Day Care
Day care forms the backbone of The Knitted Dog - I feel strongly that a well run, closely supervised day care is essential enrichment for dogs in our modern society.
Many dogs in the western world live in single dog households & have very limited access to other dogs in general, let alone 'safe' dogs who can socialise with others in a friendly & well-balanced way!
As a social species, this lack of contact with other dogs (especially during puppyhood) can leave dogs with poor social skills & issues such as reactivity & over-excitedness around other dogs.
Read more below to find out how the day care operates day to day & get an idea of whether we would be a good fit for your dog.
Your Dog's Day in Day Care
During their stay with us, whether for day care or boarding, your dog will spend the majority of their time in our home & garden enjoying life as part of our family, with two walks a day off premises.
We don't follow a strict routine here, but each day has a consistent rhythm that your dog will quickly learn to recognise & look forward to! Below is an example of a typical day in their 'home from home' with rough timings:
In the morning, drop offs are between 8 & 9am, with breakfast around 8:15am for those having it here.
From 9-10:30am we have supervised play & social time - the dogs are often excited to see each other at drop off so this is their chance to catch up, play & generally be dogs together! Any puppies coming for Puppy Social Mornings are dropped off at 9am, ready to join in the fun too! In the colder months this will usually be indoors, but we like to spend this time in the garden whenever the weather allows.
From 10:30-11am the dogs are encouraged to rest & spend relaxed time together - an important social skill, especially for puppies!
Around 11am we get ready & head out for our 'big walk' - 60 to 90 minutes out exploring in the local countryside. The walk we do is based on the dogs' needs on the day so can be tailored to suit all ages & activity levels. Puppies can spend some time hanging out in the backpack or sling, while older dogs can sniff around & take regular breaks to watch the world go by. This is a great time for me to work on some training too!
12:30-1pm is time for getting home & getting set up for afternoon naps. The dogs get washed off & dried as necessary & puppies from Puppy Social Mornings get picked up. Any older puppies staying for a full day will have their lunch during this time.
1-3pm is afternoon nap time. This is a crucial part of the day for the dogs to process & consolidate all the fun & learning they've done in the morning! We have a choice of 3 large memory foam beds, 2 faux fur 'snuggle beds', 2 high-sided doughnut beds, a large 3-seater sofa with cosy blankets, a window view ottoman & a large 'cuddle chair' with cosy blankets, plus (of course) my lap! We also have a woodburning stove for those cold winter naps & outdoor beds for lounging out in the garden in the warmer months.
3-4:30pm is a mixed bag. Some dogs enjoy an extended nap time & will snooze through to pick ups, especially if they've had a particularly energetic morning or had lots of training with me. Some dogs are ready to be up & active again & enjoy some 'Play & Train' time with me, along with some free play time with their friends.
4:30-5:30pm is pick up time for the day care dogs. Any dogs staying overnight will have their tea around 5:15pm & our son comes home from nursery at 5:30pm ready for his! Late pick ups (up to 7pm) can be arranged in advance for an extra fee.
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