© All rights reserved | Wilde Acres MD | 2024
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Wilde Acres has staff onsite 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Training and Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.
The kennel staff is onsite from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The kennel is closed and locked from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and there is no overnight staff at this time.
You must pick up your dog during business hours. Wilde Acres does not accommodate after-hours pickups or drop-offs.
Holiday reservations should be made well in advance. Wilde Acres books up fast!
For major holidays such as the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve/Day, and Spring Break week, Wilde Acres recommends making a reservation at least a few months in advance.
Drop-off and pickup times are scheduled in advance. Please arrive at your scheduled time promptly. If you arrive before your scheduled drop-off or pickup window, please stay in your vehicle or outside of the office until the previous client has left.
The check-in day is a billable day no matter what time you arrive.
If you schedule and pick up your dog(s) before 12:00 p.m., you will not be charged for that day. If you check out after 12:00 p.m., you will be charged for that day.
When deciding to train or board your dog at Wilde Acres, please start by watching the virtual tour, reading the full description of the facility, and consulting the Frequently Asked Questions to get a sense of the place, the methodology, and to determine if it’s a good fit overall.
In addition, to be added to the list for the next monthly tour for owners, please get in touch with a Wilde Acres staff member to find out the next date and time.
Those still interested in visiting in person before boarding or booking a training retreat can schedule a consultation with a Wilde Acres trainer ($300 deposit).
For everyone’s safety, all dogs are required to be on-leash while on Wilde Acres property. It is the owner’s responsibility to have a leash for drop-off. Leashes will be returned to the owner during pick-up.
If you cancel a training retreat with less than 7 days’ notice or do not show up for your training retreat, your deposit will be forfeited.
Wilde Acres does not accept cancellations over the phone or via email. All cancellation requests must be submitted using the client portal. Please note that if you cancel on the same day or no-show for boarding, you will be charged for the entire scheduled stay.
Owners who repeatedly cancel reservations or show up outside of their scheduled appointment times will be required to provide a non-refundable deposit equal to 2 days of lodging for each future reservation.
Wilde Acres defines a no-show reservation as more than 3 hours after the scheduled check-in time, at which time, the reservation is canceled.
If dogs are not picked up by Wilde Acres Training & Boarding’s office closing time of 4:00 p.m., then the owner automatically authorizes overnight boarding appropriate for their dog(s). The cost will be added to the bill.
Yes, the entire facility is heated and air-conditioned. Your dog will be comfortable and safe at Wilde Acres Training & Boarding no matter the season or weather.
Wilde Acres does not usually offer any discounts or coupons. However, if you are experiencing financial hardship, and a training session at Wilde Acres could be of help, we can offer discounted rates (normally 10-15% off) on a case-by-case basis. If this applies to you, please contact Wilde Acres for more information.
The ideal time to begin training a dog is under six months old. As a dog ages, behavior patterns become more ingrained and less malleable. However, as long as a dog can move around comfortably, Wilde Acres Boarding & Training can build motivation, and a motivated dog can learn. Progress is always possible!
Wilde Acres Training & Boarding offers a balanced approach to dog training using science-based training methods built on a relationship of confidence and trust between the dog and the handler/owner.
Wilde Acres fosters this relationship by hand-feeding dogs during training. After the dog responds consistently to basic behaviors with hand feeding, we layer in the use of leash pressure to promote additional behaviors. By convincing the dog that what you want them to do is also what they want to do, you minimize conflict for the dog, and you are well on your way to an obedient pup!
The Wilde Acres guidelines for dog training are based on those taught at The Michael Ellis School for Dog Trainers. To learn more about Michael Ellis’s philosophy, watch this video on YouTube.
Fifteen minutes and a lifetime! Your dog is constantly learning about the world around him and will continue to learn as long as he lives. Practicing 15-30 minutes every day will keep obedience cues and skills in sharp focus. Dogs with behavioral issues require more time.
The more you expect out of your dog’s behavior, the longer and pricier the training process. Other considerations include the dog’s age, characteristics, and the amount of time and effort the owner can put into the training process.
Every training retreat at Wilde Acres includes follow-up sessions called handler classes. After a dog has completed a training retreat, both owner and dog are eligible to attend weekly handler classes. Handler classes are designed to help dog owners handle their dogs the way the Wilde Acres staff did, thus getting better behaviors. These classes will help owners feel completely confident in their dog and their skills.
