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How do you introduce dogs to each other?
All dogs are assessed before they are allowed to start daycare or board at Lucky Dog. Based on their assessment we form a personalized care-plan and this affects how we introduce campers to the larger group. We are typically able to predict how the new camper will respond and adjust our approach according to their needs. Nicole typically works one-on-one first to build a rapport with the new camper before introducing other dogs. She then introduces the new camper to dogs that she knows very well, who are neutral, and used in the one-on-one assessment. Eventually Nicole progressively works in other campers until a group is made or dogs with similar play styles.
Do you offer any small group playtime Or is it one bigger group when they are out?
We have small group play options for dogs who need it; however the goal is getting dogs to the large yard; as the reason for being in a small group is usually due to a behavioral issue. If the dog cannot work through a behavioral issue, then they likely shouldn't be in daycare.
Boarding dogs, senior dogs, and puppies also tend to be in the smaller group setting as they have specific needs that regular daycare dogs do not.
Boarding dogs, senior dogs, and puppies also tend to be in the smaller group setting as they have specific needs that regular daycare dogs do not.
Is it possible for a dog to get some breaks during playtime?
Dogs who cannot self-regulate are given required breaks. Ie, if your dog cannot break off from the group and lay down on a platform, we will bring them in for a "puppy break." A puppy break is essentially our way of making sure the dogs don't get over stimulated and go over threshold. Puppy breaks are always done kindly, with treats and encouragement. Puppy breaks are not exclusively for puppies, but we call them "puppy breaks" as typically younger dogs are the ones who struggle with overarousal as they learn to play.
What are your cleaning practices? what chemicals do you use? how do you wash each of your rooms, toys, blankets, and kennels?
We primarily use Top Performance for cleaning all dog spaces, including in the laundry. Top performance is a disinfectant, detergent, and deodorant and is a highly effective formula for cleaning and sanitizing pet cages, kennels, and veterinary clinics. This solution kills canine influenza, canine parvovirus, plus over 50 other viruses and pathogens. It is approved by EPA.
We also use laundry detergent in the laundry, dishsoap on dishes, ect. All of our "household" cleaners are used in conjunction with Top Performance to ensure we're keeping everyone as safe as possible. We do not use bleach or other cleaners that are hazardous to pets.
In the daycare space: Toys, buckets, and coats (anything that isn’t bolted down) are cleaned daily and are not recirculated until the next morning when they have been thoroughly cleaned. Our kennels are scrubbed daily. Buckets and pools are cleaned twice daily.
In the boarding space: Kennels in-use are lightly cleaned daily while the boarders are out playing. This means the rooms get a quick mopping/vacuum, and dishes washed. Bedding is washed/replaced as needed throughout the boarder’s stay.
Between a boarder's check-out and the next guest's check-in kennels are deep cleaned (walls scrubbed, ect) and dishes as well as bedding are replaced.
We also use laundry detergent in the laundry, dishsoap on dishes, ect. All of our "household" cleaners are used in conjunction with Top Performance to ensure we're keeping everyone as safe as possible. We do not use bleach or other cleaners that are hazardous to pets.
In the daycare space: Toys, buckets, and coats (anything that isn’t bolted down) are cleaned daily and are not recirculated until the next morning when they have been thoroughly cleaned. Our kennels are scrubbed daily. Buckets and pools are cleaned twice daily.
In the boarding space: Kennels in-use are lightly cleaned daily while the boarders are out playing. This means the rooms get a quick mopping/vacuum, and dishes washed. Bedding is washed/replaced as needed throughout the boarder’s stay.
Between a boarder's check-out and the next guest's check-in kennels are deep cleaned (walls scrubbed, ect) and dishes as well as bedding are replaced.
What is the staff-to-dog ratio? Do you divide the dogs into play groups based on personalities? What type of training does the staff have?
Our staff-to-dog ratio per shift is approximately 1:10. We don't accept dogs at Lucky Dog without first conducting an evaluation.
Unfortunately we sometimes we do have to decline clients due to the dogs having an inability to settle, aggression, or other issues that will only worsen with Doggy Daycare. Not every dog and certainly not every breed is suited for a daycare environment and, as we are fully transparent, we do not take on cases where we feel Lucky Dog is a poor fit. When there are concerns, they are always disclosed and we find that, when we have to decline relationships, our findings are typically consistent with what parents are seeing or will see at home.
Evaluations help give us a starting point with sorting groups based on personalities and we evolve from there based on observation.
Unfortunately we sometimes we do have to decline clients due to the dogs having an inability to settle, aggression, or other issues that will only worsen with Doggy Daycare. Not every dog and certainly not every breed is suited for a daycare environment and, as we are fully transparent, we do not take on cases where we feel Lucky Dog is a poor fit. When there are concerns, they are always disclosed and we find that, when we have to decline relationships, our findings are typically consistent with what parents are seeing or will see at home.
