About Doggy Daycare

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We are excited to offer Saugeen Shores and surrounding areas a unique form of doggy daycare!

Research shows the average dog only needs a couple hours of stimulation a day and 12-18 hours of sleep! Any more exercise than this on a daily basis can make the average dog over tired, less tolerant and more grumpy (just like kids) which increases risk of injury and can even cause behavioral problems.

Our approach to your dog’s day in our daycare is to balance physical exercise, mental activities, and rest periods. All three are equally important components to keeping your dog safe and healthy when socializing with other dogs.

You want a tired dog after a day of play with their buddies. We understand your goal and will help you tire out your best friend while also monitoring the overall safety and health of your dog.

It’s important that exhaustion is not our only measure of success when you bring your dog for a play session. Dogs may take natural rest breaks during playgroups, but it is the rare dog that will relax and enter a deep sleep. Most dogs napping in the playgroup are in light sleep, but very alert so they can jump up whenever something exciting happens. They do not reach the restful sleep stages needed to keep their brain healthy.

A typical day with us with alternate between playing with dogs of their own size and play style. While working on obedience skills such as come, stay, leave it and wait, which will not only tire your dog out physically but mentally as well.

PLEASE NOTE: WE’RE CURRENTLY BOOKING A WEEK IN ADVANCE FOR DAYCARE

Hours

Monday through Friday, 6:30 am to 5:30 pm!

Requirements

In order to be accepted into daycare, all dogs must:

Have a current application on file
Pass an evaluation (We only offer one evaluation per day and we don’t do evaluations on Fridays)
Be people and dog friendly, and have no guarding issues
Be up to date on shots (Rabies, Distemper/Parvo, and Bordetella) – you must provide proof with current vaccination records
Your dog must be comfortable in a crate. We use crates daily here so if your dog has never been in a crate or doesn’t enjoy the crate, unfortunately we won’t be a good fit.
Be spayed/neutered if over 7 months of age, exceptions taking on case-by-case basis – please contact us
Puppies over 12 weeks or with second set of vaccines administered

View our complete Rules & Regulations.

Doggy Daycare FAQ

What should I bring for my dog’s first day?

Before your first day of daycare, please complete our online application, and send us your most recent vaccination record by email. Also, please book your dog in for an evaluation.

On your first day of daycare, bring your vaccination record if you haven’t sent it to us and of course, your dog! All our guests must wear a quick-release buckle collar with identification on the collar and we recommend the leash as well. If your dog arrives on a different type of collar, it will be removed and returned to you at the end of the day.

What shots does my dog need?

We require your dog to be up-to-date on their Distemper/Parvo combination, Rabies and Bordetella vaccines. We gladly accept titer tests. Negative fecal tests and proof of flea/tick medication is also accepted.

What does my dog do all day?

Dogs tend to play in 30-45 minute increments. They wrestle, tug on toys, and romp around, then rest. We have several beds and plenty of staff laps for our guests to take a break with.

We also have Goughnuts (available for purchase in our lobby!) for dogs that want to tug or settle into a good chew. Our staff is always with the dogs to provide cuddling and belly rubs to our guests’ content. We also work on obedience skills such as Come, Stay, Leave it, and Wait throughout the day as well.

Where do the dogs go potty?

We have our own private, fully fenced potty yard! We take group potty breaks at least every hour and a half throughout the day. We will not ruin your potty training because we are reinforcing potty training all day long. We can even help potty train your puppies!

Do you separate the dogs?

Yes. We have two indoor playrooms and another room as well to allow different play groups to run simultaneously. We separate by size and temperament. Most of the time this means smaller dogs are together in one space, and the larger dogs are together in the other. Puppies are also kept separate until they are 5 months of age.

Do you need an appointment for daycare?

Yes. Clients with recurring reservations receive first priority for available slots for daycare. If you have a variable schedule, sign up as soon as you know to reserve your space. Calls made the day of will be admitted only if space allows. For the safety of our guests and staff, we cannot accept dogs without an appointment if we are full!

What if I need to leave for work before 6:30am?

