Managing Our Doggy Daycare Groups at Canine To Five
Managing Our Doggy Daycare Groups at Canine To Five
At Canine To Five, we are dedicated to providing a fun, structured, and engaging daycare experience for every dog in our care. We offer two distinct daycare options to suit different personalities and play styles: Group Play Daycare and Pawsitive Enrichment.
Group Play Daycare: Pack Management & Training
Our Group Play Daycare is designed for social dogs who thrive in a pack setting. To ensure a safe and enriching experience, our staff complete a two-week training period to learn dog body language, behavior management, and pack leader techniques using Pack Pro Training, a structured program focused on understanding dog behavior, maintaining group harmony, and keeping playtime safe and engaging. Key elements of our pack management include:
- “Stay Out of My Bubble” Training – Teaching dogs to respect personal space, reducing overexcitement and potential conflicts.
- Gate Work – Reinforcing calm behavior at entrances and exits to prevent door rushing.
- Group Sits – Encouraging focus and patience among the dogs.
- Place Commands – Directing dogs to a designated spot to reinforce impulse control.
- Chalk Boundaries – Drawing visual boundaries for structured activities that promote focus and discipline.
A Structured & Engaging Day
To keep our daycare dogs happy and engaged, all handlers carry a treat pouch and use positive reinforcement techniques. Throughout the day, our staff:
- Uses brain games and impulse control activities to keep dogs mentally stimulated.
- Ensures dogs are playing appropriately and intervenes when necessary.
- Engages in structured play sessions to prevent overstimulation and ensure dogs go home happy and tired.
- Provides seasonal activities such as bubble days, pools and sprinklers, and foam parties during the summer months.
- Hosts special enrichment days with games like bobbing for treats, scent tracking, and ball pits.
- Can offer snacks like stuffed Kongs and protein Power Bowls for a mid-day break.
Unlike other doggy daycares that simply referee play, we actively engage with our pack to create a stimulating and rewarding experience for every dog.
Pawsitive Enrichment: A Calmer Daycare Experience
For dogs who prefer a more relaxed daycare experience, Pawsitive Enrichment offers a customized program with limited dog play and a focus on one-on-one human interaction and brain games.
Who Is Pawsitive Enrichment For?
This program is ideal for dogs who:
- Seem bored with traditional daycare.
- May feel overwhelmed with group play.
- Are okay with seeing other dogs, but prefer not to interact with them.
- Are over 9 months old and not fixed.
- Need a comfy place to relax without being on their feet all day.
What’s Included in Pawsitive Enrichment?
Dogs in Pawsitive Enrichment participate in activities such as:
- Treadmill Walks – Controlled, structured exercise for focus and confidence-building.
- Food Puzzles & Scent Work – Engaging problem-solving games to stimulate the mind.
- Basic Obedience & Training Games – Reinforcing skills like sit, down, wait, and place.
- One-on-One Human Interaction – Individual attention from staff for comfort and engagement.
This program allows dogs to enjoy the benefits of daycare while maintaining a lower-stress, enrichment-based routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I supply my dog’s treats from home?
A: Canine To Five provides all treats to ensure consistency and prevent issues with resource guarding. Treats are given in small, controlled amounts so that all dogs are treated equally.
Q: What is resource guarding?
A: Resource guarding is when a dog becomes possessive over food, toys, or space and displays behaviors such as growling, snapping, or lunging to protect it. This behavior can be dangerous, and we do not allow it at Canine To Five. See which other behaviors we look out for here.
Q: How do you handle dogs with allergies?
A: Dogs with allergies wear special paper collars so that our staff knows not to give them treats. Please let our team know at drop-off if you do not want your pup to receive treats!
Q: How do you train dogs with hand cues?
A: We use hand cues along with verbal commands to teach dogs. These include:
- Sit: Open palm facing up
- Down: Open palm facing down
- Off: Turn your body away or walk towards the dog
- Wait: Open palm facing out
- Place: Pointing to the desired spot
- That’s enough: Used to curb excessive barking
Q: Does my dog need to be crate trained?
A: While we aim to keep all dogs out and engaged, some dogs may need short crate time for a reset. Crate training at home is helpful, especially for younger dogs or those with difficulty settling.
Q: How do you manage dogs that are nervous in daycare?
A: Our team is trained to recognize signs of stress and anxiety in dogs. For nervous dogs, we offer a slower introduction to group play, and utilize Pawsitive Enrichment as an alternative to high-energy daycare.
Q: What happens if my dog doesn’t do well in group play?
A: If a dog struggles in group play, we will assess their behavior and may recommend transitioning to Pawsitive Enrichment for a more comfortable experience.
Q: How do I know which daycare option is best for my dog?
A: Our team will assess your dog’s behavior and energy level during their evaluation day and help guide you toward the best daycare option to ensure their happiness and well-being.
At Canine To Five, we believe every dog deserves a daycare experience tailored to their needs. Whether they thrive in Group Play Daycare or prefer the individualized attention of Pawsitive Enrichment, our expert team ensures they have a fulfilling and rewarding day!
For more insights, check out our blog posts on topics like how enrichment daycare can be the perfect alternative to traditional daycare, raising a happy, well-socialized puppy, why daycare is essential even when you work from home, and what to expect from a daycare evaluation.
Eager to join in on the fun? Here’s what you’ll need to start:
- Your pup must be at least 12 weeks old
- They must have their DHPP, Lepto, Bordetella, and Rabies vaccines (Rabies by 18 weeks old for puppies)
- Puppies over 9 months old must be spayed/neutered to participate in our pack-style environment; Unaltered dogs may continue to join us for Private Play
If your dog is eligible to start, click here to fill out our new client inquiry form and our Canine Concierge will get in touch with you to go over next steps!