A Gentle Stay at Our Doggy Resort
Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming Kora, a sweet and reserved 7-year-old Labradoodle, for her first stay at our doggy resort. Checking in around 2 PM, this was her first time being away from her family in a long while, and understandably, she was feeling a little timid.
A Quiet & Gentle Introduction
Unlike some of our more energetic guests, Kora preferred to observe from a distance, quietly taking in her new surroundings. She was polite and well-mannered, but she mostly kept to herself, finding comfort in her bed and blankets rather than jumping into group play. We wanted to help her feel at ease, so we moved her bed with us from room to room throughout the day—giving her a sense of security while also helping her get to know us better..
Slow & Steady Comfort
Though shy, one thing was clear—Kora has a great appetite! She happily accepted small treats here and there and had no hesitation when it was time for dinner. It was wonderful to see her enjoying her meal, a reassuring sign that she was settling in at her own pace.
Evening Walk & Relaxation
After dinner, we took her on a short stroll around our big yard, giving her a chance to stretch her legs and explore in a calm, peaceful setting. Afterward, she returned to her cozy spot on her bed, completely relaxed and content for the night.
🐶✨
Kora is definitely a mature, well-trained, and well-behaved girl. After moving her bed into our bedroom, she settled in comfortably, enjoying a Greenie treat before drifting off into a peaceful sleep—staying cozy all through the night.🐶💕
Day 2: Finding Comfort in Her Own Way
In the morning, since she still wasn’t quite ready to socialize with the other dogs, I took her for a leisurely neighborhood walk, and it was clear that she enjoyed it more than anything else so far. She took her time, sniffed around, and did all of her business before returning for a well-earned brunch.
After eating, though, Kora went back to her favorite quiet spot, curling up in her bed and choosing to observe rather than engage with the other pups. We continued to comfort her every 15 minutes or so, offering gentle reassurance so she always knew she was safe and cared for. While she’s still taking things at her own pace, we’re happy to see her slowly settling in. Hopefully, as the day goes on, she’ll start feeling even more at home with us!
Kora remains quite reserved throughout the day, taking things at her own pace. However, she showed a spark of excitement when I took her on another solo walk—something she seemed to truly enjoy. Later, in the backyard, she even played with me a little, running in circles around me with newfound energy.
Inside the house, she’s slowly starting to explore beyond just resting in her bed. It seems she’s found a favorite spot—the kitchen! She’s been roaming around my wife, hopeful for a tasty treat.
After dinner, Kora settled back into her comfort zone, resting peacefully. I truly hope she’s enjoying her stay with us, and we’re happy to give her all the time she needs to feel at home.
Day 3: Her Retreat Continues…
Kora had a great night’s sleep; she’s such a good sleeper and doesn’t move around at all. After her morning potty break and a nice 30-minute stretch in the yard, she was ready for brunch. For some reason, she needed a little extra encouragement to eat today, but with a few tasty toppers, she finished everything. After brunch, she went right back to her bed, where she feels the most comfortable. On a positive note, she’s showing a bit of improvement with socializing; she’s growling a lot less when other pups get close. Hopefully, she’ll start warming up to them even more soon!
Day 4: Her Retreat Continues…
Kora had another restful night, sleeping soundly as usual. She continues to be incredibly calm and well-mannered with her potty breaks—so much so that we sometimes wonder if she even needs to go as often as the others! But we suspect it’s just her maturity shining through, which is definitely a good thing.
She was once again a bit hesitant about her brunch. We’re not sure if it’s because her food is new to her or if she just misses her mom, but with a little encouragement (and some dried beef toppers), she ate well. Her water intake remains great, though she prefers to have her own bowl rather than sharing. We make sure to refill it at least three to four times a day.
With today’s cloudy and rainy weather in Reno, we weren’t able to take her out for a long walk, so she’s been relaxing indoors. She’s slowly becoming more curious, wandering into the living room or kitchen every now and then, but she still prefers to retreat to her favorite cozy spots. It’s lovely to see her little moments of exploration!
