A Day in the Life of a Dog at Tails On Trails Pet Resort –Not Your Average Kennel

Wilmington, VT · Where Structure, Comfort, and Joy Meet

When pet parents imagine boarding or daycare, they often picture dogs running aimlessly or sleeping in crates until pickup. The truth? A dog’s day can either support emotional wellbeing — or unintentionally increase stress.

At Tails On Trails Pet Resort in Wilmington, Vermont, near Mount Snow and Stratton, every moment of your dog’s day is intentional. Our rhythm isn’t accidental. It’s behavior-backed, enrichment-driven, and designed to ensure dogs feel safe, fulfilled, and understood from arrival to bedtime. We pride ourself on not being yout average kennel. Not that there's anything wrong with an average kennel - but our model here in the deerfield valley is very different than most dog kennels.

Step inside your dog’s experience.

🌅 Morning Arrival: Calm Greetings, Not Chaos, Not Your Average Dog Kennel

Dogs are welcomed one at a time. No overwhelming crowds. No frantic barking.

We begin with:

✔️ individual check-ins

✔️ scent-based acclimation time

✔️ reassurance from familiar caregivers

✔️ environmental cues that signal safety

This sets the tone:You’re in the right place. You're safe here.

Routine starts immediately — because predictability is comfort.

🐾 Morning Play: Curated, Not Chaotic, Not Your Average Dog Kennel

Once settled, dogs move into small, temperament-based playgroups.

Groups are crafted by:

✨ energy level

✨ social style

✨ communication skills

✨ confidence and comfort

Some dogs wrestle. Some dogs chase. Some observe first — and that’s okay.

We don’t force participation. We facilitate relationships.

Play is not random. It’s respectful.

🧠 Midday Enrichment: Minds Matter as Much as Muscles

Unlike facilities that rely on "tire them out" strategies, we focus on purposeful engagement:

• sniffing and scent work

• puzzle-solving

• confidence-building activities

• calm human-guided exercises

This creates a dog who is:

✔️ stimulated

✔️ fulfilled

✔️ emotionally level

A mentally satisfied dog is a calm dog.

🛏 Midday Rest: The Most Underrated Part of Canine Wellness

Rest is not optional — it’s neurological processing.

We guide dogs into quiet, individual rest spaces where:

🌙 stimulation decreases

💤 cortisol levels stabilize

🛏 bodies and brains recharge

Facilities that skip rest create overstimulated dogs who crash, not rest.

We create calm, not exhaustion.

🥣 Mealtime: Predictable Nutrition and Emotional Security

Meals are served based on YOUR dog’s home routine, because feeding isn’t just food — it’s comfort.

We support:

✔️ dietary sensitivities

✔️ medication schedules

✔️ individualized feeding pace

✔️ calm eating environments

Food stability = emotional stability.

🎯 Afternoon Play + Enrichment: Balanced Output

After rest, confidence is higher. Dogs are recharged and ready for more social play or guided activities.

Afternoon sessions are:

🐕‍🦺 slower for seniors and cautious dogs

⚡ more dynamic for confident, high-energy dogs

🧠 supported by enrichment for curious minds

Again, nothing is random.

Balance prevents overstimulation — the enemy of good behavior.

🌙 Evening Transition: The Calm Down Ritual

We shift the energy intentionally:

🔅 lights dim

🎶 sound softens

💛 caregivers offer calm reassurance

🛏 dogs return to individual sleeping areas

This tells the nervous system:

“It’s time to settle. You are safe.”

Dogs sleep deeply because the day made sense.

🌌 Overnight: Peace, Not Isolation

Our climate-controlled, emotionally intelligent sleep environments allow dogs to:

✔️ rest uninterrupted

✔️ feel secure

✔️ avoid fear-based reactivity

✔️ wake calm — not wired

The day ends the same way it began: with intention.

Why This Matters

Dogs aren’t boarded. Dogs are processed by their environment.

A day can either:

❌ increase anxiety

❌ overload the nervous system

❌ push dogs into shutdown or hyperarousal

OR — when done right —

✨ build confidence

✨ support emotional regulation

✨ nurture balanced behavior

✨ create joy

Every minute at Tails On Trails has a purpose. There are no fillers. No guesswork. No chaos.

Just a rhythm that honors how dogs think, feel, learn, and rest.

Final Thoughts

Your dog’s day here isn’t random. It’s a system.

A system built from:

✔️ behavioral science

✔️ emotional intelligence

✔️ structured enrichment

✔️ intentional socialization

✔️ consistent routines

✔️ climate-controlled comfort

At Tails On Trails Pet Resort, dogs don’t just spend the day.

They become their best selves inside it. Because–Tails On Trails is more than just a kennel.