Evaluations help give us a starting point with sorting groups based on personalities and we evolve from there based on observation.
What type of continuing education or certifications are trainers allowed to attend?
The current owner of Lucky Dog, Nicole Gill, has been fostering, training, and rehabilitating difficult dogs for over ten years. Her credentials include but are not limited to: competitive handling in confirmation, successful service dog training, rehabilitation of dogs with severe reactivity, specialization in puppy rearing, successful completion of vigorous training and testing at the Karen Pryor academy, as well as teaching classes at and being a member of the Badger Kennel Club.
The current owner of Lucky Dog was also mentored for seven years by the founder, Greg Altman.
Greg still consults for Lucky Dog and will forever be part of the Lucky Dog family. His credentials include studying under Patricia McConnell, certification from the Volhard Training School, teaching at the Badger Kennel Club, titling several dogs in Herding, and certifying dogs in Therapy Dog International.
All staff members train for and shadow senior staff for a minimum of three months. During this time a trainee is not counted as a staff member in terms of ratio/numbers as they are still learning and group management is an art.
Management oversees training and relationship-building with dogs in both small group and large group settings and provides "homework" as needed.
The current owner of Lucky Dog was also mentored for seven years by the founder, Greg Altman.
Greg still consults for Lucky Dog and will forever be part of the Lucky Dog family. His credentials include studying under Patricia McConnell, certification from the Volhard Training School, teaching at the Badger Kennel Club, titling several dogs in Herding, and certifying dogs in Therapy Dog International.
All staff members train for and shadow senior staff for a minimum of three months. During this time a trainee is not counted as a staff member in terms of ratio/numbers as they are still learning and group management is an art.
Management oversees training and relationship-building with dogs in both small group and large group settings and provides "homework" as needed.
What are your training methods? What is your emergency response to a dog bite or fight?
Our practices are all based on consensual care and force-free methods. That said daycare is NOT a training environment and we focus exclusively on group management strategies with our daycare groups. These strategies look like the following: relationship building, finding what each individual dog finds reinforcing and applying that to the individual dog (for example: a pet, a snuggle, a face scratch, wrestling, balls), and predictable/calm requests from handlers,
When positive redirection (recalling, asking to find a ball, petting, or a "good dog" as an invitation to leave a situation) doesn't work our staff does implement a negative interrupter, "Sit". If an individual dog gets too overarroused/displaying certain behaviors that are unsafe for the group, they are given a room for a "break". After settling, the dog is reintroduced to the group or moved to another group that may fit them better.
Although the owner at Lucky Dog exclusively uses positive training with her own dogs and dogs she handles competitively, that method is impossible to apply in a group setting.
That said, if you are interested in training, over the next several months we will be introducing a day-training program and can keep you informed on that front. At this time we're developing the curriculum.
Dog fights are rare. Our staff's main prerogative is prevention. Staff is trained to observe body language and group dynamics to intervene before a fight breaks out. That said spats do happen. Because we don’t yell at the dogs, if we do yell the whole yard freezes. At that point staff members separate dogs and bring them in to be checked over for damages. If there is blood or an actual injury we call parents while we administer first aid and keep the dogs separated from the group. If there is no damage we report the incident to parents at pickup and note the interaction so we can keep a closer eye in the future to prevent further tussles.
Dogs who do not appropriately communicate with other dogs or humans are prohibited and we evaluate this at their initial visit. Occasionally dogs evolve to no longer respect the communication of other dogs and they are, at that time, expelled from Lucky Dog.
When positive redirection (recalling, asking to find a ball, petting, or a "good dog" as an invitation to leave a situation) doesn't work our staff does implement a negative interrupter, "Sit". If an individual dog gets too overarroused/displaying certain behaviors that are unsafe for the group, they are given a room for a "break". After settling, the dog is reintroduced to the group or moved to another group that may fit them better.
Although the owner at Lucky Dog exclusively uses positive training with her own dogs and dogs she handles competitively, that method is impossible to apply in a group setting.
That said, if you are interested in training, over the next several months we will be introducing a day-training program and can keep you informed on that front. At this time we're developing the curriculum.
Dog fights are rare. Our staff's main prerogative is prevention. Staff is trained to observe body language and group dynamics to intervene before a fight breaks out. That said spats do happen. Because we don’t yell at the dogs, if we do yell the whole yard freezes. At that point staff members separate dogs and bring them in to be checked over for damages. If there is blood or an actual injury we call parents while we administer first aid and keep the dogs separated from the group. If there is no damage we report the incident to parents at pickup and note the interaction so we can keep a closer eye in the future to prevent further tussles.