A big step forward for Kora in the afternoon! While our new guest, Bay—a nearly 3-year-old Border Collie—was checking in with her parents, Kora showed a surprising level of curiosity. She followed us around the house as I gave Bay and her family a tour of our little resort, wagging her tail more than she has in the past few days.
After Bay’s parents left, Kora even showed interest in playing with a tennis ball! While it wasn’t a full game of fetch, it was the most active she’s been so far, which is a great improvement. She’s still not as energetic as I’d love to see her, but she’s making steady progress.
One of the most encouraging signs? She didn’t growl at Bay! It’s possible the two might be more compatible—only time will tell. But for now, I’m thrilled to see Kora coming out of her shell bit by bit. Also, she really enjoyed my periodic tummy rub.
Right before we were about to fall completely asleep, we noticed how relaxed Kora had become next to us, look at her adorable sleeping position!
Day 5: Growing Confidence, New Friendships, and Sunny Strolls.
Another great night of sleep for Kora! With each passing day, she’s starting to feel more at home, and it’s so heartwarming to see her settle in. After her morning stretch and a potty break in the yard, she enjoyed her usual brunch, with a little sprinkle of beef toppers to encourage her appetite.
Since today’s weather was perfect after yesterday’s rain, we took advantage of the sunshine and went for a longer neighborhood walk with Kora and our new guest, Bay. It was a great opportunity to get them more socialized while enjoying the fresh air.
After returning home, Kora continued to show encouraging progress. She’s becoming more curious around the house and even took a few steps closer to the other pups—sniffing them gently without any growling. It’s a small but meaningful step forward, and we’re so proud of her!
As the day went on, Kora started showing more and more engagement with the rest of the pack. It’s been wonderful to see her slowly come out of her shell! During our playtime in the backyard, she seemed the happiest she’d been since she arrived here—soaking up the fresh air and even joining in on some fun.
While she still enjoys her quiet moments, preferring to rest in her bed or a cozy corner of the house, today was by far her most active and social day yet. It’s so rewarding to see her build confidence at her own pace. We’re excited to watch her continue to blossom with each stay!
Day 6: From Shy to Playful—Tug-of-War, Belly Rubs, and Big Strides
As usual, Kora slept soundly through the night. But after her morning potty break in the yard, I noticed something a little concerning—she didn’t go #1. Then, when it was time for brunch, she showed no interest in eating at all, even when I added her favorite dried beef toppers.
Wanting to ease her anxiety, I decided to take her out for a solo walk after tending to the rest of the house. While she’s not the most active pup indoors, Kora truly seems to enjoy a brisk walk around the neighborhood. She perked up as we strolled, taking in the fresh air and new scents, which was reassuring to see.
After the walk, I gave her a quiet space to eat alone in our master bedroom, right next to her bed. When I checked back in on her, she had finished every bite—such a relief! Hopefully, this little adjustment helped, and she’ll continue to feel more at ease in the coming days.
The afternoon brought an exciting surprise—during our usual backyard playtime, Kora finally started showing interest in playing with the other pups! She even revealed a more playful side, engaging with me in a little tug-of-war over a chew toy. It was such a joy to see her coming out of her shell!
Inside the house, she’s also been soaking up all the love, especially when it comes to belly rubs. (And yes, I might have to censor the next picture—she’s absolutely shameless when it comes to demanding tummy scratches! 😆)
Day 7 and 8: Kora’s Breakthrough.
For some reason my blog entry from yesterday did not get saved, so I will have to combine the last two days together.
After a week of patience, gentle encouragement, and quiet observation, she finally showed us her full affection. Firstly, Kora is in love with my wife even though I’m the one taking care of her most of the days. Kora jumps up to greet my wife the moment she gets out of bed, as their beds are right next to each other. And when my wife comes home from work, Kora eagerly runs out from her hiding spot to welcome her.
