, and bedding.
Do you keep large and small dogs separate?
Our play groups consist of both large and small dogs. We expect all daycare dogs to be social regardless of size.
Is boarding charge by day or night?
We charge by calendar day. This means you will be charged the full rate of $35 even on the day you pick up, no matter what time you pick up. The day you pickup does not count as a "daycare day".
How old does my dog have to be to board and use daycare?
We are happy to accommodate any dog over the age of 4 months with complete vaccinations.
Can my intact dog come for daycare?
For daycare and boarding, we allow intact dogs up to 10 months of age.
Why is my dog so tired?
We often get asked why dogs come home from SkyHi so darn tired! The answer is simple-they had a lot of fun! They receive a combination of physical and mental stimulation all day long. Most of our dogs are playing, hiking, and running around all day. Many dogs get more exercise than they would on a typical day at home. Because we know how exhausting a day of daycare or boarding can be, young puppies or older dogs are offered lots of naps. If you would like your dog to receive more break time, please let our staff know upon drop off.
Why is my dog so thirsty?
All SkyHi dogs have access to water in all yards and all kennels. They are typically exerting themselves more than they would during a typical day at home. Sometimes they are having so much fun playing that they forget to drink!
What are the potential risks of bringing a dog to daycare or boarding?
*Note, each owner sings a waiver stating that SkyHi is not responsible for illness, injury, or property damage when registering their dog. Once you sign this waiver, you are choosing to use SkyHi knowing there are potential risks.
Illness- Any time you send your dog to a place that sees are large amount of dogs (dog park, the vet's office, pet stores, kennels) you run the risk of exposing your dog to disease. This could be equated to a child catching a cold when they go to daycare or school. It is common for illness to spread throughout heavily populated dog places in Helena multiple times per year. Also, understand that even if you vaccinate your dog, they may still catch an illness. The same is true for humans who vaccinate against the flu, but may still able to contract it. Please seek your vet's advice if you have any concerns about disease.
Injury- SkyHi Kennel dogs are monitored by staff throughout their stay. We take a highly-managed approach to introducing dogs into play groups. Dogs who are sent to daycare or boarding will be put in yards with other dogs, unless the owner specifies otherwise. When dogs are with other dogs (or by themselves), they are susceptible to injuries.
Property Damage- SkyHi Kennel provides each dog with the bedding and toys their owners provide. Dogs may behave differently when boarded than they do at home. This means there is potential for their belongings to be chewed or damaged. If you choose to not send belongings with your dog, we provide Kuranda hammock beds, blankets, and toys. If you are concerned about damage being done to your dog's belongings please opt to use our supplies rather than risk your own!