A dog trainer’s approach to dog daycare
How are we different?
Our team has been in the dog training business for over 10 years. We love dogs and we study dog behavior. We have designed our policies to provide a safe, enriching, and fun environment for all dogs in our care.
All dogs are carefully evaluated by one of our trainers before being introduced to play groups to evaluate their play style and select the best play group. By keeping our play groups small, dogs are able to play more with friends who play like they do. We also offer a daily mental enrichment activity, such as puppy puzzles, snuffle mats, and sniffing adventures free of charge so that dogs get a chance to work their brains in addition to working their bodies by running and playing during the day!
Is your dog a good fit for our program?
In order to maintain a safe and fun environment, we have to be selective in which dogs are a fit. All dogs must fit the following criteria to join our groups:
Crate Trained: Because we rotate dogs between play groups and rest periods, they have to be able to rest quietly and comfortably in a crate.
Dog Friendly: Not all dogs love to play with others, and that is absolutely OK! However, dogs need to be friendly with others to join in day care.
Healthy and Vaccinated: We require that all dogs be healthy and up to date on vaccines. Dogs with illnesses or injuries are not safe in play groups and cannot be accepted. We require Rabies, DHPP & Bordetella vaccines to enroll in daycare.
Age: Puppies must be at least 16 weeks of age and fully vaccinated at least one week before their first day. We have no upper age limit.
Ready to come play?
1
Book an Assessment Day
Use our website to book an Assessment Day in which our trainer Maggie will work one on one with your dog to evaluate and select the perfect play group. Assessments are only offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays at this time.
2
Send us Vaccine Records
You can upload your dog’s vaccine records when you book the appointment, or email them to us at: BluegrassDTA@gmail.com.
3
Drop Your Pup Off
Bring your pup to our center for their first day of play. They will have their assessments, try some different play groups, and then you can pick up after a full day of play with their report card.
“Best place to take your dog in central Kentucky. The staff especially Maggie really cares about your dog. They will NOT just throw them into a group with several other dogs. I loved the fact that they took my dog and had her play with one other dog to see how she did before putting her in a small play group for the rest of the day. My dog came home happy and tired. I would highly recommend Bluegrass Dog Daycare!”
— EMILY N. and ANNALEE
FAQs
Can I bring or pick up my dog outside of the drop off/pick up hours?
Unfortunately, we do not currently have the staff to allow pick ups and drop offs outside of the set times.
What does the first day look like for my dog?
If you are new to Bluegrass Dog Daycare, you need to book an “Assessment Day” for your pup’s first day. The drop off and pick up hours are the same for your pup, but we do ask that you schedule on a day that you are available to come pick your dog up early if they are not enjoying their day with us. Once here, your dog will spend some one on one time with our trainer Maggie who will be assessing for overall temperament and stability. We then test through several levels with a single friendly dog to select an appropriate play group. Once we have selected a play group with the best play style for your dog, we slowly add in members one at a time making sure everyone is happy and getting along well as we go. After play groups, your dog will rest in their crate while the next groups play. Then they jump into normal play group rotations with their new friends for the rest of the day. They will come home with a report card and game plan for next steps!
What does the second, third, and 100th, day look like for my dog?
Once your dog has been accepted after their assessment day, you can book additional days for them on through our website. Select the correct crate size (noted on your report card from assessment day) and then choose the dates your would like your pup to attend. During drop off times, dogs are resting in their crates. At 8:00 we start play groups. All dogs in the first rotation are given a chance to potty outside, then come in to our large play for play time. Play time duration varies by play group. Then those dogs go back in their crates to rest while other groups play. After rest time, they come out again and repeat the process. We rotate through play groups all day until 4:00 pm. At 4:00, all dogs are resting in their crates and waiting for owners to pick up.
Do you accept intact dogs?
Yes, we have the same assessment steps and behavior requirements for both neutered/spayed and intact dogs. If they are able to be friendly and play well with others, they are welcome. Some intact dogs do not do well in play groups and would not be eligible for daycare. Females in season are not eligible for daycare.
How many dogs are in each play group?
That depends on the size and temperament of the dogs in the group. Most groups are around 5-7 dogs each. We have a strict limit of no more than 10 dogs in a single group.
How many dogs do you accept in a day?
Our maximum capacity is 30 dogs. We want to keep our daycare operation small so that we can take excellent care of all our dogs.