Wilde Acres staff recommends attending at least the number of classes that corresponds to the number of weeks your dog spent at the training retreat.
Some of the skills practiced in a handler class:
Those interested in private lessons can first schedule a new client consultation. If a private lesson package follows a consultation, the consultation fee will be applied to the cost of the lessons.
Prices are as follows:
A $300 deposit is required for all Puppy Foundations and Standalone training retreats. The deposit goes toward the total cost of the training retreat.
All clients considering a behavior modification program for their dog must first schedule a new client consultation ($300). If a behavior modification retreat or a private lesson package follows the consultation, the fee will be applied to the cost of the selected program, replacing the standard deposit.
Regardless of the program or package selected, clients pay the remaining amount due when dropping off their dogs. The deposit will be forfeited if there is a late cancellation or no-show.
An exit bath is included for every dog on the last day of its training day or boarding stay.
While we will make every effort to trim your dog’s nails and/or bathe your dog at your request, the health, safety, and well-being of your dog is our priority. Some dogs become anxious and overly agitated during nail trims and baths, and we will not perform these services if we feel that the dog’s health and/or our staff’s safety may be jeopardized.
For additional grooming services, please see our grooming price list.
No. The Safe & Sound Boarding program at Wilde Acres is only available to clients who have trained at Wilde Acres in the past or have a training retreat scheduled.
If you would like to board your dog at Wilde Acres, book a training retreat today.
Payment for Safe & Sound Boarding stays, including any additional services added, is due at checkout.
The check-in day is a billable day no matter what time you arrive.
Wilde Acres accommodates special diets and dogs with allergies. Please notify the staff of any allergies before your dog’s stay, as well as provide any medications/supplements for your dog.
Wilde Acres trainers and staff are happy to feed your dog raw, wet, kibble, homemade, frozen, or whatever food your dog typically eats. Wilde Acres does not supply food for boarding dogs; please bring your dog’s food. This ensures your dog’s diet stays consistent and avoids stomach problems.
Wilde Acres does not give dogs random food or treats. The trainers only present dogs with the food their owner provides.
Wilde Acres does not offer daily boarding services.
Wilde Acres does not accept reservations for cats, kittens, or other pets besides dogs.
Wilde Acres provides an exit bath as an add-on service for $50 (per dog).
While we will make every effort to trim your dog’s nails and/or bathe your dog at your request, the health, safety, and well-being of your dog is our priority. Some dogs become anxious and overly agitated during nail trims and baths, and we will not perform these services if we feel that the dog’s health and/or our staff’s safety may be jeopardized.
Just as grooming ourselves is essential to our health, grooming our dogs is essential to their health. Dog grooming is essential to a happy and healthy life for your pet.
Grooming is the regular maintenance of your pet’s skin, coat, nails, and ears. To keep your pup’s skin and coat in good condition while also maintaining your pet’s coat at home, bring your dog regularly to a professional groomer. This relationship is important to your dog’s overall health.
Regular ear cleaning can prevent ear infections and other issues caused by a build-up of wax or hair inside the ear canal. Monthly nail trimming is also a must! The “quick” inside a dog’s nails is constantly growing to the length of the nail. Monthly nail trimming or dremmeling prevents the quick from growing too long which can cause issues with walking, and in very extreme cases, deformation of the feet. Getting your pet’s nails trimmed once a month stops the quick from growing too long and allows your professional groomer to keep those nails at a maintainable length.
All dogs require regular grooming regardless of coat type. Whether your dog has short hair, a double-coat, or a curly or a long coat, it requires regular grooming to ensure the health of its skin, coat, nails, and ears. Different breeds require different attention according to their coats.
Stephanie Cortez, who leads the grooming team at Wilde Acres, has the following:
Stephanie was raised with Cocker Spaniels, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, an iguana, and rats. Passionate about animals, she began her grooming career at age 16 as a bather. This job allowed her to combine her passions: art and dogs. Stephanie attended Paragon School of Pet Grooming in Michigan and has been an Accredited Professional Groomer since 2000. Her work history includes positions in both corporate salons and small businesses. Stephanie has been a salon manager for over a decade. She attends a yearly grooming expo to continue her education, brush up on skills, and stay up-to-date on the industry.
