FAQs

Play time, enrichment and rest time are repeated throughout the day.

• Play time is fun time - run around, over the bridge, through the cube, sniffing my mates, tug with Bert, fetch that ball, chase the ball. It's all great exercise, but then some, like Rags, just like to watch, taking it easy whilst chilling on the beds.
• Enrichment time - I have to behave, learn new things; sit, stay, come and some low level agility. Then off outside to use our noses and sniff out different essential oils, catch bubbles, cool off in the big and small pools, play in the ball pit, play outdoor games with the team or just find a good spot outside and have a little rest. Our team will spend group and individual time with your dog with positive reward based training.
• Group rest time - I'm tired from all the fun! Off to the comfy chill zone, find a cosy bed, lay down, chill, sleep, have a little groom and cuddles from our human dog buddy team. I love this time of day!

Your dog will have plenty of opportunity to socialise, play and rest in our carefully managed groups. We have separate play areas for puppies until they are ready to join our older or more socially mature dogs. Our regular dogs are wonderful with newcomers and our experienced team is always there to supervise.

Confidence building sessions can also make the world of difference for a nervous or timid dog, building their social skills and growing their confidence until they are ready to join daycare. Our weekly puppy socialisation parties are a great way to introduce your little pup to new smells, dogs, toys and people.

Rags & Bert’s is based in Reading, Berkshire, with easy access from surrounding areas. Our purpose-built facility offers secure indoor and outdoor space designed specifically for safe, structured daycare and comfortable overnight stays. From April, we will have a second site opening in Farnborough. Click for more info on our new Farnborough site.

You can find directions and full contact details for both our sites on our Contact Us page.

Our opening hours vary slightly depending on the service:

Doggy Daycare: Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday we are open by appointment only.

Dog Hotel (Boarding): Check-in and check-out times apply (see boarding FAQ below).

If you’re unsure about timings for your booking, just get in touch - we’re happy to help

Our pricing depends on the service and frequency of attendance (e.g. regular daycare packages, boarding stays). We offer structured monthly daycare plans for consistency and routine, as well as boarding rates for our luxury dog hotel.

For full details, please visit our Services pages:

Daycare Pricing

Hotel Pricing

Dog & Puppy Training

Doggy Dayboarding

Grooming

If you’re unsure what’s best for your dog, contact us to arrange a Play & Stay assessment and you can discuss with a real human

Yes - we operate a dog bus service in selected areas, subject to availability and route planning.

Collection areas are carefully planned to ensure dogs travel safely and comfortably without long journey times. We cover a maximum distance of 5 miles radius from our facility for comfort and safety of our special passengers.

If you’d like to check whether we cover your area, please contact us with your postcode and we’ll confirm availability.

For regular daycare packages, payment is made monthly in advance to secure your dog’s space.
Boarding and grooming payments are confirmed at the time of booking, with details provided during the reservation process.
If you have a specific billing question, our team will be happy to explain your plan clearly before you commit.

Yes, we assess every dog individually.

For daycare, dogs must be well-socialised and suitable for group play. We carefully manage group dynamics to ensure a calm, balanced environment.

If you’re unsure whether your dog is ready for daycare, we recommend booking a Play & Stay assessment so we can meet them properly. See what a normal day looks like at Rags & Bert's.

For our daycare option, you do not need to bring beds, toys or crates. We provide structured enrichment, rest areas and supervision throughout the day.

For any Dog hotel boarding stays, we encourage you to bring:

• Your dog’s usual food (including raw, clearly portioned if applicable)
• Any essential medication

We provide bedding unless your dog prefers their own. If your dog has specific dietary or routine needs, please discuss this with us before their stay.

Find out more about our Dog Hotel.

Boarding check-in and out times are as follows:

Monday-Friday: 2-4pm check-in, check-out by 10am

Weekends and Bank Holidays check-in 12-2pm, check-out by 10am.

Boarding check-out times

Mon-Sun: 9am-10am

Late check-outs and early check-in are available on request

Boarding check-in and check-out times are scheduled to ensure smooth transitions and proper care planning. We operate structured arrival and collection windows to maintain calmness on site.

Your dog’s well-being is our priority. Our experienced team monitors behaviour, play style, rest periods and social interactions throughout the day. If there are ever any concerns, we will contact you directly. We email postcards with photos to you during their stay with us. We also share online updates via our social Pup channels and community groups so you can see your dog enjoying their time with us.

All of our dogs must attend a play and stay assessment before booking with us to ensure they will enjoy their time with us.

You can read what other owners say about their experience here.

We do not have anyone on site overnight, but each kennel has CCTV which is monitored and alarms us when there is movement within the kennel.

Our environment is designed to feel calm and secure overnight, but also with added fun with hanging out with furry friends throughout the day - so you can travel knowing your dog is properly cared for.