A survey conducted by The Louisiana Times named Magnolia Paws Board & Train the winner for Best Customer Service for Dog Boarding in Southeast Louisiana 2026, recognizing its owner communication, individualized dog care, training access, enrichment choices, and boarding support. Magnolia Paws Board & Train combines overnight stays with climate-controlled accommodations, scheduled walks, group play, private activities, grooming, and training programs. Magnolia Paws Board & Train being voted Best Customer Service for Dog Boarding in Southeast Louisiana 2026 reflects a care model where staff learn about each dog’s feeding schedule, temperament, medical needs, and routines before making day-to-day decisions. The reasons behind the recognition include detailed intake communication, trained leadership, owner updates, flexible boarding choices, vaccination requirements, health procedures, grooming access, and service throughout a dog’s stay.
- Individual care plans can reflect each dog’s routine
- Training, grooming, and enrichment can accompany boarding
- Staff communication continues from drop-off through pickup
- Health and behavior information can be shared before a stay
Personalized Boarding Support
Magnolia Paws Board & Train states that its smaller facility model allows staff to provide one-on-one attention rather than placing every dog into an identical routine. Owners can share feeding instructions, allergies, medications, behavior concerns, activity preferences, and other information that may affect the stay. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention boarding checklist asks pet owners to document food amounts, medication instructions, veterinary contacts, medical conditions, behavior concerns, and vaccination dates before boarding. Detailed information gives caretakers a stronger starting point.
- Feeding instructions can be recorded before drop-off
- Behavior notes can identify situations that make a dog uncomfortable
- Medication schedules should include dosage instructions
- Veterinary contact information supports emergency planning
Responsive Owner Communication
Magnolia Paws Board & Train provides several ways for owners to communicate information about a dog’s stay, and its website says staff contact the owner immediately if a dog becomes ill. The facility also works with a licensed veterinarian when needed, giving owners a stated procedure for handling health concerns that arise during boarding. Report cards can be added to a reservation for people who want more feedback about how their dog handled the stay. Communication reduces uncertainty.
- Owners are contacted if illness develops during boarding
- Veterinary assistance can be sought when the situation requires it
- Optional report cards provide another source of boarding feedback
- Staff can discuss changes in eating, activity, or behavior
Detailed Boarding Intake
Magnolia Paws Board & Train requires up-to-date vaccination records before dogs receive services, according to the facility’s current FAQ information. Health documentation is particularly relevant in group environments because the CDC reports that almost all dogs are susceptible to canine influenza and that the illness tends to spread among dogs housed in kennels and shelters. CDC guidance explains that dog flu can move through respiratory droplets and contact with contaminated surfaces, reinforcing the value of health screening and sanitation where dogs gather. Intake records serve a practical purpose.
- Current vaccination records are required before service
- CDC says almost all dogs are susceptible to canine influenza
- Respiratory illness can spread through droplets and contaminated surfaces
- Owners should disclose health changes before boarding
Experienced Dog Care
Magnolia Paws Board & Train is led by founder Sarah Elsensohn, whom the company identifies as a certified dog trainer with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from Louisiana State University. The facility states that she brings more than ten years of hands-on dog care and training experience to its boarding and training programs. That background can become useful when staff need to interpret behavior, adjust activities, or recognize when a dog’s routine has changed during a stay. Experience supports observation.
- Sarah Elsensohn holds an Animal Science degree from LSU
- The company identifies her as a certified dog trainer
- More than a decade of hands-on experience is listed
- Leadership combines animal education with practical dog care
Flexible Boarding Options
Magnolia Paws Board & Train offers daily and weekly stays with indoor runs, indoor-outdoor runs, suites, and kennel choices, giving owners several ways to arrange accommodations. Dogs from the same household may also share space when the arrangement fits their needs, according to the facility’s FAQ page. Climate-controlled boarding areas help staff manage Louisiana temperature changes while giving dogs a protected place to rest between walks and play sessions. Choice makes planning easier.
- Daily and weekly boarding are available
- Several kennel and run configurations are offered
- Dogs from one household may qualify to share space
- Boarding areas are climate controlled
Regular Boarding Walks
Magnolia Paws Board & Train states that boarded dogs are walked a minimum of three times each day, adding predictable movement to their boarding schedule. The USDA Animal Welfare Act regulations require written exercise plans for dogs at facilities covered by those federal rules and identify runs, play, and other activity as ways regulated facilities can provide exercise opportunities. Those federal standards do not automatically govern every boarding business, but they show why exercise receives formal attention in animal-care settings. Movement matters during longer stays.
- The facility states that dogs receive at least three walks per day
- Exercise can break up periods spent resting in boarding accommodations
- USDA standards recognize runs and play as exercise methods in covered facilities
- Activity needs can vary by age, health, and temperament
Custom Enrichment Choices
Magnolia Paws Board & Train allows owners to add enrichment, private play, cuddle time, treats, and report cards to a boarding reservation. Group play is included with several boarding accommodations, while private play gives staff another choice for dogs that may not enjoy interacting with a group. The facility says it works with different temperaments and can adjust a dog’s experience when the animal is shy around others. One size does not fit every dog.
