Colorado Dog Care Standards

A. Pet animals exhibiting aggressive behavior must be housed in enclosures that prevent them from
biting or injuring humans or other animals.
B. Pet animals suspected of having a communicable disease must be isolated from other
susceptible animals and the public.
C. Pet animals housed together must be compatible and have similar environmental requirements.
D. Any animal boarded in a licensed retail facility must be physically separated from sale animals.
E. Dogs, cats, and other species in animal shelters and boarding/training facilities must be housed in
separate rooms. Facilities may submit a written request to the Commissioner for an exemption
from this requirement. Separate isolation for each species is not required.
F. Any facility that operates as both a boarding/training facility and an animal shelter must have
separate ventilation and full-wall separation between the boarding/training and shelter areas.
Facilities may submit a written request to the Commissioner for an exemption from this
requirement. Any such submission must demonstrate provisions for the health and safety of the
animals in the facility if such exemption were to be granted.
G. Puppies, kittens, and rabbits under the age of 4 months may not be housed in the same
enclosure with adults other than their dam or foster dam, unless under direct supervision.
H. With the exception of a licensed breeding facility, females in season (estrus) must not be housed
in enclosures with other animals. In animal shelters, animals that have reached sexual maturity
must be housed separately from the opposite sex unless spayed or neutered. Birds and reptiles
are exempt from this requirement.
I. Any bitch or queen in whelp must be housed individually a minimum of one week prior to its
whelping date.
J. Unless under constant and direct supervision, no more than 5 dogs over 6 months of age maybe
housed in any one enclosure.

1. Dog breeder facilities may submit written request to the Commissioner for an exemption
   from this requirement if the facility has no disciplinary matters pending. Any such
   submission must demonstrate provisions for the safety and well-being of dogs in the
   facility if such submission were to be granted.
   Code of Colorado Regulations 23
2. In boarding/training facilities and grooming facilities dogs from different households may
   be housed in the same enclosure, under constant and direct supervision, with the written
   consent of the owners.
3. There must be a minimum of one human supervisor (at least 16 years of age) present, at
   all times, who has immediate access to and is able to directly supervise and constantly
   view each enclosure or common area where dogs from different owners are commingled.
   Under no circumstances will viewing by video camera or through windows be considered
   acceptable supervision to satisfy this requirement.
4. Employees who are engaged in performing other tasks, including grooming other pet
   animals, do not satisfy this requirement.
5. There must be at least one human supervisor for every 15 dogs housed within each
   enclosure or common area. If more than 15 dogs are housed in a common area or
   enclosure, then the supervisor-dog ratio becomes:
   2-15 dogs – one supervisor;
   16-30 dogs – two supervisors;
   31-45 dogs – three supervisors;
   45-60 dogs – four supervisors.
6. No more than 60 dogs may be housed in any enclosure or common area at any time

More Information