why choose Daycare?
Dogs are social creatures. They thrive in a pack setting. In today's world, many people are home all day now. And yes, your pup loves hanging out at home with family! However, there are levels of play, communication and socialization they can only get from interacting with other dogs. Daycare also gives us humans peace of mind. We know our pups are being monitored and adored by staff who they know, love and trust. Leaving pets home alone, or even being home but having to focus on school or work for a few hours, can lead to destructive behaviors, anxiety, excessive barking, etc. Attending doggy daycare keeps them socialized, allows them to interact with old friends and make new ones. For many dogs, especially puppies, there are specific doggy life lessons that can only be learned by being in the company of other dogs. This helps them build confidence and carries through to their life outside of daycare as well. Plus all of the exercise and mental stimulation helps tire them out! Spending time at North Shore Dog adds value to your pet's day and helps you relax knowing they are happy and safe. Bonus: our live webcams allow you to watch your pup romp and play all day long. We call that a Win Win scenario!
As if daycare wasn't fun enough, we have an entire Add On Menu of fun treats and activities you can select to enhance your dog's day. Spice things up! They would order these for themselves if they could figure out how to type.
*Got a pup who isn't a social butterfly? We offer solutions for that too. Drop us a line!
NEW CLIENTS: Download our enrollment form here. Please complete and return with up to date vaccinations to play@nsdog.com. Once we have your paperwork we will contact you to set up a behavioral evaluation. This is the first step to enrolling in daycare or boarding.
Check out a live view of the playfloors!
What will my dog's day look like?
Dogs are placed into playgroups according to temperament and play style. Each group is overseen by a dedicated daycare attendant. We are consistently training and learning best practices for group management and enrichment.
We offer full day and half day sessions. Dogs are welcome to stay as long or as short as they like! If we notice your pup seems tired or over-stimulated we may send them to a quiet room for a short nap.
Weekday Schedule
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7:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Play time! Fetch balls, chase friends, or lounge on the playsets.
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12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch & nap time Monday-Friday (1-2PM Saturday). Our daycare dogs need this time to eat their lunches and recharge their batteries for more afternoon fun! Boarding dogs take their naps in our Zen Room. We turn off the lights, put on quiet classical music and let them mellow out.
No drop off & pickup during this time.
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1:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Afternoon play time. Sniff-up a new friend or two, resume your game of fetch from earlier or snooze a little more!
Daycare Requirements
Your pet's health and safety are always our top priority. We want your dog to have fun but we also want everyone to stay safe. That is why we require a behavioral evaluation and proof of vaccinations for all new dogs.
Behavioral Evaluation
RATE: $25
Our management and/or our staff trainer will meet your dog to assess if they are an ideal candidate for our daycare setting. During the evaluation your dog will have the opportunity to meet dogs of different sizes and energy levels as well as get acquainted with the staff, sounds and smells of North Shore Dog. This 3-4 hour session helps us to determine if your dog has acceptable play and socialization skills and if they are able to take basic direction from our staff. It also gives us the chance to get to know your dog better and for them to make lots of new friends.
Because some pups take longer than others to be comfortable in group play or to show their true colors, we may ask you to return for additional daycare sessions before determining if we are a good match.
*If your dog does not seem like a good fit for daycare, we are more than happy to work with you to find alternate solutions. We pride ourselves on transparency and if we are not the right place, we will let you know! Daycare is not a one-size-fits-all approach and ultimately we want what is best and safest for your pup.
If you are considering us for either daycare or boarding, please make sure your pet meets our basic requirements:
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All dogs or cats must be at least 3 months old
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All dogs & cats over 7 months old must be spayed or neutered (no exceptions)
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Required vaccinations for dogs: Rabies, Distemper/Parvo* & Kennel Cough (we accept titers for Distemper/Parvo)
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Negative fecal test within the last 6 months
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For cats: FVRCP
Some vaccines, including bordetella, can take several days to become effective. Please consult with your vet to determine when your dog may be eligible to return to daycare. North Shore Dog reserves the right to refuse daycare to any dogs who are not properly vaccinated or who have not allowed proper time for vaccination to become effective.