She is finally breaking down all of her barriers (mostly). Today, something changed. It started with Mr. Ferguson, one of our regulars who has a natural curiosity for the older, more mature dogs. While she had kept her distance all week, today, she let him approach without hesitation. They shared a quiet moment, and for the first time, she allowed a friend into her personal space.
But the real magic happened in the afternoon. As the daycare settled into a peaceful rest, with all the pups (and myself) sprawled across the couch, Kora made her move. Instead of retreating to her usual spot, she found the tiniest open space beside me and gently squeezed in. Then, as if to say, “I trust you now,” she lifted her paws, asking for hugs and head massages. My heart melted.
Though she’s naturally reserved, Kora has the most calming presence, a quiet, gentle soul who just needed time to open up. And today, she did. Moments like these remind me why I started this daycare, to create a space where every dog, no matter how shy, finds comfort, love, and companionship at their own pace.
Stay tuned for more updates on Kora’s weekend stay! 🐶💛
Day 9: Missing Home?
Nine days away from home is a long time, and today, I couldn’t help but wonder if Kora was starting to feel it. Maybe she’s missing her mommy, or maybe she’s just adjusting in her own way, but for some reason, it took her nearly half the day to eat her brunch. She had no trouble getting a good night’s sleep or doing her morning potty routine, but when it came to mealtime, she resisted. Each time we brought her bowl near, she’d try to run off.
Of course, another theory? She might just be getting a little picky. Yesterday, I gave her a tiny bit of canned food, and it’s possible she’s holding out, hoping for more of the good stuff. (I can’t blame her!) I do spoil her with plenty of snack breaks throughout the day, and she never hesitates to show her enthusiasm for those.
One thing we’re still working on is her water intake. We have several anti-splash water bowls around the house, but she hasn’t quite figured those out yet. Instead, she prefers the one traditional bowl we leave out for her, but only drinks from it when she wants to step away from the group for some alone time.
On a brighter note, she’s slowly expanding her comfort zone. Today, she spent more time on the couch with my wife and the rest of the big pack. Even more impressive, she let more than one pup sit beside her while either my wife or I were nearby. That’s a huge step forward for her!
And by dinnertime? No hesitation, she ate right on schedule.
I do think 10 days away from her home and mommy must be tough on her, but hang in there Kora, its almost time to go home… 💛
Day 10: A Bittersweet Goodbye
Maybe Kora knew today was her last day with us. Right from the early morning, she showed an extra attachment to me—more than ever before. She anxiously followed me everywhere, weaving through the other dogs without hesitation, which is something she rarely does. When it was time for breakfast, there was no delay, she finished her meal right away and immediately started searching for me again. It felt like she wanted to soak up every last moment together, and honestly, I felt the same way. So we went out for a short walk by ourselves.
I have to admit, the thought of her leaving tomorrow makes me a little sad. Kora’s temperament is something special, quiet and gentle, but affectionate when the moment is right. There’s something so pure about the way she connects, and I’ve grown to love having her around.
By noon, the sky was a perfect blue, and the warm sunshine made it the perfect time for the whole pack to enjoy the yard. When it was time to head back inside, Kora lingered behind, standing still in the grass. When I turned around and called her name, she jumped slightly, flashing a little smile as if inviting me to play. As I walked back toward her, she suddenly lit up with excitement, running joyful circles around me. In that moment, she seemed the happiest she’s been all week, fully present and full of life.
Later in the afternoon, after two of our little pups checked out of our doggy retreat, I spent the rest of the day snuggled up with Kora on the couch. Just quiet, peaceful moments together—our way of saying an unspoken goodbye.
All good things must come to an end, and tomorrow, we’ll have to say farewell to this lovely labradoodle. But Kora has left a paw print on my heart, and I hope she knows she’ll always have a special place here. 💛
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