--- title: What to Look For on a Kennel Tour | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/what-to-look-for-on-a-kennel-tour/ 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/) - What to look for on a kennel tour # What to look for on a kennel tour (and what California law requires) Look at the floors, the space each dog gets, the fire safety, the water and the written information the state requires a kennel to give you. Tours at Happy Paws run every day, 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM, with no appointment. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) A clean-looking lobby tells you little. This checklist follows the California rules for boarding facilities, so you can judge the part of the kennel your dog will actually live in. ## The floor and the smell State law requires structures that are sound, pest-free and made of surfaces that can be cleaned. Walk the kennel and look at the floor. The kennel building at Happy Paws has epoxy floors, which are sealed and easy to wash. Expect a staff member to be cleaning during part of the day, and watch your step on wet concrete. Wet floors in a kennel mean someone is washing, so treat them as a good sign, and wear shoes you do not mind getting damp. ## The space each dog gets Under section 122382 an enclosure has to let a pet turn around, stand, sit and lie down comfortably, with heating, cooling or shade as needed. Ask for the interior and outdoor dimensions. At Happy Paws the three classes are 4 by 4 feet inside (Economy), 5 by 6 (Business Class) and 6 by 8 (First Class), each with an outdoor area reached through a doggie door. Look at the raised bed and the blankets too. ## Safety, water and watching the animals A boarding facility must keep either a fire alarm connected to a central station or a fire sprinkler system (section 122385). The 2022 building at Happy Paws has fire sprinklers. The state also requires clean water at all times, an observation of every pet at least once every 24 hours, daily enrichment, and written policies for emergencies and evacuation. Ask to see how the kennel handles each. ## The paper you should be handed Section 122384 says the operator must give each owner written information on drop-off and pick-up times, staffed hours, enclosure sizes, how and when pets are observed, and the daily activity schedule. Ask for it on the tour. At Happy Paws drop-off and pick-up run daily 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2 to 5 PM, and check-out is by 11:30 AM. ## Questions worth asking How are vaccines checked, and what happens if a record expires during the stay? Who do you call if your dog is ill, and what do you decide ahead of time? Happy Paws asks owners to fill in a medical release naming health conditions and what to do if the owner cannot be reached. Medications are given at no extra charge. The [questions to ask a boarding kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-boarding-kennel/) guide has a longer list. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Health and Safety Code sections 122380-122388, pet boarding facilities](https://www.animallaw.info/statute/ca-pet-boarding-facilities-chapter-11-pet-boarding-facilities) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 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 - [Tour the facility](https://happypawskennels.com/touring-the-facility/) - [Plan a visit](https://happypawskennels.com/tour-request/) - [How to choose a dog kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-dog-kennel/) - [Questions to ask a boarding kennel](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/questions-to-ask-a-boarding-kennel/) - [Hours and holiday closures](https://happypawskennels.com/hours/) ## Read next - [California dog vaccine law vs what a boarding kennel requires](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/california-dog-vaccine-laws-vs-kennel-requirements/) - [Can day care help a dog lose weight?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/can-day-care-help-a-dog-lose-weight/) - [Wildfire smoke and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/wildfire-smoke-and-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with arthritis or stiff joints](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-arthritis/) - [Boarding a dog with food allergies or a prescription diet](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-food-allergies/) - [Puppy socialization before the first boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/puppy-socialization-before-the-first-stay/) - [Ticks on dogs in Solano and Yolo counties](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/ticks-on-dogs-in-solano-and-yolo/) - [Hot cars and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/hot-cars-and-dogs-at-drop-off/) 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/). ### Do I need an appointment for a tour at Happy Paws? No. Tours run daily from 9 to 11 AM and 2 to 4 PM, and a staff member walks with you. ### Why is the floor wet during my tour? Runs are washed during the day. Watch your step on wet concrete, and ask what the cleaning schedule is. ### What does California require of a boarding kennel? Sound, cleanable structures, enclosures a pet can turn around and lie down in, a daily check, water, enrichment, written emergency policies and a fire alarm or sprinklers. ### Can I see the run my dog would use? Yes. Ask on the tour to see the class that fits your dog.