Doggie
Daycare
Commonly Asked Questions
Our Philosophy on Dog Play.....
As trainers first and foremost we have always acknowledged
that dogs personalities demand an approach respectful of their
individualities. For this reason we do not put large groups
of dogs together and prefer instead to custom pick the dogs
that play within a group. If the dogs in a group are not benefiting
each other behaviorally they don’t play together. There is
always enough variety to accommodate both the overactive and
shy ends of the spectrum, without having to force these upon
one another.
How many dogs play together at once?
There may be two or three groups on any given day which are rotated frequently throughout
the day. In this way we can take a leadership role in the dynamic of the pack so that no
dog is bullying or being bullied. We monitor our groups closely without over interfering
in their play to be sure that everyone is having a good experience and no one is overwhelmed.
Why isn’t my dog playing all day long?
By rotating the groups we are helping the dogs learn that downtime is a normal part of the day and
will be rewarded by more opportunities to play. We also find that downtime in short increments leads
to more appropriate play. Dogs learn to get control of their impulses and not be overly rough with their
playmates when they have this opportunity. This is the road to healthy social interactions that will
build good play skills for life.
What about training and manners?
We take great pride in treating the dogs entrusted to our care as well as we treat our own dogs. We set
limits, require good manners (no rushing doors or pulling on leash) and reward good behavior while preventing
unwanted behavior. The dogs that come to us are friendly, happy dogs that love to play. We also offer formal
training from our certified instructors. We have several training options available see our Daycamp/Day
training page for more details.
What will my dog’s day be like?
We run our day on a schedule so that the dogs come to know
what to expect and when. The day consists of rotated play
time and rest time so that the dogs are playful and having
fun while they are out and get the opportunity to nap and
calm down when it’s not their turn to play. We have
found that if you leave the dogs out all day long they tend
to get overtired and their “good “ play skills
deteriorate. We want their experiences around dogs to be good
ones and this allows for the rest time needed to be able to
spend the day together.
Where do the dogs potty?
All dogs take an extended break around mid-day, with filtered water,
dimmed lights and a chance to recharge. Puppies often have their noontime meal
at this time. We then walk all the dogs by hand, one at a time to be sure they have
had the opportunity to do their business outdoors.
What if my puppy is young?
Puppies are a specialty of ours and we have put a lot of time and research in learning
as much as we can about socializing pups so that they grow into confident adults who can
negotiate the canine world with ease.
How do you correct unwanted play?
We strive to give the dogs in our care a good social experience that is fun and not stressful.
By redirecting over stimulated play and encouraging a healthy give and take we have helped families
raise confident well adjusted dogs that can go out and the world and be ambassadors for well
socialized dogs everywhere.
Canine University® has been offering daycare for 15 years.
We have the experience and knowledge necessary to make sure
that each dog gets what they need from their daycare experience.
We keep our numbers small and supervise our groups closely
to make sure that everyone is having a good time.
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