Common Dog Daycare Questions
Wanting to Know More About Dog Daycare at K9 Resorts?
We've provided our most commonly asked questions below, if you still have questions give us a call!
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Is dog daycare good for dogs?
Yes! Doggy daycare is good for most dogs.
Bringing your dog to daycare has its benefits, including those that improve your dog’s quality of life:
Plenty of mental stimulation and physical activity: Not only does this tire your pup out, but it can also reduce unwanted behaviors like constant barking.
An outlet to expend excess energy, exercise, and remain active: Your dog will be able to participate in daily exercise through group activities. Participants play in a cage-free environment while enjoying the freedom to stretch their legs.
Eases separation anxiety: By giving your pup time away from you in a safe, fun, and stimulating environment, dog daycare gives your pup great practice for alone time. Our staff will give your dog the attention and care they need to help make their stay as low-stress as possible.
The chance to socialize with other dogs of a similar size and temperament: Dogs are social animals, and they benefit from spending time with other dogs! Each dog is evaluated to ensure appropriate and comfortable play with the other dogs, and maintain a completely safe and healthy environment. If your dog doesn’t do well with other dogs, they can still benefit from a dog daycare—group play will be replaced with one-on-one playtime with our staff.
Keep in mind, however, that if your dog is reactive (common among dogs who were rescued from abusive owners), dog daycare may not be the best idea. Please let us know if your dog struggles with aggression, and we can discuss whether behavioral training is recommended before checking in.
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How often should my dog go to dog daycare?Daycare is recommended as often as possible! Dogs are highly adaptable and enjoy a routine that is predictable. Most commonly dogs will come between 2-4 times per week, but we very often see dogs upwards of 5 times a week! The exercise is wonderful to keep them entertained and socialized, and they will make “friends” they can consistently see and interact with at daycare. We love to see your dogs as often as we can and establish our own relationships with them, in turn making them much more comfortable while in our care.
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What is a dog daycare evaluation?If your dog will be participating in Doggie Daycare while at K9 Resorts, in order to provide the most safe and enjoyable environment possible, our trained and certified staff evaluates every dog on their first day. During the evaluation process, we are assessing the temperament of your dog and their compatibility with a group of dogs.
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How do I know if my dog likes dog daycare?Dogs are social animals that need exercise and stimulation, and doggie daycare is the best way to provide both! Dogs that are approved for doggie daycare will come home happy, tired, and ready to come back! Most dogs do require an adjustment period from what they are accustomed to, but typically after your 2nd or 3rd visit, your dog will pull you to the door, tail wagging, and will be excited to see the staff and play with their friends. Some owners have even told us they cannot use their “daycare trigger word” in the house unless they intend to bring their dog that day, or else they get so disappointed when mom and dad don’t end up bringing them to daycare. Don’t get offended if they don’t say goodbye, we promise they’re just appreciative you’ve found a fun place for them to be, and will be thrilled to see you later in the day!
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Do you separate dogs by size in dog daycare?Yes, dogs that are 30 pounds and over are evaluated for our large playgroup. Dogs that are 29 pounds and under are evaluated for our small daycare playgroup.
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What happens during a daycare evaluation?When your dog is being evaluated for doggie daycare, we take a few steps to ensure the safety of all guests that utilize our daycare services. Dogs are social animals by nature, but some may not acclimate well to a larger group setting. Our evaluations will allow our trained staff to determine who is a good fit for our daycare group and who would be more appropriate for one-on-one activity. Our staff will take it slow with all dogs, most evaluations lasting at least 3 hours, if not more. During this time, we are introducing your dog to our existing group of dogs one at a time, so as not to overwhelm the new dog, and allow them to greet our pack slowly and safely. We encourage you to leave your dog for the entire day in order to allow them a full day of fun with their new friends and ample time to acclimate to the environment and our staff.
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What shots do dogs need to be boarded and to participate in daycare?We require 4* vaccines to be up to date: Rabies, Distemper/Parvo Bordetella ("Merck Nobivac Intra-trac3" Intranasal is strongly preferred), and Canine Influenza (“Nobivac Canine Flu Bivalent” version is strongly preferred as it protects against both canine influenza H3N8 and H3N2). Canine Influenza is required at most K9 Resorts locations and strongly recommended at others. Please contact your local resort for more information).
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How much notice needs to be given to cancel or change my dog's daycare reservation?It is best practice to call us as soon as your dog's plans have changed. No deposit is required for daycare reservations and there is no penalty for cancellations up to 72 hours before your reservation. Cancellations within 72 hours of your reservation will result in a full daycare charge to the credit card on file or a reduction of one (1) day from your daycare package. No refunds will be issued.