What to Expect on Your Dog’s First Day at Daycare
Dropping your dog at daycare for the first time can feel a little like dropping a child at school.
You walk away thinking:
Will they make friends?
Will they miss me?
Will they know what to do?
The good news is that they don’t need to know.
The first day is about us getting to know them.
A Trial Day isn’t a test of how much your dog plays
At Oodles and More, we aren’t looking for every dog to walk through the door and immediately start racing around.
Some dogs are confident straight away.
Others prefer to observe.
We look at things such as:
- How your dog enters the environment
- Their confidence level
- How they interact with other dogs
- Their preferred play style
- How they respond to our team
- Whether they can take breaks
- Whether our daycare suits them
It’s completely fine if your dog takes time to warm up
Not every social dog is immediately outgoing.
Some dogs need time to look around and understand what is happening before they relax.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
A dog doesn’t need to be the loudest or most playful dog in daycare to enjoy being there.
Your dog might be tired afterwards
A first daycare visit involves a lot of information.
New smells.
New people.
Other dogs.
A new environment.
New routines.
That mental stimulation can be tiring even if your dog hasn’t spent the entire day running.
A quiet evening after their first few visits can be completely normal.
Familiarity develops over time
One of our favourite things is seeing a new dog gradually realise where they’re going.
They begin to recognise the building.
They know the staff.
They recognise other dogs.
The new place starts feeling familiar.
That’s one of the reasons consistency can be so valuable for dogs who enjoy daycare.
What should you bring?
We keep things simple.
Before your booking, make sure we have the required information about your dog and that their vaccinations are current.
Oodles and More Trial Days
Our indoor daycare in Brisbane is designed for small and medium-sized dogs up to 20kg.
The purpose of the first day isn’t to exhaust your dog.
It’s to find out whether they can feel comfortable and happy in our environment.
Their favourite place. Your peace of mind.
