Do you think your dog would enjoy group play?

Howliday Inn provides a safe, clean and fun environment for dogs. Your pet will enjoy a day of exercise, socialization, relaxation, hanging-out with new & old friends plus mandatory rest times in a floor crate (Please read - Why Exhaustion is not the Only Measure of a Successful Play Session ). Dogs are always supervised, and we reinforce basic training and good manners with our daycare pups thanks to our 1-2-1 Focused Development program provided by our Certified Dog Training staff.

Since dogs are NOT pack animals (Please read - Dogs are not pack animals: pack theory demythed ), our approach to group play is dedicated to creating groups that are focused on the energy level & personality of EACH pup. This allows us to create groups that are smaller and more customized to each dog's ever changing personality. Dogs do NOT have static personalities; their likes & dislikes throughout their lives are going to evolve & change. To help one relate to this concept, consider how much a human being changes in the course of their lives regarding what they like and do not like as they age. Similarily, dogs evolve in their preferences for their daily interests. That is why we feel a traditional daycare program of ALL DAY PLAY in groups of 15 or more dogs is more harmful than beneficial to our canine companions.

We have focused on creating a variety of dog group play programs that meet the dogs need for socialization without risking the dog's mental & physical health. The days of passing or failing a pup after a social evaluation will be replaced with assigning a  dog care program that best fits each individual pup. We understand that our recommendations may not always be what pet parents expect or agree with, but our focus will remain on the physical & mental health and safety of each canine guest in our care.

How We Start This Process

In order to verify where a dog is regarding their group play interests, we need to learn more about the pup or pups through the eyes of the pet parent, and we need to evaluate them at our facility.

• Dogs new to our facility will be required to fill out the online Off-Leash Play Application (see below) and complete a 2 (TWO) day social evaluation.
• Dogs that were previously approved for group play but have NOT been at our facility for 6 (SIX) or more months will be required to complete a 2 (TWO) day social evaluation.
• Dogs that were previously approved for group play but have not been at our facility for 3 (THREE) to 6 (SIX) months will be required to complete a 1 (ONE) day social evaluation.

There is a fee for all evaluations. For more information on our social evaluation process, click here.

It is important to know that dogs will be dogs. While it is rare, bites and scratches from playing will happen every now and then. We are careful to break up play before it becomes too rough. We have an on-site Dog First Aid kit that can be use to address most issues, and it is mandatory that any concerns that our staff recognize, no matter how big or small, are reported to the owner before the dog goes home.

All dogs that will be participating in daycare/group play must be spayed or neutered based on the following chart:

● Small Dogs: Up to 7 months

● Large Dogs: Up to 1 year

● Giant Breeds: Up to 2 years.

This ensures safe play in the daycare yard for all dogs, as well as employees. Dogs that are currently in the daycare/group play program, that are currently not spayed and neutered, may continue to attend under the following conditions:

• Dog plays well with other dogs
• Dog shows no mounting behavior
• Dog can be easily redirected by daycare staff if mounting occurs.

During daycare/group play, if a dog becomes an issue, the Dog Care Supervisor will contact the dog owner and discuss further plans that will best fit the needs of the dog in question.

Want to know more?? See below for a link to our Group Play Info Packet to learn about our Dog Daycare program.

The Reasons Why Our Doggie Daycare

is Deluxe

We are proud members of The Dog Gurus, the best educational resource available on off-leash dog play, and FetchFind, an award winning dog care training service for dog care service staff. We have taken the Dog Gurus Dog Play Safety Pledge as our commitment to keeping your dog safe. You and your pup will love the difference in our playgroups where safety and fun is the measure of success. By introducing both social skills in a group setting and 1-2-1 Focused Development to encourage positive natural behaviors, we believe every canine guest gets a program especially tailored to what he or she wants/needs the most for a safer, stress-free dog care experience.

What if your pup is not comfortable with group play but still needs a safe place to stay between the hours of 7am - 6pm? We have the perfect solution! Consider using our In-House Dog Sitting service.  All in-house dog sitting guests receive up to 5 breaks throughout the day to go to the bathroom and to get some exercise. This is provided one-on-one with our Canine Concierge team. Your pup(s) will receive fresh water throughout the day as well as a comfortable space to rest. Additional services can be added if you believe your pup(s) would benefit from more exercise/attention or day spa services. 

Deluxe Doggie Daycare & on site In-House Dog Sitting  rates start at only $25 for 1/2 day (Five [5] hours or less) or $35 for a full day (additional dog/same family rates as well as 5, 10, 20 & 30 day packages available). Call one of our reservation specialists for help deciding which option is best for your pet and to schedule a social evaluation for group play (enrollment form  [see above] required prior to social evaluation).