--- title: Use Day Care as a Trial Run Before a Long Trip | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/use-day-care-as-a-trial-run/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Use a day of day care as a trial run before a long trip # Use a day of day care as a trial run before a long trip A single day or a few hours of day care lets your dog meet the kennel before it stays overnight. On the 2026 rates a day is $38 and an hour is $7, and the vaccine rules and drop-off windows match a boarding stay. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) If your dog has never been boarded, a long first trip is a big step. A short visit first turns an unknown place into a familiar one, which is the point of a trial run. ## Why a trial run helps UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine writes that boarding can be a high-stress experience, and that the usual causes are being away from the owner and changes in diet, routine and familiar comforts. For a dog that is not used to boarding, it suggests a short visit before leaving for a longer time, because it helps the dog acclimate to the new environment. It also suggests returning to a kennel you like, so the dog gets used to the staff. A trial run does not remove every adjustment, but it separates the smell, sound and routine of the place from the stress of your being gone for a week. ## A three-step plan - Tour first. Tours run every day from 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM with no appointment, and a staff member walks with you. - Book a few hours or one day of day care. An hour is $7 and a full day is $38 on the 2026 rates, with the hourly charge capped at the daily price. - Add a single night, then plan the long trip. Nightly boarding is $52 in Economy, $59 in Business Class and $72 in First Class for one dog. ## What stays the same The paperwork you do once covers both services. Your dog needs a boarding agreement on file and records for rabies, distemper/parvo and Bordetella that stay current through the last day. The flu vaccine is recommended rather than required; if given, it is accepted after the first dose, but the booster is due 3 to 4 weeks later, so start early if your trip is close. Upload records to your ProPetware account, and the kennel confirms each request. Drop-off and pick-up windows are also the same: 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Plan the trial day so your dog arrives in the morning window and goes home in the afternoon window, which mirrors the first and last day of a boarding stay. ## How to read the trial day Pick-up day tells you most of what you need to know. A dog that comes home tired, drinks well and settles that evening is giving you good news. A dog that seems unsettled might need a second trial day or a plan to bring a familiar item, such as one toy that is not the favorite. The [first-time boarding guide](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/first-time-boarding/) describes the full sequence, and the [anxious dog guide](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-an-anxious-dog/) helps if your dog is shy. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: Choosing a Boarding Facility](https://healthtopics.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/canine/choosing-boarding-facility-for-your-dog) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) - [Happy Paws Kennels hours page](https://happypawskennels.com/hours/) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Dog day care](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-day-care/) - [Hourly day care](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-day-care/hourly/) - [Your dog's first boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/first-time-boarding/) - [Boarding an anxious or shy dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-an-anxious-dog/) - [New clients: first-stay plan](https://happypawskennels.com/new-clients/) - [Boarding or day care](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-vs-day-care/) ## Read next - [Why quick goodbyes at drop-off help](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/quick-goodbyes-at-drop-off/) - [Choosing a toy for a boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/choosing-a-toy-for-a-boarding-stay/) - [How to read your dog's vaccine certificate before you upload it](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-read-a-vaccine-certificate/) - [Kennel cough vs canine flu](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/kennel-cough-vs-canine-flu/) - [Indoor cats and boarding vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/indoor-cats-and-boarding-vaccines/) - [Boarding a shy cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/boarding-a-shy-cat/) - [Cat hotel or cattery](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/cat-hotel-vs-cattery/) - [Car rides with a cat](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/cats/car-rides-with-a-cat/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### How long should the trial run be? A few hours or a full day both work. The hourly rate is $7 and is capped at the $38 daily rate. ### Does day care need different vaccines than boarding? No. The same records are needed, good through the last day. ### Should the trial include a night? If time allows, yes. A day first, then a single night, then the long trip is a gentle progression. ### Is a trial run worth it for a confident dog? It is optional, but it is a low-cost way to check the routine before a long stay.