Daycare Enrichment FAQs
Trusting your dog to people you don’t know is tough. At Pawsense we have the training, certifications, and passion to provide your pup with the best experience possible. We understand you have a lot of questions about our services, so we’ve provided answers to some of our most commonly asked questions. Check out our answers and reach out if you have additional concerns.
What is daycare enrichment?
Think about your own needs: you’re more than just getting together with friends. You’ve got hobbies, extracurricular activities, and interests, sports, various outlets for exercise, games you play, new things you want to try and do (think: bucket list!), and so on. Dogs’ needs are as diverse as our own! So instead of playgroups, each guest dog gets multiple one-on-one outings each day with a human where they take part in all kinds of enrichment activities.
Our mission is based on fulfilling the various biological and behavioral needs dogs have. So, we focus on presenting different kinds of interactive stimuli for the dogs to encourage the expression of natural behavior, develop their interests and confidence and have lots of fun! All of this at NO ADDITIONAL COST!
Daycare provides the opportunity to:
• Provide your furry family member with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight
• Improve their socialization with dogs and people
• Relieve separation anxiety, boredom, and destructive behaviour at home
• Increases your dog’s overall happiness
What are the benefits of in-home doggy daycare?
Frequent participation in our dog daycare has many benefits, some of which include:
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Regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight
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Improved socialization with dogs and people with group and 1-on-1 interactions
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Relief of boredom, separation anxiety and destructive behavior at home
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Increased overall happiness
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Basic obedience training
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Monthly baths or weekly nail trims (as needed)
What do the dogs do all day at Pawsense?
They play! Our dog daycare is your pup’s dream come true. They can enjoy our playroom and large play yard, which is carefully supervised. The PawCrew can play and socialize with other dogs or take a nap in one of our spacious lodges if they are tired.
Do you walk the dogs?
No, we do not walk the dogs at Pawsense, as they have access to our large, outdoor play yard all day. They will get plenty of exercise running around with other dogs throughout the day.
Can you administer my dog’s medications? Is there a charge?
Yes, we can administer your dog’s medication for an additional price. Please note that it must be in the original prescription bottle with an appropriate date, and let staff know during booking if the medication needs to be injected.
Can I take a tour?
At this current time, we are not allowing pet parents inside to maintain proper health and safety requirements but can offer a virtual tour. To schedule a virtual tour, please call ahead or book an appointment for a meet-and-greet.
What is a Meet-and-Greet? By Appointment Only
A meet-and-greet is when your dog comes to spend a day at daycare at no charge in order to assess how well he/she interacts with other dogs and people.
Virtual meet-and-greets are offered by approval of Management only.
Can any dog come in for doggy day care?
Since our dogs interact in an all-day play environment, it’s important for them to get along well with others. We require that your pup first complete the Meet-and-Greet process.
Restrictions apply for dogs that test on the FAS Spectrum.
To maintain our incredibly high safety standards and satisfaction ratings, we require your pup to be:
• At least 8 weeks old (exceptions apply based on availability)
• Spayed or neutered (If six months old or older)
• Current on all core vaccines, including but not limited to Rabies, Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Canine Influenza, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella vaccines (Vaccines must be administered at least 24 hours before entering Pawsense. Oral Bordetella is accepted if given within the last six months. Injectable or intra-nasal accepted if given within the last twelve months)
• Flea/tick-free and in good overall health
• Free of wounds or stitches of any kind
• Wearing a quick-release collar
• Friendly with other dogs and people
Do you turn away dogs based on their breed?
If you have any of the following adult dog breeds, we require that your dog have positive previous group daycare experience and/or an AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate, or equivalent, prior to the meet-and-greet:
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Akita
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Alaskan Malamute
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American Staffordshire Terrier
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Boerboel
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Boxer
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Chow Chow
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Dalmation
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Doberman
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German Shepherd
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Husky
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Malinois
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Pit Bull Terrier
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Presa Canario
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Rottweiler
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Shar Pei
These restrictions DO NOT extend to training classes or other events. Exceptions to these restrictions are at the discretion of Pawsense.
Additionally, we are not able to accept extra-large breeds.
Do dogs ever get hurt?
Similar to children on a playground, it’s possible for dogs to sustain very minor injuries while at dog day care. During normal play, a dog may get small scratches, nicks, or lose a bit of fur. More serious injuries are very rare. For additional peace of mind, we are extensively trained in dog behaviour and fully certified to perform pet first aid and CPR. If serious treatment is needed, we will rush your pup to your personal vet or the emergency vet if your vet is unavailable.
Are you prepared in case of an illness or injury?
Yes! We are certified in pet CPR and First Aid. In case of an injury, our first concern is always the well-being of our dogs. If necessary, we can take them to the nearest vet, or if possible, their own vet. We will always contact the pet parent in this type of scenario.
I have an older dog. Will they enjoy this environment?
All dogs are different, so this will completely depend on your dog. Some of our older dogs do great with their younger companions. Our meet-and-greet process will ultimately help determine if our environment is right for your pup. We also regularly evaluate our dogs’ behaviours, so if we find that your pup isn’t assimilating well, we will let you know.
This is an environment that has dogs of different sizes. Is it safe for my smaller dog to be there?
For the safety of our dogs, our Meet-and-Greet will help us determine if your pup is a good fit. We also offer plenty of private areas for your dog to enjoy by themselves.
What should I expect when my dog comes home from Pawsense?
Your dog may be tired. Why, you ask? It’s one of the great benefits of Daycare! Dogs play all day so they are naturally tired at the end of the day. If your pup becomes overly tired during the day, we will take them to our lodges for a short nap. It’s not uncommon for dogs to sleep after they come home.
Do I need to make a reservation?
Yes, a reservation is needed for day camp, and we recommend making it early. Your dog must have passed the meet-and-greet to make a reservation. Depending on the time of year, we can sometimes accommodate on short notice if your dog has previously completed the meet-and-greet process. Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas book several months in advance. Deposits are required in order to hold a reservation.
How do I make a reservation?
You can request a reservation online through our Customer Portal. We will then reach out to you to confirm your reservation request and/or obtain any necessary documents.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
We require at least 48 hours notice prior to your reservation. Deposits will be returned in full, if in compliance with the cancellation policy.
Can I receive updates during my dog's stay?
You sure can! We will send out report cards before check out, highlighting your pup's activities throughout the day. Be sure to also check out our Instagram for more photos.
2023 Holiday Schedule
Monday, January 02
Monday, January 16
Monday, February 20
Monday, May 29
Monday, June 19
Tuesday, July 04
Monday, September 04
Monday, October 09
Friday, November 10
Thursday, November 23 (CLOSED for Daycare)
Monday, December 25 (CLOSED for Daycare)
Unless specified $10 surcharge applies to all Holidays
