Questions About Our Services

Yes. A meet and greet is required before any service begins. This is a free, in-person visit where we get to know your pet, walk through their routine and care needs, and make sure we are a good fit for each other. It also gives you a chance to see how we work and ask any questions you have before committing to anything. For daycare, the meet and greet is followed by a paid trial day before enrollment is confirmed.

The meet and greet is a free, in-person visit that is required before any service begins. The specifics vary depending on which service you are starting with. For walks and drop-in visits, we come to your home to meet your pet and get familiar with their routine and environment. For boarding and daycare, you bring your dog to our home so we can assess how they settle into our space.

Either way, it is a relaxed visit with no pressure and no commitment. We just want to make sure it is a good fit before anything is scheduled.

The first step is to reach out through our contact page or by calling us directly. We will ask a few questions about your pet and your schedule to make sure we are a good match, then set up a meet and greet. Once the meet and greet is complete and all required paperwork and vaccinations are on file, we can get your first service scheduled.

We manage all bookings, scheduling, and payments through PetPocketBook, our client management platform. You will receive an invitation to set up your account as part of the onboarding process.

All dogs receiving any service from Wholesome Hounds must have current Rabies, DHPP (Distemper/Parvo combination), and Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations on file before their first appointment. For boarding, we also require a current town or city dog license.

These requirements exist to protect every pet in our care, including yours. Proof of vaccination must be provided before the first booking and kept current throughout your time as a client.

Yes. Wholesome Hounds, LLC is fully insured and bonded through Pet Sitters Associates, one of the leading insurance providers in the pet care industry. Our kennel license is current and we operate in full compliance with Massachusetts boarding regulations, including Ollie's Law. We have been in business since 2008 and have carried professional insurance throughout.

Wholesome Hounds was established in 2008 and has been providing professional pet care in the Hudson, MA area for over 17 years. We are a family-run, licensed, and insured business operated by Eric and Cassandra. Pet care is not a side job for us. It is what we do, and we have built our reputation one family at a time over the course of nearly two decades.

We provide leash walks and drop-in visits in Hudson, Sudbury, Stow, Marlborough, and surrounding communities. If you are not sure whether your neighborhood falls within our service area, please reach out and we will let you know.

For boarding and daycare, we welcome dogs from all areas. Daycare drop-off takes place at our home in Hudson, MA. Half-day daycare clients in Hudson and Sudbury receive a return delivery included in the rate.

All of our leash walks are completely private. We walk one client's dog (or dogs from the same household) at a time. We do not do pack walks, and we never combine dogs from different households on the same walk. This means your dog gets our full attention on every single outing.

We offer 20-minute walks at $25 per walk and 30-minute walks at $38 per walk. If you have two dogs in the same household, the additional dog is $10 per walk. We do not charge a holiday surcharge for leash walks.

Not sure which length is right for your dog? We are happy to talk it through during your meet and greet based on your dog's age, breed, and energy level.

Yes. After every walk, we send a photo and a brief update through PetPocketBook. If we notice anything worth flagging, such as a change in energy level, behavior, or anything physical, we will let you know promptly. You will never have to wonder how the walk went.

We walk in most weather conditions because dogs still need to get out regardless of rain or cold. In cases of extreme weather such as severe storms, dangerous heat, or icy conditions that pose a real safety risk, we will communicate with you directly about adjusting the plan. Your dog's safety always comes first.

Each drop-in visit is approximately 30 minutes and takes place in your home. A visit typically includes feeding, fresh water, a potty break or litter box service, playtime, companionship, and a welfare check. If your pet takes medication, we can administer it during the visit.

After every visit, we send you a photo and a brief update. You will always know your pet was seen, cared for, and doing well.

Yes. We provide drop-in visits for cats and are happy to care for them in the comfort of their own home. Drop-in visits are often the best option for cats since most cats do best in their own environment. We require a minimum of one visit per day for cats while their owners are away.

For dogs, we require a minimum of three drop-in visits per day while you are away. Dogs need consistent feeding, potty breaks, and companionship throughout the day, and three visits allows us to provide that reliably.

For cats, we require a minimum of one visit per day. Cats are more independent and do well with less frequent check-ins, though some owners prefer two visits per day for added peace of mind. We are happy to work out a schedule that fits your pet's needs.

Drop-in visits are $32 per visit. A holiday surcharge of 25% applies during defined holiday periods. There is no additional fee for multiple pets in the same household.

Yes, generally. While some of our other services such as daycare and leash walks are closed on certain holidays, we do our best to accommodate drop-in visit requests on those days. A holiday surcharge applies. If you need care during a holiday period, please reach out as early as possible and we will do everything we can to make it work.

Your dog stays in our private family home in Hudson, MA. We do not use kennels or crates as primary housing. Boarding dogs are part of the daily routine of our home, with comfortable sleeping arrangements, a yard, and the same structure and attention they would receive on any regular visit. We keep boarding capacity limited so that every guest gets genuine personal attention.

Boarding is $85 per day. A holiday surcharge of 25% applies during defined holiday periods. Please see our Services page for the full holiday schedule.

