We’re not a kennel
Disclaimer: Okay, first, let me start off with there is nothing wrong with a clean, well structured, traditional kennel or boarding facility run by a team of educated professionals. It works for some - especially dogs who may not enjoy or be comfortable interacting with in our groups of other dogs. For others a traditional kennel, it can be a scary unfamiliar place.
Here’s our story:
When I first opened Airdrie Puppy Pals as a Dog Walker, I offer in-home puppy sitting. It worked… but I noticed the dogs who had never been to my home before, it was an adjustment in routine, sounds and smells. So when we opened our first facility, I wanted to offer an option for our Daycare Dogs so they didn’t have to Board at an unfamiliar place. The question was how. How could we help knowing that we were not and did not want to be a traditional kennel.
Sleepovers
That’s where we can up with. We knew the dogs who joined us at Daycare were comfortable in our space. They knew the team, the smells, the sounds, the furrrriends so, what if at the end of a day of Daycare, we set up separately sleeping areas, hung out with them for a little bit and then went home. and came back bright and early the next day. Just like a sleepover at a friends house!
(Okay, let’s pause an address the elephant in the room. You go home?! Yes. Have you ever got up at night to go to the bathroom? My three dogs will get up an follow me. So can you imagine if we stayed there over night with our sleepover friends? They would be no sleeping, which is no good. Instead we have motion sensors, and cameras with audio and temperature sensors. So yes, we tuck them into bed at night and then go home).
The Difference
And you know what, over the years we noticed a huge difference. The dogs who joined us at Daycare more frequently were more comfortable on sleepovers. So about two years ago now, we may it a requirement. Sleepovers are only, exclusively available to the dogs who are in our Daycare Program.
So we’re not a kennel, we' don’t offer traditional boarding, and we don’t take dogs home with us. We offer what we feel is the next best thing; advocating for the dogs in our care and doing everything our power to ensure we create an environment to keep them healthy, happy and safe.