Stephanie takes great pride in her work. Her mission is to connect with owners and groom their pets in the most comfortable, precise, and loving way possible. She understands that grooming can be scary until a dog is on a regular grooming schedule, and she uses patience and understanding to gain your pet’s trust in the grooming process.
Regular grooming is an important element of your dog’s health and well-being. Let Stephanie pamper your pooch and support good hygiene at the same time!
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Short-haired dogs require minimal grooming compared to other breeds, though they still require regular maintenance. Most people believe that short hair means less hair, but short-haired breeds still shed. Monthly baths and regular brushing can reduce the amount of shedding, but not completely stop it. The best tool for short-haired dogs is a rubber brush. Rubber brushes are easy to use and have the least chance of over brushing, which can cause brush burn. In addition to brushing, it’s a good idea for your pet to get a monthly bath. Regular baths and brushing will help to reduce shedding and promote healthy skin as well as wash away dead skin cells, which allows new skin growth.
Long-coated dogsLong-coated breeds come with either straight or curly hair. Both coats require regular brushing. Chances are if you own a long-haired breed, you already know that brushing is essential. The type of haircut your pet gets from the groomer can help determine the frequency of brushing. The shorter the cut, the less maintenance. The best tools to use on long-haired dogs are a slicker brush, a metal comb, and a detangling spray. These breeds are the most susceptible to matting. To prevent this, have a conversation with your professional groomer to determine what length works for your dog and the maintenance required for that particular cut.
Double-coated DogsBecause they have two different coats, double-coated breeds require much more brushing than short-haired dogs. These pups have a soft undercoat in addition to the hard topcoat. If you are constantly sweeping up hair tumbleweeds in your house, you likely have a double-coated breed. Dogs with these coats need frequent brushing at home in addition to monthly maintenance at a groomer. The best tools for a double-coated breed are a slicker brush, an undercoat rake, and a metal comb. Monthly grooming, along with regular brushing at home, will keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy by removing the dead undercoat to help the skin breathe.
Yes! Wilde Acres Training & Boarding will first assess each dog to determine the aggressive triggers and whether it has human aggression, dog aggression, or both. In the assessment consultation, a Wilde Acres trainer will provide the best management tactics to help the owner/handler and the dog.
These are normal puppy behaviors! If a puppy were with its littermates, they would be biting and wrestling one another all day long. Because you use your hands to engage a puppy, your hands will get bitten. Puppies bite, bark, and growl to get attention. This means they want to be engaged, which is why it’s the perfect time to train—puppies are focused, motivated, active, and ready to learn!
Your dog’s safety is Wilde Acres Training & Boarding’s priority. Wilde Acres trainers and staff are extremely careful about which dogs interact when on site. Most Wilde Acres clients are either puppies or the owner’s or other staff members’ dogs that have been trained since they were puppies.
Wilde Acres trainers and staff members are already familiar with many of the dogs onsite, know their play styles, and can determine which dogs are most likely to get along. If a boarding dog needs a new play partner, Wilde Acres trainers will analyze the play styles of all the dogs and find the most likely happy pairing. Dogs are closely observed any time they are interacting, and are never allowed in the yard without a staff member.
Please notify Wilde Acres if your dog is likely to go into a heat cycle during her stay. This happens frequently and is part of housing dogs, so it is not disqualifying in any way. If your dog is not a self cleaner and requires extra bathing, a normal bath/grooming fee will be added.
Absolutely. Please let a Wilde Acres staff member know in advance whether or not your dog has been spayed or neutered.
Currently, Wilde Acres does not have a vet on staff.
If your dog has a medical issue or emergency while at Wilde Acres, a staff member will immediately contact you to make a plan together. Ideally, you or another emergency contact on file will pick up your dog.
If there are no other options and your dog is not well, a Wilde Acres staff member will take your dog to a nearby veterinarian’s office. Which vet Wilde Acres chooses will be based on proximity, wait time, cost, quality, reputation, and capabilities. If Wilde Acres staff needs to take your dog to the vet, you are liable for any and all vet bills and other related charges. Wilde Acres is not responsible for any charges or damages incurred at the vet’s office.
Wilde Acres is happy to give any medications and supplements needed. Please provide instructions on your profile using the client portal before dropping off your dog. If your dog requires special treats to disguise the medication (peanut butter, pill pockets, etc.), please bring those as well. Wilde Acres does not charge an additional fee for administering medications unless your dog is taking five or more medications.
© All rights reserved | Wilde Acres MD | 2024