Your Dog's First Day at Daycare
Everybody has lots of questions on their dog's first
day at daycare. The following is based on a handout we provide
newly-approved students (well, their parents, really, most of our
students are way more interested in reading the pee-mail than boring old
stuff like this!). Please note that, in order to
safely integrate new members into their play group, we only introduce
one new dog at a time, so reservations ARE required for your dog's first
day in daycare. Daycare
hours are Monday through Friday 7:00am to
6:00pm. Evening training classes begin at 6:30pm, so we close the
daycare department right at 6pm. As a convenience to our customers who
cannot pick their dog up before 6pm, we have a late pickup option:
whenever you arrive after 6pm, go straight to the crate room. Your dog
will be resting with her leash and collar on top of the crate. Please be
careful to close the crate door when you leave so that it doesn’t create
an obstruction. Please let us know when you need a late pick-up. We do
not charge for late pick-ups, but we don’t have staff up front to get
dogs or take payment after 6pm, so please make any purchases and
payments in the morning when you drop off your dog. Late pickups are not
available Friday evenings or during weeks that we do not have classes
(once every 2 months).
Daycare Schedule (Big Dogs):
The dogs rest until 8:30am, so please be sure
to potty your dog before dropping him off for daycare. The dogs go
outside from 8:30 until 11:30. We bring the dogs in for a nap from 11:30
until 2:00 because behaviorists studying daycares found that dogs that
did not rest during the day went home tired and grumpy instead of
tired and happy. Play resumes from 2:00 to 6:00pm. Please let us
know if you need to pick your dog up during nap time (between 11:30am
and 2pm) so we don’t have to interrupt doggie dreams for the rest.
Daycare Schedule (Little Dogs):
Morning session for little dogs is 7:30am to 11:30am. The afternoon
session is 2pm-6pm. Please let us know if you need to pick your dog up
between 11:30am and 2pm.
Drop-off time (Big Dogs):
the best time to drop your dog off is between 7:00 and 8:30am. If you
come between 8:30 and 10:30am, your dog will probably be able to join
the pack outside. If your dog comes after 10:30am, it will be too late
to join the morning session, but he will be able to nap until 2pm, then
join the pack for the afternoon session.
Drop-off time (Little Dogs):
Little dogs who arrive between 7am and 7:30am will rest in crates until
their teacher arrives at 7:30. Little dogs who arrive after 7:30am will
go straight onto the play yard.
Pick-up time:
the best time to pick your dog up is between 2:30pm and 5:45pm. If you
need to pick up your dog between 11:30 and 2pm, please let us know in
advance so that we can put your dog up front. This will ensure that we
don’t need to wake up your dog’s friends during their naptime. Please
remember to let us know if you need a late pick-up.
Reservations
are only required on your dog’s first day at daycare. For safety, we
only introduce one new dog per day. The first day, your dog will need to
arrive before 8:30am. Your dog will go out first, which is much less
stressful than going out last and having all the other dogs rush up to
mob the new guy in town.
Snacks
are given at 11:30. Generally, we give the dogs a Milkbone-type biscuit
when they come in for their nap. If you have any special requirements,
please let us know. If you want us to give your dog lunch or a snack,
please pack it in a plastic bag with your dog’s name clearly written on
it. If your dog is not allowed snacks, please remind us the first few
visits.
Stuff:
You do not need to bring any toys, beds, or other supplies for your dog.
We have plenty!
Safety:
Our #1 goal is to keep every person and every dog safe.
To that end, please observe the following:
§
We do not recommend or use
extendible/retractable leashes. We do not prohibit them, though, so if
you use one, please be sure to lock it down before bringing your dog
into the building. We have a lot of dogs, from Chihuahuas to Great Danes
in and out, and they all need to be right up close to their human.
§
Do not bring your dog to daycare if he or
she is acting sick, throwing up, or having diarrhea. Your vet would be a
better choice on those days. Neither the other dogs nor their owners
will appreciate the sharing of germs.
§
Please do not go past the cones in the
parking lot. The dogs react to anything or anyone outside the fence, and
the smaller ones can get trampled in the rush to see who’s there.
§
Please do be sure to keep your dog’s tags
(1) visible and (2) attached. At the very least, your dog’s collar
should contain your name and at least one contact phone, and preferably
more. If a cat were to dash past your dog as you were getting into or
out of your car, you may find yourself relying on a friendly stranger to
return her!
Overnight Boarding:
We offer a special bundle for our regular daycare dogs
who want to spend the night. Regular boarding is $20/night, $18 for dogs
under 15 pounds. On daycare days, the overnight is only $12. Please let
us know in advance about boarding nights so that we can save your dog a
spot. We typically fill the kennel on holidays and during spring and
fall break, so reservations should be made as soon as your plans are
laid. Please note that the daycare bundle is only available to regular
daycare dogs who have attended at least once every other week for two
months prior to the boarding stay.
What to expect the first day
Sore Pads:
Running and chasing new friends all day long can be rough on your dog’s
feet, and the pads may get worn or abraded. This will go away as the
pads toughen over time.
Sore Muscles:
Most dogs are having so much fun they never think to stop to rest. Over
time, they become stronger and in better shape. Your dog may seem stiff
after the first couple of sessions. Gently massage the muscles, and let
your dog get plenty of water and rest.
Exhaustion:
All of the running, jumping, and sniffing, not to mention meeting and
greeting, can wear a dog smack out. It often takes several visits for
dogs to learn how to pace themselves. First timers often require a day
or three to recover from the party.
Enthusiasm:
While some dogs are worried about new places and experiences, your dog’s
enthusiasm to enter the group will grow as they become familiar with our
schedule and staff, and make friends with the other dogs.
Damp or dusty coat:
Your dog’s coat may be damp, especially on wet days or during the summer
when we put out the soaking pools. We do try to make the dogs
presentable before sending them home, but sometimes Mother Nature makes
it quite the challenge.
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!:
Do expect to see a happy dog. A tired and happy dog who has made
new doggie friends and met new people. Your dog’s wagging tail and
smiling face will be his or her way of saying “THANKS A MILLION!!” for
bringing them to PDX.
Thank you for trusting
us with your dog. We appreciate your business, but treasure your
confidence. If you have any questions, any questions at all, please
let us know! |
