Introducing Dogs to Daycare

At Petopia, we want to make your best friend’s experience as positive and fun as possible. One of the most important aspects of this is how your dog interacts and socializes with the rest of the pack. In order to have a smooth integration into the daycare environment, our experienced and trained Petopia staff will evaluate your fur baby to determine which group he or she is most suited for. We have the ability to recognize, handle, and eliminate any issues before they grow into bigger problems.

Typically, a new dog is placed in a small group of well-socialized dogs selected for their talents at bringing out the best in new friends. Our goal is not to force your canine companion into integrating with a group but rather allow him or her to do it at their own pace. Some new dogs may require a slower introduction over time, staying with a smaller group at first, while others may rapidly become part of the larger play group. It all depends on the dog and his or her prior dog experience, needs, temperament and personality. This is where the experience of our staff excels – we’ve actually found that many previously unsocial dogs can become more comfortable and confident in the daycare environment and even make new friends with other dogs.


Things to watch for in a new daycare doggie

Sore pads - all the running and romping may be rough on your fur kid’s feet, and they may get sore and abraded pads initially. However, this will go away as their pads get thicker and used to running on different surfaces.

Sore muscles - your four-legged friend will be having so much fun playing at Petopia that they may forget to pace themselves and get sore muscles. Over time this will fade as you see them get stronger and more in shape.

Exhaustion - the new social interaction your fur baby will encounter while being at Petopia will be both physically and mentally exhausting. He or she will most likely need a lot of rest when they get home.

Thirst - although we always have water available for the dogs, some of them literally forget to drink while they are having fun in daycare. We will try to ensure that your best friend is not getting dehydrated but do not be surprised if they drink a lot of water once they calm down at home.

Enthusiasm - your fur kid’s enthusiasm to enter the group will grow as they get more used to being at Petopia. Eventually they will be just as excited to get to daycare as they are when you pick them up at night.

Happy dog – after a day of fun, you will be greeted by your canine friend’s wagging tail and look of content in their eyes. You may even see a smile on their face!