Question 1

Why choose Olowalu Dog Ranch?

Accepted Answer

At Olowalu Dog Ranch, we understand that dogs need plenty of physical, mental, and emotional stimulation to live happy, healthy lives. While staying with us, your dog will enjoy all-day play that focuses on enrichment and socialization. Daily sensory stimulation during group play benefits their mental and physical well-being by:

- Stimulating their natural instincts
- Providing a mental & physical workout
- Allowing them to run free and act like dogs while still under trained supervision

Since our guests spend so much time together, we're very protective of who we allow into our little oasis to ensure it stays a happy and safe environment. We do require an initial interview to make sure we're a good fit for one another. There's more information on this in the FAQ section, or we'd be happy to talk about it.

Ultimately, we know that your dog is your family. At ODR, we're dog lovers, and we take the care of yours very seriously. We're here to provide love and support for your furry friend while you're away, showing them all the care and attention we can until you return.

Question 2

How do I book a stay at Olowalu Dog Ranch for my dog?

Accepted Answer

We require an Initial Interview to make sure we are a good fit for each other before you can reserve nights or book Day Camp for your dog.

We want you to come see the Ranch to make sure you are comfortable and excited for your dog to stay with us for Day Camp, Boarding or Training. Our property is 100% devoted to dogs and their care and we want to show it off. 
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For our part, we get an opportunity to see how your dog interacts with our in house guests. Since we are a social boarding facility we take great care to keep our furry guests happy and safe. We like to think of Olowalu Dog Ranch like an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness.  There are really only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment and we go into much more detail about them further along in the FAQ section.

During the Initial Interview, we will get you all the information to get setup in our system.

Question 3

Can any dog come to board or day care?

Accepted Answer

In a short answer, no.

That being said, we welcome all "good boys & girls". The reason for this is we are a communal style Boarding/Day Care facility and need to ensure the safety (and fun!) of our current guests & pack mates. We like to think of Olowalu Dog Ranch like an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness.  There are really only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment and we go into much more detail about them further along in this section.

Question 4

How do I get to Olowalu Dog Ranch?

Accepted Answer

We are located in the Olowalu Valley in West Maui, behind Maui Paintball. Since we are in a rural area, we meet our new clients near the Olowalu General Store so they can follow us back for their Initial Interview. This way we can make sure you don't get lost on the way back to our Ranch.

Question 5

Why do we require a pre-screening interview before booking your dog's stay?

Accepted Answer

We want you to come see the Ranch to make sure you're comfortable and excited for your dog to stay with us for Day Camp, Boarding, or Training. Our property is 100% devoted to dogs and their care, and we want to show it off. 😉 For our part, we get an opportunity to see how your dog interacts with our in-house guests. Since we are a social boarding facility, we take great care to keep our furry guests happy and safe. Think of Olowalu Dog Ranch as an "exclusive community" for dogs (and their owners), just without the stuffiness. There are only a few reasons why a dog wouldn't pass our assessment, and we go into much more detail about them further along in the FAQ section.

Question 6

What happens during the Meet and Greet?

Accepted Answer

We’ll meet you at the yellow gate near the “Fish Taco El Blue” food truck in Olowalu so you can follow us back to the Ranch. Once we arrive, we’ll take your dog’s leash and lead you both onto the property. We’ll sit together in the shade and chat a bit while your dog gets ready to meet the pack.
During the evaluation, we’ll:

Let your dog sniff around and get comfortable in the yard
Introduce them to the dogs staying here (some dogs prefer one-on-one introductions, depending on confidence)
Give them time to play and interact with the pack at their own pace

Once your dog is relaxed and fitting in, we’ll invite you into the play area to see how they’re doing and where they’ll spend their day. After that, we’ll walk up to the Bunkhouse area and give you a tour of the property, including our boarding spaces, and answer any questions you may have.

Question 7

What would be reasons they don't pass?

Accepted Answer

All dogs are good dogs, some just might not interact in the best manner with groups of other dogs.

