Our daycare program started back in 2011 with a very small group of dogs. Since then, we’ve put a lot of hard word into evolving. As we’ve grown, we’ve continued to research the best ways to keep your furry friend safe and happy, and we’ve developed our program accordingly.
One of the things we’ve found is that pack stability is crucial to the dog’s safety and enjoyment. Dogs are creatures of habit! With a pack, they get to know each other and that sense of familiarity and structure is comforting to them. This is a big part of why we encourage regular attendance on the same days each week,. It’s also why we now require a re-evaluation if your dog has been absent for more than three months.
Three months is a long time in dog years! Imagine staying home from school or work for three months then returning. It will take you awhile to get the lay of the land again. There will undoubtedly be new faces, new policies, new social politics, and perhaps new furniture or a new layout. The same goes for your dog in daycare. The group can change a lot in three months. New dogs, new play equipment, new staff, new schedule: any combination of these is possible and your dog will need to become accustomed to each.
Dogs also change as they age. Their preferences, play styles, tolerance of other dog’s antics, and life experiences will go through a natural progression. It’s just like how children age into young adults, and those young adults have different likes and dislikes than they had when they were young. As dogs age from puppy to adolescence to adulthood, they tend to lose some of that never-ending energy and rambunctiousness. They begin to enjoy the slower things in life like naps and snuggles, and they tend to have less tolerance for the young’uns. Think of it this way: your 13 year old (adolescent) may enjoy play that is too rough and tumble for your 5 year old (puppy), and your 19 year old (adult) wants nothing to do with either one of them!
After three (or more) months away from daycare, we want to see what your dog still enjoys and what they have grown out of. That way, we can make the best decision for what your pup needs right there and then! And even if they’re eager to get back into their daycare groove, they will appreciate a shorter day on their first day back. It will help them ease back into the swing of things. So if you’ve been away for a while, we’d love to have you back! Send us a fresh application: your dog will appreciate you getting the ball rolling!
Daycare & Grooming Blog 