Every year we have the same slightly awkward conversation in November with someone lovely whose dog we simply cannot fit in. So, plainly: here is when to ask.
The short version
- Thanksgiving — six to eight weeks ahead. Early October is comfortable.
- Christmas and New Year — by mid-October. This is the one that goes first, and it goes fast.
- Spring break — four to six weeks ahead.
- An ordinary weekend — a week or two is usually plenty.
Why we fill up sooner than a kennel would
We keep the numbers small on purpose. The dogs stay in our home with full run of the fenced yard, not in rows of runs, and that means there is a real ceiling on how many we can take. A kennel with forty spaces can absorb a late holiday rush. We cannot, and we would rather turn a booking down than take on more dogs than we can properly watch.
Book the meet-and-greet, not just the stay
Every new dog visits first, so the actual thing to get on the calendar is the meet-and-greet. If you are hoping for Christmas and we have never met your dog, aim to come out in October. The visit itself is easy — half an hour, no obligation, and your dog gets to decide whether they like the place.
If you have already left it late
Ask anyway. Cancellations happen, plans shift, and we keep an informal list. Tell us your dates and how flexible you can be — a stay that can start a day either side is much easier for us to place.
Send us your dates and we will tell you honestly what we have got.