Attendance Information:
Daycare participation is a positive behavior-based program. Therefore, participation depends entirely on consistent, appropriate behavior (confidence around other dogs/people, balanced behavior, self-regulating ability, and a genuine desire to be in a group setting). In addition, to be eligible to participate in our daycare program, dogs must consistently, display appropriate socialization skills and be able to rest calmly in their private area. Pets must be able to attend without signs of excessive stress or anxiety behaviors such as and not limited to excessive barking, whining, scratching, jumping, unrinating, or deficating.
At Winter Park Paws Dog Daycare and Boarding, we aim to create a safe, consitent, and fun environment for canines. In addition, we strive to build lasting and meaningful relationships with our clients and their pets. Our mission is to provide an atmosphere conducive to leadership, education, and development. As well as maintain healthy canine relationships, a positive pack balance, and social comfort among our guests. Dogs must practice socializing in various aspects to remain confident. Consistency gives your dog a sense of security, reduces transitional anxiety, maintains sharp social cues/manners, promotes balance, and is respectful of others, including handlers.
As a niche facility, we are building a unique environment designed for balanced, well-mannered, confident canines that want to interact with people and dogs. Of course, dog-to-dog interaction is not required, nor forced, to board with us, but boarding guests must be friendly, confident, comfortable, and able to self-regulate.
These principles provide our guests consistency (parent and pet), reduce pet behavior inconsistency, and promote balance within the group setting. In our professional experience and observations, inconsistency often causes dogs to become anxious, insecure, experience separation and social anxiety, inability to self-regulate, and exhibit unpredictable behavior/manners.
Lapses in attendance usually mean a readjustment period is needed. Readjustment time varies from one dog to the next. If your pet has the opportunity to remain familiar, readjustment is not required.
While in daycare, we practice the following:
- Basic obedience (Recall, sit, stay, here, off, down, place)
- Socialization skills
- Desensitization
- Self-regularinf skills/Nap time
- Impulse control skills
- Learn to earn
- Tug and settle
- Leave it
- Free play
- Potty training (This pertains to puppies up to 12 months)
- And more!
Please practice basic obedience at home, too! It helps us manage your dog while in a group setting.
For pet parents who want their pets to attend daycare regularly, we ask clients to maintain a bi-weekly attendance minimum. Bi-weekly attendance means we must see your pet at least every other week. Weekly attendance would be ideal to remain sharp. Regular attendance in daycare is necessary for your pet to maintain consistent behavior in the group dynamic. Puppies 4 months to 12 months, we would like to see once per week, especially for those who will also want to board their pet with us. Practice in the environment will make for a confident boarding dog in the long term.
Pet parents who want to board their pet occasionally throughout the year (not attend daycare frequently) and enjoy their pet participating in daycare during their stay ask that your pet visit at least once monthly for daycare. Consistency in the daycare program will give your dog a higher group participation rate. In addition, frequent attendance will allow your dog to remain familiar with our regular dogs, routines, environment, staff handling, manners, and socialization skills. Dogs who do not maintain this recommendation will be re-evaluated during the first day of their boarding check-in. They will only be allowed to participate in the daycare program should their behavior align with group participation standards. Should pet parents choose not to follow the recommendation for attendance, this will increase the chance that the dog may be ineligible for our daycare program during their boarding stay. Additionally, when lapses occur, this does not allow your pet to socialize on the same level as a consistent daycare dog. Regular exposure is to the dog's benefit.
At Winter Park Paws, it is crucial to communicate the need for such standards. Canine behavior is complex, and our job as pet care professionals is to understand the pet's needs and provide a space that nurtures their fundamental necessities.