Dogs who do not appropriately communicate with other dogs or humans are prohibited and we evaluate this at their initial visit. Occasionally dogs evolve to no longer respect the communication of other dogs and they are, at that time, expelled from Lucky Dog.
Do they have quiet areas where dogs can relax freely throughout the day?
Yes. Although all the dogs are pretty active between about 7-8:30am they do calm down quite a bit after that time. We have several platforms, shelters, benches, and tunnels in the yard where calmer dogs go to find peace outside and often we will bring calmer dogs into the indoor daycare space to rest throughout the morning. Again, because we evaluate each dog here and pay attention to their needs and responses to the yard we are able to meet their needs on a case by case basis and give them a break as needed.
Barking is one way dogs communicate. They often come in barking with excitement but that tapers as they settle-in. Ongoing barking is symptomatic of stress and we do not keep the dogs in stressful situations. At no point will you hear constant barking.
Barking is one way dogs communicate. They often come in barking with excitement but that tapers as they settle-in. Ongoing barking is symptomatic of stress and we do not keep the dogs in stressful situations. At no point will you hear constant barking.
How long do the dogs spend outside? What about during inclimate weather?
We are a primarily outdoor facility which means our dogs and staff spend most of every day outside.
Most days we're outside from 7am until 10:30am then again from 1:30pm until the dogs are picked up in the evening.
Dogs always have access to shelters, platforms, and fresh drinking water.
Heat
During summer months all outside dogs have access to pools and water-play to keep cool. Our staff is trained to recognize and minimize potential overheating risks. When too warm, dogs are encouraged to get wet. If a camper prefers to stay dry they are taken into the daycare room to cool off.
On the occasion a camper has a medical concern that makes them sensitive to heat, they are kept with the indoor playgroup and let out for potty.
Cold
On most winter days sending your dog in a coat is enough to keep them comfortable.
When temperatures "feel like" 20 degrees or less our campers and staff stay indoors and rotate out for potty breaks. A couple exceptions to this rule are:
Air Quality
If the air is dangerous for humans it's dangerous for dogs. When the air is particularly bad we remain indoors.
Storms
We bring the group inside when they're no longer having fun or when there is thunder/lightening.
Most days we're outside from 7am until 10:30am then again from 1:30pm until the dogs are picked up in the evening.
Dogs always have access to shelters, platforms, and fresh drinking water.
Heat
During summer months all outside dogs have access to pools and water-play to keep cool. Our staff is trained to recognize and minimize potential overheating risks. When too warm, dogs are encouraged to get wet. If a camper prefers to stay dry they are taken into the daycare room to cool off.
On the occasion a camper has a medical concern that makes them sensitive to heat, they are kept with the indoor playgroup and let out for potty.
Cold
On most winter days sending your dog in a coat is enough to keep them comfortable.
When temperatures "feel like" 20 degrees or less our campers and staff stay indoors and rotate out for potty breaks. A couple exceptions to this rule are:
- dogs particularly well-suited for the cold (think huskies or new foundlands)
- dogs who are active enough to both want to remain outside and generate enough heat running around to keep them safe
Air Quality
If the air is dangerous for humans it's dangerous for dogs. When the air is particularly bad we remain indoors.
Storms
We bring the group inside when they're no longer having fun or when there is thunder/lightening.
How do you clean the yards?
The large yard is pea gravel with drainage underneath. We don't disinfect the gravel. Unlike a dogpark, we ensure the safety of our dogs via yearly fecal exams and mandating vaccinations. Our staff learn what is the "normal" consistency of each dog's poop. When poops are irregular, we collect a sample, kennel the dog, and call parents for pick-up. We also request a clean fecal float before the dog returns.
We do have five different pooper-scooper stations and immediately pick up after the dogs do their "business".
In the turf yards we vacuum, rake, and hose the turf regularly during the summer. In the winter we aren't able to clean the same way as often but do as regularly as weather permits. Fortunately, in the winter the extreme temperatures help mitigate the threat of pathogens.
We do have five different pooper-scooper stations and immediately pick up after the dogs do their "business".
In the turf yards we vacuum, rake, and hose the turf regularly during the summer. In the winter we aren't able to clean the same way as often but do as regularly as weather permits. Fortunately, in the winter the extreme temperatures help mitigate the threat of pathogens.
Do your trainers carry treats on them when they are with the dogs?
To be clear, the staff who work with regular daycare dogs are not "trainers." As previously mentioned, daycare is not a substitute for training. Our staff works on management with the daycare dogs as training in this group dynamic is not possible. The trainers do the temperament evals and facilitate small group play in order to give the dogs and counselors the tools needed for the large yard management strategies.
The trainers often have treats in their pockets, but camp counselors do not. When training, clean mechanics on cues and treat distribution is vital.
The trainers often have treats in their pockets, but camp counselors do not. When training, clean mechanics on cues and treat distribution is vital.