LUCKY DOG DAYCARE
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Be Our Guest

They Play. You Relax.

Room selection for overnight guests consists of crates, 4x4x6(h)-foot kennels, or cube kennels. Your dog will spend the night in whichever space is most comfortable for them.
Overnight guests are provided daily playtime with other guests and daycare campers.
Rooms are cleaned daily while their occupants play with friends.
We provide bedding, dishes, and milkbone treats.
Playtimes are punctuated by meals and naps to help lower the arousal level of the dogs.
Breaks are essential to be sure dogs are happy, safe, and enjoy positive experiences with their friends.
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Before You Board

1. Contact Lucky Dog for a tour. We give tours between 11:00am and 1:00pm Monday through Friday by appointment only. The dogs are at naptime during this period so you can see the whole facility. 

2. Submit an application for your dog. You can drop it off in-person OR email it to [email protected]

3. Submit vet records verifying your dog is up-to-date on the following vaccinations, preventative, and fecal float.

4. Call or email Lucky Dog to make your pup's Temperament Testing appointment.

VACCINATIONS REQUIRED
  • Proof of Flea and Tick Preventative - For proof of flea and tick preventative please send over a picture of the container (either the box, individual packet or receipt of purchase), as well as let us know what day of the month it is being given. If the package has total quantity, we are happy to place expiration out based on monthly dosages for your convenience.
  • Bordetella
  • Rabies
  • DHPP
  • We require a negative fecal float within 30 days of your dog's first day/evaluation. Please drop off, email over, or have your vet email over those results to [email protected].
    • You likely will not require a vet visit to submit this sample if your dog is otherwise up-to-date. Typically you are able to drop if off with reception and they will run the test for you.
  • Your dog must be spay/neutered if they are older than six months.

The First Day / Temperament Testing

Dropping off the first day
1. Dropping off your dog can be stressful for both of you. This is why we ask you to drop off between 8:30am and 9:30am on the day of their evaluation; when our lobby is at it's quietest.
2. Our facility is a big new place for your pup with lots of exciting smells. We understand your dog is not going to present as the same dog you know at home. That's okay! Our shift lead will walk them back to the training room and give them a few treats while they acclimate to this new space.

3. After a bit of an adjustment period we will begin the temperament test. This assessment acts as a baseline on your dog. We look at four categories: environment, handability, biddability, and social interaction.
4. If your dog appears to be viable in a small group setting we will introduce dogs with similar play styles so they can begin forming relationships with other dogs on their first day at daycare!

Temperament testing criteria
  • Environment: Your dog's response to a new place. Are they taking food? Are they confident, insecure, or anxious? We watch the dogs for stress signals and hope that they decrease as they get comfortable.
  • Handability: Can we touch your dog? Are they okay being pet on their head, neck, shoulders, back, rump, feet, tail, etc. It is important that the staff can handle the dogs, and it's important for us to know if they have any sensitivities regarding being touched. We often notice ticks, cuts, hair loss, ear infections, etc when they are playing here. We need to touch and handle the dogs so we can give their parents a more comprehensive observation of the problem at pick-up. 
  • Biddability: Will your dog follow instruction? We are a relationship-based facility, which means we focus on play and relationship over strict obedience. That being said, we need to get a baseline on your dog's ability to follow our lead. Do they respond to their name? If so, do they come over for pets or treats or do they just look? The first day we will gauge how much time they'll need before they can enter play groups. Until a dog is semi-biddable, we cannot have them in a bigger play group- as it's not safe. We work with the dogs to gain their trust, build their confidence, and create a relationship so they want to be biddable for us. 
  • Social Interaction: On the first day, we must get a baseline of your dog's reactions to other dogs. We have dogs who act as our "demo dogs". These dogs are neutral, calm, easy going, and biddable to the extreme. These dogs will not take any interest in your dog beyond a sniff or a greeting. These "demo dogs" help us gauge if introducing a new dog to yours elicits stress, a play response, or frustration due to lack of playing. We are also able to gauge your dog's play style this way and assess if your dog is still biddable, or able to follow cues when playing.
picking up after their first day
Picking Up: We recommend picking up between 2:30pm and 3:30pm on the first day of daycare as it's a lot all at once! The next visit you are welcome to drop off and pickup during normal hours.

Looking for More Information?

See General FAQ

It's Time to Board!

1. Email us at [email protected] to request your boarding dates.

2. Determine whether you will be dropping off during the morning or afternoon windows. Similarly, please indicate during which window you will be picking up.

3. A staff member will meet you in the lobby to check in our guest where we'll go over feeding schedule, medications, and any concerns or special accommodations for your pet. Book any additional services (such as walks, a nail trim, or a bath) at this time.

4. Happy Travels! Your fur baby is in great hands at sleep-away camp!

Add Services to Your visit
Boarding drop off /pick up times
Weekend Boarding Hours
Mornings: 8am-10am
Afternoons: 4pm-6pm
Weekday Boarding Hours
Mornings: 7am-10am
Afternoons: 2:30pm-5:30pm

The Boarding Stay Checklist

What To bring
  • dog food (we recommend always sending a bit extra just incase)
  • medications (we do not charge a fee for administering medications)
  • quick-release collar or no collar at all (for safety reasons we do not allow dogs to play in traditional belt-buckle-style collars)
  • plan to schedule any additional services you would like added on to your dog's boarding stay
what we provide
  • bedding
  • stainless steel food & water dishes
  • milk bones
  • daily daycare / playtime
  • daily naptime
optional things to pack
  • bedding that can be washed in a conventional washing machine and/or will not devastate parents if it is ruined
    • Lucky Dog provides comfy bedding for overnight guests; typically if parents are comfortable leaving their bedding at home, we prefer ours to save theirs from destruction
      • Even if dogs are well potty trained and not destructive at home, changes to routine, energy expenditure, and environment can cause accidents or chewing behaviours to pop up
  • food and water bowls if your dog has a hard time using different food and water dishes
  • an item which smells like you
  • treats
  • something to chew on and/or a special toy
  • if it's cold - a coat (not their nicest coat- dogs play and things can get damaged)
Boarding Cancellation Policy: Please cancel a minimum of 72 hours prior to your scheduled drop off date. 25% of the total reservation will be charged if the stay is not cancelled within 72 hours of the scheduled boarding. A full charge of the boarding stay will be placed if we do not receive notice of cancellation or cancellation happens the day of drop off.  
Lucky Dog Daycare
2855 Capitol Dr
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
P: 1.608.249.5892

website by Elise Malik
  • Daycare
  • Boarding
  • Extras
    • + Services
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Contact
  • FAQ
    • Boarding FAQ
    • Daycare FAQ