Daycare FAQ's

1. Socialization: Dogs are naturally social animals and benefit greatly from interacting with other dogs and humans. Daycare provides a structured environment where dogs can learn how to properly socialize, communicate, and play with others. This helps prevent behavioral issues such as aggression or anxiety.

2. Exercise: Regular physical activity is crucial for a dog's physical and mental well-being. Daycare offers ample opportunities for dogs to run, play, and exercise, which helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens muscles, and releases excess energy.

3. Mental stimulation: Dogs thrive on mental stimulation and enrichment activities. Daycare provides a variety of toys, games, and interactions that keep dogs engaged and prevent boredom. This mental stimulation is important for preventing destructive behaviors and promoting overall happiness.

4. Supervision: Daycare facilities are staffed with trained professionals who monitor the dogs closely to ensure their safety and well-being. Having trained eyes watching over the dogs helps prevent accidents, injuries, and conflicts.

5. Alleviates loneliness: Dogs are social creatures and can experience loneliness and separation anxiety when left alone for long periods. Daycare provides companionship and social interaction, which can alleviate loneliness and reduce stress for dogs who spend long hours at home alone.
   

Overall, daycare is important for dogs because it provides socialization, exercise, mental stimulation, supervision, and companionship, all of which contribute to a happy, healthy, and well-balanced dog.

We highly recommend making a reservation. While we can accommodate up to 30 daycare dogs, drop-in spots aren't guaranteed due to our limited capacity. Making a reservation ensures your spot is secured and your pup can join in on the fun!

Enrolling your dog in daycare at Fido's Place is simple and ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for your furry friend:

1. Contact us: Due to the nature of our "open play" daycare, we don't offer drop-in visits or tours at this time. Please call ahead or fill out the contact us form to schedule an appointment to visit our facility.

2. Register your dog: When you arrive for your appointment, please arrive ten minutes early to allow time to fill out our intake forms. These forms include important questions about your dog's physical information (such as breed, weight, and age), health history, pre-existing conditions, behaviour, habits, and routines.

3. Provide vaccination records: For the safety of all dogs at our facility, we require proof of up-to-date vaccinations. Please ensure you have documentation of your dog's vaccinations, including rabies, distemper, and bordetella (kennel cough).

4. Learn more: You can find additional information about our questionnaire, policies and procedures, and frequently asked questions (FAQ) here on our website.

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By following these steps and providing us with necessary information, you can enrol your dog in daycare and give them the opportunity to socialize, play, and have fun in a safe and supervised environment.

For new clients, we request that you arrive 10 minutes early for your first visit. This allows you time to fill out our intake forms, which cover:

• Basic physical details like breed, weight, and age

• Health history and any pre-existing conditions

• Behavioral traits

• Habits

• Food and sleep routines

The more we know about your pet, the better we can tailor their experience and ensure they have a great time with us!

We provide most of what your dog needs, but there are a few things to bring:

1. A properly fitted collar (preferably snap collar, martingales accepted but no pinch collars or choke chains)

2. Any necessary medication (no extra fee for administration)

3. Optional: Lunch

4. Optional: Booties and/or sweaters for extra comfort

Please keep in mind that dogs will be dogs, so clothing items like sweaters may get damaged or soiled during playtime with the pack.

At our daycare, dogs have access to a spacious indoor area of about 1500 sq ft, fully equipped with rubber mats for their comfort and safety. Outside, we offer a half-acre fenced area with a mix of cement, sand, and gravel surfaces. Additionally, we have a separate play area specifically designed for small dogs who may prefer a quieter environment away from larger dogs.

1. Sore Pads: Your dog's feet may feel sore or abraded from all the running around. This discomfort will lessen as their pads toughen up over time.

2. Sore Muscles: Playing at daycare can lead to sore muscles, especially if your dog forgets to take it easy. But don't worry, they'll get stronger and more resilient with regular visits.

3. Exhaustion: The new experiences and social interactions can be tiring for your dog, so expect them to need plenty of rest when they get home.

4. Growing Enthusiasm: As your dog becomes more accustomed to daycare, they'll become increasingly excited to join the group. It's important to work on keeping them calm during entry and exit to avoid any overexcitement.

5. Wet Coat: On hot summer days, your dog might come home with a wet coat from lounging in the pool. Rest assured, we change the water frequently to keep them clean and healthy.

6. Happy Dog: Look out for wagging tails and maybe even a smile on their face—your dog's way of saying "THANKS" for a fun day at daycare!

At Fido's, our staff members are trained and certified in understanding dog body language and stress signals. We always have at least one staff member certified in pet first aid during business hours. With our extensive experience handling various behaviors, health needs, medical conditions, and breed characteristics, we've developed effective processes and policies to ensure your pet's safety. Your pet's well-being is our top priority.

When it comes to managing behavior, we first try verbal commands to redirect any unwanted behavior like bullying, excessive barking, mounting, or indoor accidents. If verbal commands don't work, the dog will have a short time-out in a kennel. Our goal is to create a comfortable environment for all dogs in our facility. Excessive barking can stress out other dogs and our staff, so we aim to address it promptly.

We carefully evaluate each dog and match them with playmates who complement their personality. We consider factors like size, age, energy level, and play style. Dogs are introduced gradually to their group based on their comfort and confidence levels. Throughout their playtime, all groups are closely supervised to ensure every dog enjoys themselves and stays safe.

If you need to cancel your dog's daycare appointment, please let us know at least 12 hours in advance. If you cancel with less than 12 hours notice, a 50% fee will be charged. If you don't cancel at all and miss your appointment, you'll be charged the full fee. Your cooperation helps us manage our schedule effectively.

You can arrange drop-off and pick-up times for your dog at Fido's Doggy Daycare by giving us a call or sending a text. It's important to arrange these times before your visit. Once you're registered for daycare, you can also request services online. When you arrive, you can come inside for drop-off or pick-up. However, if there's another vehicle in front, please wait until they leave before entering. If you prefer, we also offer curbside service for added convenience.

We advise against visiting while your dog is in daycare. It can cause anxiety and stress for them to see you and then have you leave again. However, you're welcome to call us to check in if you'd like. For updates and news about our daycare, please follow our Facebook and Instagram pages!