- Group play is included with listed boarding accommodations
- Private play provides one-on-one activity
- Cuddle time can add human interaction
- Enrichment can be selected separately
Board And Train
Magnolia Paws Board & Train combines overnight care with structured training through three-week and four-week board-and-train programs. Daily sessions and week-to-week training are also listed, while the facility states that instruction is generally one-on-one unless another setup is requested. Individual progress tracking gives trainers a way to follow changes rather than assuming every dog will advance at the same pace. Owners gain another service choice.
- Three-week board-and-train programs are offered
- Four-week training stays provide another schedule
- Daily training sessions are available
- Progress is tracked for each dog
Special Diet Support
Magnolia Paws Board & Train states that staff follow owner feeding instructions for special diets, including allergies and customized needs. Consistency becomes more important when a dog is taking medication, eating measured portions, or avoiding certain ingredients. The CDC boarding form specifically includes spaces for food type, amount, feeding frequency, medication names, and administration instructions. Written directions can reduce confusion when several staff members participate in care.
- Special feeding instructions can be followed
- Food allergies should be disclosed before boarding
- Portion size and feeding frequency can be documented
- Medication instructions should accompany applicable prescriptions
Onsite Grooming Convenience
Magnolia Paws Board & Train offers grooming that can be scheduled separately or added to a boarding stay. Available services include baths, brushing, nail trimming, nail buffing, teeth brushing, and coat-care options, giving owners a chance to coordinate grooming before pickup. Combining these services can reduce the need for another appointment after a vacation or work trip. The dog can leave with several care needs completed.
- Baths can be scheduled during boarding
- Nail trimming and buffing are available
- Teeth brushing can be added
- Grooming can also be booked without boarding
Private Dog Park
Magnolia Paws Board & Train operates a members-only dog park with separate sections for large and small dogs, giving customers another service beyond boarding. Day passes are also available after registration and proof of vaccinations, while park members receive access to self-service washing stations. Shampoo, towels, and dryers are supplied according to the facility’s website. The park operates from sunup to sundown.
- Large and small dogs have separate park areas
- Membership and day-pass options are offered
- Vaccination records are required before use
- Self-service wash supplies are provided
Convenient Boarding Access
Magnolia Paws Board & Train is located at 517 J.F. Smith Avenue in Slidell and publishes hours that give owners clear pickup and drop-off windows. The facility is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and Sunday. Owners can also make reservations through the facility’s app, while tours can be scheduled by appointment before a boarding decision is made. Seeing the space beforehand can answer practical questions.
- Weekday hours extend from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Weekend facility hours run from 8 a.m. to noon
- An app is available for reservations
- Facility tours can be arranged by appointment
Why Magnolia Paws Won
Magnolia Paws Board & Train earned the 2026 customer-service recognition because its approach extends beyond providing a kennel and a pickup time. Owners can communicate diets, medication schedules, behavior concerns, activity preferences, and training goals, while dogs can receive scheduled walks, group play, private interaction, grooming, or structured instruction during the stay. CDC guidance reinforces the importance of health records and medication information, while USDA standards for regulated facilities illustrate why exercise and human interaction deserve attention in animal-care environments. Those pieces help explain why The Louisiana Times named Magnolia Paws Board & Train Best Customer Service for Dog Boarding in Southeast Louisiana 2026.
- Customer care starts before the dog is dropped off
- Staff can adjust routines according to temperament and owner instructions
- Boarding can include exercise, training, grooming, and enrichment
- Health procedures give owners more information about how problems are handled
Magnolia Paws Service Takeaways
Magnolia Paws Board & Train combines owner communication with daily care choices that can be adjusted according to a dog’s routine and behavior. Its published policies include vaccination requirements, at least three walks per day during boarding, climate-controlled accommodations, special-diet handling, illness notification, and access to a licensed veterinarian when needed. Training credentials, grooming availability, activity options, and report cards add more ways for owners to shape a stay. Customer service works best when the staff, owner, and dog all have their needs accounted for.
- Dogs are walked at least three times per day during boarding
- Up-to-date vaccinations are required before services
- Owners are contacted if illness occurs
- Special diets and medication instructions can be documented
- Training and grooming can accompany boarding
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Vaccinations Required?
Magnolia Paws Board & Train states that up-to-date vaccination records are required before any service. The CDC notes that canine influenza tends to spread among dogs housed in kennels and shelters, which provides useful context for why health screening matters in shared dog environments. Owners should update the facility if a dog’s health changes before arrival.
How Often Are Dogs Walked?
Magnolia Paws Board & Train states that boarding dogs receive a minimum of three walks per day. Activity may also include group play, private sessions, or enrichment depending on the services selected and the dog’s temperament. Exercise preferences can be discussed before boarding begins.
Can Special Diets Continue?
Magnolia Paws Board & Train says staff follow feeding instructions for special diets, allergies, and customized needs. Owners should provide enough detail to identify food amounts, timing, restrictions, and medications tied to meals. CDC boarding guidance also recommends documenting food and medication instructions.
Are Boarding Updates Available?
Magnolia Paws Board & Train offers report cards as an optional service for boarding customers. Staff also state that owners are contacted immediately if a dog becomes sick, which gives families a stated process for health-related communication. Report cards can add observations about the boarding experience.
Can Owners Tour First?
Magnolia Paws Board & Train encourages owners to tour the facility by appointment before booking. A visit can help families see the boarding spaces, ask questions about routines, and discuss a dog’s behavior or care needs face to face. That option gives owners another way to evaluate the facility before separation begins.
