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Enrollment Form Guidelines & FAQ's Can any dog come to Doggy Day Care? Screening Interview General Requirements

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Enrollment Form:
Please read our enrolment and approval form. This must be filled out and faxed, mailed, or personally delivered to our office. Enrollment Form

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Guidelines & FAQs

Your dog"s safety is our Number One concern. So that we may provide a safe environment for all participants, your dog must go through an informal screening process, provide certain veterinary records, and follow the rules set forth below. The owner and staff of A Dog's Life! reserve the right to request additional precautions at their discretion, if the situation warrants it for the safety of the dogs - including yours!

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Can any dog come to Doggy Day Care?

Please keep in mind that the doggy day care environment is quite simply not for all dogs. Just like people, our dogs all have different personalities, and some personalities and temperaments are better suited than others to the "pack" life in day care. In order to determine whether or not this program is right for your dog, we provide an individual temperament screening prior to your dog being accepted into doggy day care, which is administered by a professional member of our staff who is trained in animal behavior. The screening should take place in 3 parts:

Phone consultation: When you first call to book the required appointment for a screening interview, our staff will ask you some key questions about your dogs behavior and temperament, to gain an initial idea of whether or not this program is right for your dog.
Private consultations with you and your dog: We next require a scheduled appointment, where we can spend some one-on-one time with you and your dog. More details on this part of the screening process are set forth below.
Plan to leave your dog at A Dog's Life to begin the transition process: We will ask that you bring your dog right when we open for the first several days, so that your dog is one of the first ones there and can "greet" the other dogs as they arrive. This is a much easier process for them - and less intimidating - than being introduced to a group of dogs that are already established. At A Dog's Life we have specific areas to aid in your dog's introduction to the day care "pack," and your dog will be introduced to the other dogs of the "pack" individually. We will gradually increase their exposure to the "pack" at a rate determined by your dog's individual temperament and comfort with the situation.

This process can take up to 6-8 hours, and it may take a few visits before your dog just jumps right in. The process may seem very involved - but that's just as it should be. Safety should be your number one concern, and proper, positive introductions will set the tone for your dog's experience at day care.

Important note: If we decide that your dog is not right for this program, or if we must later ask that you withdraw your dog due to behavioral or safety concerns, it is NOT a negative com ment about your dog, and does NOT mean that your dog is "bad." It simply means that this is not the best environment for your dog, and other options should be explored. For dogs that do not do as well in a "pack" style of situation, you might consider a pet sitter or dog walker to come to your home during the day to provide beneficial physical and mental stimulation through one-on-one time with your dog.

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Screening Interview

You and your dog will need to schedule time for an informal interview. This interview will give us a chance to meet you and your dog, get a feel for your dog's unique personality and individual needs, and help us to determine if doggy day care is right for your dog. Our staff member will also interact with your dog, and possibly perform some specific behavior test exercises. We will also see how your dog responds to other dogs. At this appointment, you will get the chance to meet our staff and tour the facility, and observe the day care area. Plan on at least 30 minutes for this meeting.

Please book an appointment in advance, and plan to provide the appropriate proof of vaccines and spay/neuter certificate, plus the name and phone number of your treating veterinarian. There is a non-refundable $15.00 fee for the screening process, which will be applied toward any daycare package of 5 visits or more if the package is purchased the day of the interview.

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General Requirements

Age: All dogs must be at least 16 weeks or older, with limited exceptions for younger puppies with permission from the center owner.

Sex: All adult dogs over 6 months of age are required to be spayed or neutered, with limited exceptions with permission from the center owner.

Vaccinations/Parasite Control: All dogs must have written proof of vaccinations from a licensed veterinarian or a recent vaccine titre that shows adequa te resistance. All vaccines must have been administered within the last 12 months, and must be kept up on a yearly basis. Additional information on the vaccines we require will be provided at your screening interview. You must also provide the results of a negative fecal test that was done within the last month, and provide a current negative fecal test every 6 months. All dogs must be free of external parasites. An inspection for external parasites may be done each day upon check-in and any dog that shows evidence of such parasites will either be treated with an application of Advantix at the owners expense or sent home.

General Health: All dogs are required to be in good health. Upon your dog's initial entry into day care, you will be asked to sign a contract that certifies your dog is healthy and has not been sick with or exposed to any known diseases or disorders in the last 30 days. If you dog becomes ill for any reason, a written note from your veterinarian verifying a complete return to health may be required.

Behavior: Dogs may not exhibit aggression or aggressive behavior toward other dogs or people. They must also not be food or toy protective. If think your dog may be occasionally food protective, you must inform the staff so that they can take the appropriate precautions.

Collars: All dogs must wear a quick release type collar with some form of readable identification. Metal, buckle and choke/correction type collars will not be allowed.

Toys/beds: All toys and bedding will be supplied by A Dog's Life. No items belonging to a particular dog will be accepted into the day care.

Hours: We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Early check-ins/late check-outs may be available on select days, check with a Daycare associate for details. Our day staff is off duty promptly at 6pm, and there will be a $1.00 per minute charge for every minute you are late picking up your dog.

Fees: All fees are payable in advance, and rates depend on package purchased.

Reservations: Reservations are required, and preference will be given to full time dogs. Cancellations must be received within 24 hours of their scheduled arrival at day care, or you may be charged the full fees for the day.

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