Dawgie Daycare FAQ

Here are the answers to your most frequently asked questions about All Dawgs’ Dawgie Daycare:

1. Why is Dawgie daycare good for my dog?

Dog daycare offers more than just a place to stay—it’s a place to play, socialize, and thrive. Play is a vital part of how dogs, especially puppies, learn about themselves, their limits, and the world around them. Through safe and structured interactions, dogs develop the body language skills they need to communicate clearly and avoid conflicts.

While we begin social introductions in our Puppy Dawg class, dogs benefit from ongoing play and interaction well beyond puppyhood. Daycare provides that continued social experience in a supervised, engaging setting.

Play is also a powerful energy outlet—it gives dogs the chance to run, jump, tug, and chase in ways that keep both their minds and bodies healthy. Our Dawgie Daycare staff stays current on the latest research in dog behavior and group play to ensure we provide the safest, most enriching experience possible.

Daycare is especially valuable for:

• Single-dog households, where dogs may lack regular playmates

• Dogs who need daytime socialization, stimulation, or companionship

• Dogs with early signs of separation anxiety, even if you work from home

Whether you’re commuting to the office or working remotely, daycare gives your dog the outlet and socialization they crave—so they come home happy, fulfilled, and tired.

2. What is the difference between other daycare centers and All Dawgs?

All Dawgs is proud to be the only dog daycare in the Capital District managed by a certified professional dog trainer. This means your dog benefits from a team with years of specialized education in dog behavior, training techniques, and canine body language.

Our experienced instructors don’t just supervise play—they actively engage with the dogs through individual and group training activities. We reinforce good manners throughout the day, including:

• Calm crate entry and exit

• Polite leash walking (no pulling!)

• No jumping on people

• Waiting patiently at doors and gates

We also offer optional one-on-one training sessions during daycare to help your dog build or refine specific obedience skills.

Our team is experienced in working with under-socialized adult dogs, providing the guidance and structure they need to feel more confident and comfortable in a group setting.

At All Dawgs, your dog isn’t just cared for—they’re guided, taught, and understood by true professionals.

3. Why isn’t my dog out all day in daycare?

We prioritize a healthy balance between structured play, rest, and safety. Dogs in our care enjoy supervised group play, enrichment activities, and outdoor time tailored to their size, temperament, and energy levels.

Crate or rest time is used responsibly to:

• Provide essential downtime and prevent overstimulation
• Allow for safe feeding and digestion
• Ensure dogs who need space can rest comfortably
• Support safe group management during transitions or pick-up/drop-off times

Crates are never used as punishment. Just like toddlers at daycare need naps, dogs also benefit from breaks to avoid stress or exhaustion. Our team monitors all dogs closely to ensure they are comfortable, stimulated, and receiving appropriate care throughout the day.

3. What is my dog’s day like in daycare?

Our structured daycare packs run during two focused play sessions: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM. During these times, dogs are rotated in and out of play and crate rest to ensure they stay mentally and physically balanced.

We design our schedule with intention. Research shows that dogs who are active in group settings for extended, unstructured periods are at higher risk for overstimulation and incidents. By providing structured breaks, we help your dog stay safe, avoid fatigue, and go home happy and tired—not overwhelmed.

Dogs are not placed in packs during high-traffic times, such as drop-off (before 9:30 AM) and pick-up (between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM), to maintain a calm and safe environment for all arrivals and departures.

Our goal is a fun, enriching, and safe experience every day—for every dog.

 

4. Why does my dog have to commit to specifics day(s) of the week?

At All Dawgs, we ask our Dawgie Daycare clients to commit to a specific day of the week. This helps us maintain a stable and consistent pack, where the same dogs see each other regularly and build familiarity and trust.

When dogs know their playmates, it reduces stress and misunderstandings—and that helps prevent even the smallest incidents. It’s one of the many ways we prioritize safety and harmony in our daycare environment.

Because of this commitment to consistency, we’re not able to accommodate unscheduled drop-ins. However, current clients are welcome to request add-on days if space is available—just ask, and we’ll do our best to fit you in!

5. Can I reschedule my dog’s daycare day if we have to miss it?

We’re not able to reschedule missed daycare days to another day of the week. To maintain a safe and stable pack, each day is limited to a specific group of dogs, with only two new dogs introduced per day. This consistency helps prevent stress and ensures safe, positive interactions for all dogs.

However, if we ever need to close the daycare due to weather or for holidays, you won’t be charged for the missed day.

6. Are intact dogs (non spayed or neutered) allowed in daycare?

Yes! We welcome intact dogs in our daycare program. We understand that many owners choose to keep their dogs intact for health reasons or responsible future breeding plans—and those dogs deserve the same opportunity to socialize and play.

Our experienced trainers are skilled in managing the hormonal behaviors that can sometimes come with intact dogs, just as we manage other behaviors to keep the daycare environment safe and positive for everyone.

To prevent unwanted pregnancies, we do require that intact females stay home while in season.

7. Why are there two daycare packs based on size?

We separate our daycare into two packs: one for small dogs (up to 35 lbs) and one for medium-to-large dogs (40–80 lbs). While we occasionally make exceptions just outside these ranges, the weight separation is in place to keep play safe and balanced.

When there’s a large difference in size, play can unintentionally become unsafe. Our goal is for every dog to go home tired, happy, and injury-free!

Puppies often start in the smaller pack and transition to the larger one as they grow. For an easy, stress-free transition, we recommend your puppy begins daycare on the same weekday their future adult pack meets.

8. Why do you limit the number of dogs in each daycare pack?

We limit the size of our daycare packs to ensure safety, quality supervision, and compliance with New York State Agriculture & Markets regulations. Even the most experienced trainers can’t effectively monitor every interaction if the group is too large.

That’s why All Dawgs maintains the lowest trainer-to-dog ratio in the Capital District—just 10 dogs per daycare instructor. This allows us to provide personalized attention, maintain a calm and safe environment, and ensure every dog has a positive experience. Safety is always our top priority.