Unfortunately at this time 6:30AM is the earliest drop off we offer.

What do I do if I can’t make it before closing?

We close at 5:30 PM. If you cannot make it before then call us to let us know. We charge $10 for 15 minutes your dog is left over 5:30pm.

Since we teach classes starting at 6pm we need all dogs gone home.

Why can’t I stop by any time to see the place?

While we would love to show you around, we are unable to take time away from the dogs to give tours during business hours. We keep the door to the back locked to keep our guests calm and comfortable. Many of our guests, while friendly, find frequent interruptions annoying, or even scary. Please give us a call to schedule a tour after we close (M-F at 5:30 PM).

You can also check out our Facebook page for daily pictures and videos of the dogs playing.

What do you do for bad behaviors?

To maintain happy guests, we utilize redirection or time outs for dogs that are being unruly or displaying inappropriate behaviors. A time out is not punishment, but a break from whatever they were doing. For more information on using time outs effectively you can e-mail us at melissa@unleashthepawsitive.ca.

We have crates available, depending on the situation. Sometimes a mental break is all that is needed and we’ll practice obedience or redirect the behavior onto something more appropriate. Seeing a dog in a crate does not necessarily mean that dog got in trouble, but that he or she more likely needed a break.

What if there is an emergency?

Should there be an injury or illness during your dog’s stay, we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of your dog and our other guests. We will attempt to contact you first, then your emergency contacts. If needed, we will transport your dog to the vet. Unleash the Pawsitive is not responsible for any costs involved.

What is the evaluation process?

We have an easy application and evaluation process that all dogs must complete before they come to Unleash the Pawsitive to ensure the safety of all our guest. Our evaluation is like a regular daycare day, so you would not stay, it just allows us to assess your dogs playstyle and behaviour.

We only run evaluations Monday & Wednesday’s.

Why do you require an evaluation?

The evaluation process is all about safety. As a dog owner you have to be confident in knowing that your dog will be cared for a comfortable. During this process we’ll address you questions and concerns while making sure that your dog will enjoy his or her day.

My dog has been to another daycare and the dog park - do I still need an evaluation?

Yes. We want to know as much as possibly about every dog so that we can provide the best care for each guest.

What if my dog doesn’t play well with others?

Not all dogs get along, just like people. And not all dogs are suited for daycare. All dogs are evaluated beforehand so that we can assess each dog individually. You will be provided with a report card on how your dog did. If you know your dog does not get along with other dogs prior to our evaluation, please let us know.

Pricing
Effective January 15th, 2024

One Dog - Half Day - Single Visit

$40 + HST

One Dog - Half Day - 10 Pass

$360 + HST

$36 per visit

One Dog - Half Day - Unlimited Monthly Pass

$640 + HST

$32 per visit

One Dog - Full Day - Single Visit

$49 + HST

One Dog - Full Day - 10 Pass

$441 + HST

$44.10 per visit

One Dog - Full Day - Unlimited Monthly Pass

$800 + HST

$40 per visit

Two Dogs - Half Day - Single Visit

$65 + HST

Two Dogs - Half Day - 10 Pass

$585 + HST

$58.50 per visit

Two Dogs - Half Day - Unlimited Monthly Pass

$920 + HST

$46 per visit

Two Dogs - Full Day - Single Visit

$81 + HST

Two Dogs - Full Day - 10 Pass

$729 + HST

$72.90 per visit

Two Dogs - Full Day - Unlimited Monthly Pass

$1220 + HST

$61 per visit

Half Day: Less than 6 hrs.
Unlimited Passes are more beneficial if your dog is planning on coming more than 4 days a week.
Unlimited pass begin the day you purchase your pass.
New Dog Evaluation Fee $10.
10 Pass have 1 year expiry date from the date of purchase.

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Daycare & Store Hours:

Monday through Friday, 6:30 am-5:30 pm

Find us on Social Media:

Contact Us:

1119 Goderich St, Unit 6

Port Elgin ON, Canada

N0H2C3

Call us (519) 708-0470

Text us - (519) 708-0470

Email us - melissa@unleashthepawsitive.ca