Please bring enough food for the full length of the stay, plus three extra meals as a buffer in case of any changes in your travel plans. If your dog takes medication, include it with clear written dosing instructions. A familiar item from home such as a blanket or a favorite toy is always welcome and can help your dog settle in comfortably.

We provide beds, toys, and everything else your dog needs during their stay. You do not need to bring food bowls or bedding unless you prefer to.

Our home includes two young children and cats. We disclose this to all boarding and daycare clients as part of our onboarding process. Dogs who stay with us should be comfortable around children and cats, or at minimum manageable in that environment.

This is something we assess during the meet and greet so there are no surprises for your dog or for us.

Yes. We fully comply with Ollie's Law and all applicable Massachusetts boarding regulations. Our kennel license is current and we operate within all requirements set by the Hudson Board of Health.

For boarding, we require proof of current Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella vaccinations, as well as your dog's current town or city license. All documentation must be on file before the first stay. We also require a signed Client Service Agreement before any boarding takes place.

Our daycare takes place in our private home, not a commercial facility. The group is small and carefully selected, which means your dog is never in an overwhelming or chaotic environment. Every dog in the group has been screened for temperament and compatibility before enrollment.

We also build structured rest periods into every daycare day. Many dogs who attend large-group daycare come home exhausted and overstimulated rather than genuinely rested. Our dogs come home calm and content. That is an intentional difference in how we run the program.

Start by filling out the inquiry form on our Daycare page or reaching out through the Contact page. We will review your inquiry and follow up to schedule a free meet and greet. At the meet and greet, we assess your dog's temperament and compatibility with our current group.

If the meet and greet goes well, we schedule a paid half-day trial. After the trial, we confirm our enrollment decision within 24 hours. Not every dog is the right fit for our program, and we are transparent about that from the start.

Half-day daycare runs from drop-off (between 6:45 and 8:30am) through approximately 11am, when we return your dog to you. For Hudson and Sudbury clients, return delivery is included in the rate. For all other towns, pickup takes place at our Hudson home.

Full-day daycare runs from drop-off by 8:30am through pickup by 5pm, with late pickup available until 6pm for an additional fee arranged in advance. Full-day spots are currently offered on a limited trial basis. We generally recommend starting with half-day to find the right fit for your dog before committing to a longer day.

Half-day daycare is $45 per day for Hudson clients and most other towns, and $50 per day for Sudbury clients. Full-day daycare is $70 per day. A holiday surcharge of 25% applies during defined holiday periods. Daycare is closed on certain holidays.

Committed schedule discounts are available for half-day clients: $3 off per day at three days per week, and $5 off per day at five days per week. See our Services page for the full pricing breakdown and holiday schedule.

Not automatically. The meet and greet tells us quite a bit, but the paid trial day is what truly determines whether a dog is a good fit for the current group dynamic. We evaluate how your dog settles in, interacts with the other dogs, and responds to our structure. We communicate our decision within 24 hours of the trial. We hold the right to decline enrollment without detailed explanation, because keeping every dog in our care safe comes first.

Yes. We send photos and a brief end-of-day report for every daycare day. You will know how your dog ate, how they interacted with the group, what activities they enjoyed, and anything worth noting. If something comes up during the day that you should know about, we will contact you right away rather than waiting until pickup.

Daycare is closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Leash walks are also unavailable on these days. Drop-in visits are generally still available on holidays with a surcharge applied.

A 25% holiday surcharge applies to boarding and drop-in visits during defined holiday windows. Boarding guests already in our care continue to receive full service throughout all holiday periods. See our Services page for the complete holiday schedule with specific dates and surcharge windows.

We take any health concern seriously. If your pet shows signs of illness or injury while in our care, we will contact you immediately. For non-emergency situations, we will follow your instructions and coordinate with your veterinarian as needed.

For emergencies, we are authorized through your signed Emergency Veterinary Authorization to seek immediate veterinary care at your designated veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital if your vet is unavailable. We will reach you as quickly as possible while making sure your pet is not waiting for care.

We assess every dog individually. We work comfortably with dogs who have anxiety, reactivity, or specific behavioral needs, and we have 17 years of experience handling dogs of varying temperaments. However, we require full disclosure of any known bite history or aggression before the meet and greet.

For daycare specifically, the safety of every dog in the group is our first priority. A dog with a known bite history may still be a good candidate for private services such as walks or boarding, but may not be appropriate for our group daycare program. We will always be honest with you about what we feel we can safely offer.

No. Chemical flea and tick collars are not permitted for any dog in our care. This applies to all services including walking, drop-in visits, boarding, and daycare. If your dog currently wears one, please remove it before their first visit or stay. There are many effective flea and tick prevention alternatives your veterinarian can recommend.

We manage all scheduling, booking requests, and payments through PetPocketBook. Once your meet and greet is complete and your account is set up, you will be able to request services, view your schedule, and manage payments directly through the platform.

We accept payment by credit card through PetPocketBook, as well as Venmo, Zelle, and cash. If you have any questions about your account, we are always happy to help.