Frequently Asked Questions

Our address is 2198 Elk Ridge Road, New Castle CO 81647. We are in the Elk Ridge neighborhood, near the Flattop campground up Buford Road. We are generally 30 minutes from downtown New Castle. We can supply detailed directions with photos upon request. 

Yes, although prior meet-and-greets are not required to board, we welcome any visitors who'd like to meet us and see the Ranch before boarding. We want everyone to feel comfortable and safe with any boarding decisions. As noted on our Services and Rates Page, Meet-and-Greets are optional with no obligation to board, and at a cost of $25. They can be arranged at an agreed upon timeframe that works for all parties.

Yes, we welcome families who have multiple dogs. We do have limitations depending on the timeframe or who else has been scheduled, but we can board all of your dogs together, as long as it fits within our limitations.

Our family-style boarding means that your dog becomes part of our family and routine while they are here, so they will remain in the home with us. At night, your dog may sleep on the floor or couch, their dog bed, or a kennel if that is what you prefer. We take sleeping arrangement suggestions from owners based on what their dog is used to.

We have several large kennels available for any dog that may need a separate space, or is kennel-trained, or tends to get into mischief. We follow the directions of owners on what they would like us to provide. We do not kennel dogs on a regular basis unless directed by the owner to do so.

We require all pets to be up-to-date on their vaccinations for their safety and the safety of other pets in our care. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, we need to be notified so that we can be aware of any behaviors or difficulties that may arise. 

No, we do not charge extra. All dogs are $35 per calendar day, even if they require extra attention or needs. 

We can provide Doggie Daycare for 10hr days at the daily rate of $35. However, we do not provide transportation services for daycare. Because of our location, some families do not want to drive up and down the mountain roads in both the morning and the evening. However, if the transportation is not an issue for you, we can provide daytime daycare for your dog. 

We do not have a fenced-in area on our property. Our 30-acre ranch provides plenty of space for exercise and play. Any dog that is not recall-trained will remain on leash, especially at the request of owners. Leashed dogs are still taken out for play and potty many times each day. Dogs are always supervised outside and never left to roam.

Each family is required to supply food for their dog's entire boarding experience. We also require all dogs to wear a collar with tags during their stay and have a leash. Otherwise, you may bring any extra supplies you feel your dog will need, such as treats, toys, balls, dog beds, blankets, kennel, etc. 

We are committed to communicating throughout the boarding experience via text as much as owners would like. We are happy to send daily text messages, videos, and photos to owners if requested. We also supply honest verbal feedback after the boarding experience. 

Owners are encouraged to drop-off and pick-up their dog at an agreed upon timeframe, generally between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., any day of the week. Because of the mountain roads, we highly encourage owners to choose a time in daylight hours, utilize a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and to communicate via text on the estimated time of arrival. For your information on travel, you can check our local mountain weather here: https://bit.ly/3PRArPG.

Watchmen Ranch provides optional transportation services for pick-ups and drop-offs for various meeting locations listed on our Services and Rates page.