Current clients:
If your dog has stayed with us before and past their farm trial you are very welcome to contact me via text message to my private mobile to request your dogs next farm holiday.
waitlist Applications:
We are currently fully booked for new clients. If you would like to join our wait list please progress forward after reading our FAQ
FAQ
Will Paperbark Farm suit my dog?
If your dog is used to being part of a household, enjoys the company of other dogs and loves playing in nature they will love staying at the farm! We offer busy days filled with social outdoor adventures like forest walks, river swims and farm activities with breaks of rest at the farmhouse where all dogs in our care feel included and part of our family.
Do you have any temperament requirements?
All dogs must display safe social behaviour with other dogs and people, have basic polite manners and the ability to settle calmly for rest breaks and sleeping in the farmhouse at night.
As part of our trial process we require all dogs to stay for a shorter weekend farm trial prior to longer future holidays.
How many dogs do you care for?
Some quiet weeks and weekends during the year we may be caring for only one dog at a time. During long weekends and school holidays our numbers can increase with spaces for up to 8 for each group (bigs and smalls). Places can go quickly and we do recommend clients contact us as soon as possible (often a year in advance for peak holiday spots) to avoid disappointment.
How long do most dogs stay?
With our Monday and Friday transport each week bookings can vary from short weekend stays, multiple weeks or very long stays (our record being 3 1/2 months). We currently offer a 20% discount for stays beyond 30 days.
Are there any dog breeds you don’t care for?
At this stage we don’t provide care during hot summer months for most brachycephalic breeds that show signs of compromised breathing during exercise. We also cannot provide care for obese dogs for similar respiratory concerns and the increased risk of physical injury during play.
Where do the dogs sleep at night?
Providing home based care means your pup will be sleeping inside our home and will be with our family throughout the night.
Since we are all close to each other in the farmhouse it is important that everyone feels relaxed enough for a quiet nights sleep so we are well rested for our adventures the next day. We focus on making sure all the dogs in our care feel close to us, relaxed and comfortable during the night so they can sleep soundly. Having small groups means we can accomodate what each dog prefers at night to feel relaxed and have a combination of cot mattresses, wine barrel beds and crates to suit each sleeping style and personality.
Where do they rest during the day?
Once we are back home from our adventures around the farm we have lots of balconies, fenced play zones and comfy spaces in and around the farmhouse to relax and unwind. During this rest time we seperate dogs into seperate similar sized play groups: smalls and bigs. We also seperate any older dogs or those who need to take it easy so they can have enough rest.
Once energy levels start to pick up again we head back out for more farm activities.
what if i am not sure about my dogs recall for the farm activities?
The farm has secure fencing around the farmhouse to keep your pup safe while we are based at home. We also have tall deer fencing in a part of our forest for safe off leash play and a large fenced paddock. Our off leash farm activities (like river swims) are for dogs that have displayed a good recall while in those fenced spaces. You can request that your dog only exercises in fenced spaces if they have a known history of poor recall.
What are your charges?
Our all inclusive rate is $90 + gst per night. This includes all meals and door to door transport to select suburbs. We offer a 20% discount for multiple dog households and stays over 30 days.
Are there any more reviews I can read from other owners?
You can read about other owners experiences on our Facebook page or here
Can I drop in to see the farm or pickup/drop off directly?
The last four years we have allowed private drop ins to the farm and unfortunately as we are a family home with no front of house staff we have found new people arriving at the farm to be too disruptive (think high energy and lots of barking towards a new person arriving at the farmhouse or interrupted adventures)
Keep an eye on our facebook page for farm open days during the year which work much better where you can come up for a fun day with your dog.
What will my dog need to come up with?
A collar and/or harness with ID
Protection from ticks with an oral tablet such as Bravecto or Nexgaurd
We have lots of leashes, beds, blankets and toys at the farm so its best to leave your dogs belongings at home where they cannot be lost or damaged
Which suburbs are included in your Monday and Friday transport?
Our transport runs every Monday and Friday (except public holidays where we put on an alternative run) between the farm and parts of Sydneys Upper North Shore, Lower North Shore and Inner West.
Suburbs that are currently included in our free door to door service are:
Annandale, Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Canada Bay, Cremorne, Drummoyne, Hunters Hill, Killara, Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Five dock, Gladesville, Glebe, Haberfield, Mosman, Neutral Bay, Rozelle, Turramurra, Wahroonga, Willoughby
Owners who are part of these suburbs are very welcome to leave keys, lock boxes or instructions to collect/return your dog home without you being present to take advantage of our door to door service once your dog has stayed with us before and knows us well.
Owners outside these suburbs can meet me at the Pet O, Annandale pet store car park generally between 12:00pm - 1:00pm for pick up and 11:00am and 12:00pm for coming home. A more specific arrival and departure time will be supplied closer to your booking date.