Dog's social behavior is the main thing we are looking for during the initial Meet & Greet. Since our guests spend so much time playing together during their stay with us, we make sure that every dog that boards with us shows safe behaviors around other dogs. Dogs can play in ways that are considered rude or aggressive, which can lead to injuries and fights. Some signs of bad dog play are:

Rough play: Body slamming, mounting, mouthing too hard, or being pushy
Fear: A dog might run away, hide, or stand over another dog for a long time
Growling: Growling can be a sign of play, but it can also escalate to aggression
Chasing: Chasing can be a sign of predatory behavior that can be dangerous

We want to make sure that every member of "our pack" brings good, happy, and safe energy to the others. This way you can enjoy your time away from home knowing your dog is having a great time!

Question 8

What do we look for during the pre-screening interview?

Accepted Answer

During the Meet & Greet, we look for a few key things. Mainly, we want to see how your dog interacts with the dogs currently staying with us. We observe how they react when approached by other dogs and how they approach others. Overtly dominant, aggressive, or domineering actions are concerning, but we also watch for signs of shyness, overwhelm, or stress, which might indicate that our style of boarding isn't the best fit for them. We're trying to gauge how they will settle in during a future stay by observing their behavior in our group setting. We deeply care about every pup staying with us and want to ensure yours is happy and excited to be at our Ranch, not scared or aggressive.

Lastly, we observe how your dog behaves when there's no direct human supervision. There are moments during the day when our staff may be in another paddock or with another dog, and your dog might be alone or with the pack. Signs of separation anxiety, excessive barking, or digging may also indicate that our style of boarding might not be best for them. Some dogs are "human dogs" and thrive in the company of humans, while others love running free with the pack and are content to be left alone to play. We need to make sure your dog enjoys themselves and gets along with our guests.

Question 9

My dog is (older/puppy/smaller/big boy), is that ok?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have several different enclosed paddocks and regularly separate our guests based on a variety of factors. Size, energy levels, and play style are a few of the key ways we determine where we put our guests to enjoy their day the most.

Question 10

Do you require specific vaccinations or preventatives?

Accepted Answer

Before your day comes in for his first day of Day Camp or overnight Boarding we require their health records to be uploaded to our booking system to ensure that all everyone is up to date on their general vaccinations for the safety of all our guests.

We require:

DHLPP:  The DHPP vaccine, also known as the 5-in-1 vaccine, is a combination vaccine that protects dogs from five potentially fatal viral infections.
Bordetella: The Bordetella vaccine is an vaccine that protects dogs from kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria and viruses. It can help reduce the severity of the illness and even prevent infection altogether.

For Preventatives we do require your dog to be on heartworm and flea/tick preventative and if these are due during his/her stay we would also like to ask you to bring these preventative along so we can administer them.

Question 11

If my dog requires medication, what will happen?

Accepted Answer

Please make sure to bring all needed medications with you on Check-In day and we will administer according to the Veterinarians recommendation. As part of our "All-Inclusive" Pricing, we include this in all overnight boardings.

Question 12

Can I tour the facility?

Accepted Answer

Certainly! When you bring your dog in with you to the Initial Interview, we will give you a full tour of the grounds and show you how your pup will get to spend their days with us.

Question 13

Do dogs ever get hurt?

Accepted Answer

At Olowalu Dog Ranch, we are committed to ensuring the safest experience possible for your dog. That being said, dogs are like kids and sometimes accidents do happen when playing and running around. Our staff is on the grounds 24/7 and trained in CPR/pet first aid and can handle most knicks and scrapes. For anything more serious, our Veterinary Partners are always there for us in the unlikely event they are needed.

Question 14

What happens if my dog gets ill or injured?

Accepted Answer

While we strive to be as safe as possible, accidents can happen. If your dog becomes ill or injured, we'll notify you immediately and take the necessary steps as quickly as possible. Our staff is trained in CPR/Pet First Aid and is on the premises 24/7 to supervise and care for every guest.

Question 15

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Accepted Answer

For Boarding, Training, and Hikes we require a 48 hour notice for cancellations.

For Day Camp we ask you give us 24 hour notice for any cancellation.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS