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25039 Hufsmith Cemetery Road,
F requently Asked Questions
Why does my dog need to go through an evaluation to come to day care?
Not all dogs are comfortable at day care. It takes a dog with a certain temperament and personality to do well in a day care setting. An evaluation lets the staff determine if your dog will enjoy the play time and exercise at Miss Daisy’s, or if it will simply stress them out or maybe require a program to introduce them to the environment more slowly. Please remember that a dog that is not accepted into the Miss Daisy’s day care program is not a “bad” dog, it. That is a common misconception. Our number one priority at all times is to make sure our campers are happy and healthy. Daycare is not the best thing for all dogs, if Miss Daisy’s is not a good fit, we will help you with other options.
Of the dogs you evaluate, how many are accepted into Miss Daisy’s? Why or why not?
Over a period of time, roughly 60-80% of the dogs we evaluate are accepted into our day care program. Some dogs are accepted right away. They typically are dogs that have been previously exposed to other dogs, are well socialized, have spent some time away from their owners already and have a play style that meshes well with current campers. Puppies that are started in the program at an early age, almost always do well in daycare and boarding.
Other dogs are accepted on a conditional basis meaning we agree to give day care a try for a few times before making a final decision. These dogs might need some time to adjust to the day care environment. They might be timid at first, but adjust to being away from their owners and in a play group with other dogs after a few times.
And for some dogs, day care just isn’t a good fit. Sometimes older dogs who have never been to day care or spent time away from their humans are simply too stressed out to enjoy a day of play. Other fantastic dogs have a play style that is more suited to an environment with larger dogs. If we think your dog will be happiest in another setting, we will recommend that to you. Some dogs do better in other day care/boarding facilities while others function best with pet sitters or dog walkers. Please remember, if your dog is not accepted into Miss Daisy’s, it does not mean that they behaved badly. It simply means we feel our facility is not the best possible place for them to spend their play days and vacations.
Another note about evaluations, if your dog is accepted into Miss Daisy’s, but over time is showing signs that they no longer enjoy it (perhaps they’ve aged to the point they don’t like the play time or they develop a medical condition that makes day care not safe) we will be sure to let you know so that you can make better accommodations for them in the future.
What is the purpose of your weight limit? How strict is it?
Our weight limit serves our number one priority – to make sure all our campers are happy and healthy. Smaller dogs typically have different play styles than larger dogs, so limiting our campers’ sizes to under 35 pounds helps ensure that play time is safe and fun for everyone. Our weight limit is non-negotiable for this reason. If you have a dog that is over our weight limit, we will be happy to recommend another facility for your pet.
Can I tour your facility?
Potential customers can tour our facility provided they make an appointment. The health and happiness of our campers is always our number one priority and having “new and strange” humans walk through their space can get the campers overly excited. For this reason, we ask customers who want to tour our facility to make an appointment. This way, we can make sure dogs are put in secure locations for your tour. If you forgot to make an appointment, you can still view a large portion of our facility through a window in our office area.
What is your staff to camper ratio?
The average staff to camper ratio is 1:10/15. The campers are never left unattended during playtime, and the owner of Miss Daisy’s lives on premises. So even on an overnight stay, there is someone on site.
Why does my dog need to come to day care once a month in order to be able to be boarded?
Dogs that visit Miss Daisy’s regularly stay familiar with the staff, the other campers, the facility, and are much less likely to become overly stressed or ill during an overnight stay. Regular visits also make sure our staff stays familiar with your pet, their personality and their particular needs.
When my dog is boarded at Miss Daisy’s, what is the experience like?
We ask that boarding dogs be dropped off in the morning, so they will have a full day of play before bedding down for the night. You should bring an adequate supply of your dog’s food with written instructions. We are happy to accommodate any feeding rituals you have established. We feel it is best to make their stay at Miss Daisy’s as close to what they experience at home as possible. Some dogs like to bring their own crates or a special blanket from home. (Just remember, we can’t guarantee the blankets and toys will go home in the same condition in which they arrived.) During their stay, your dog will have a potty break and breakfast first thing in the morning followed by play time until about 12:30 PM. From that time until about 2:30 PM is nap time. This is an important part of the day for boarding dogs as well as day care dogs to make sure they don’t become overly tired. From 2:30 PM until about 7:00 PM is more play time. Boarding dogs are usually fed dinner at about 4:00 PM unless your instructions specify a different time. Typically between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, boarding dogs are put in their respective sleeping areas to calm down, and are given another potty break between 10 and 11PM before lights out. Then the fun begins again the following morning!
What happens if my dog becomes ill while at Miss Daisy’s?
We will keep a record of your dog’s veterinarian on file in our office. If we suspect illness we will contact you, the emergency contact you designated when you dropped your dog off, your dog’s veterinarian or our on-call veterinarian to make sure your dog gets prompt medical attention.
What is the best way to start a training program with my dog?
The “best” way to train any dog of course depends on the dog and the owner. To determine what is best for you and your dog, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Debbie Oliver, the owner of Miss Daisy’s. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed, and she is able to work with most dogs and owners to instill good behaviors and eliminate undesired ones. Consultations can be performed at camp or in your home. Once, you and Debbie have determined what your goals are, she will recommend a training program for you.
My dog has never tried agility before. Can they attend your Just For Fun Agility class?
Yes! All the dogs who begin our Just For Fun Agility class have had no prior agility experience. Talk with Debbie the next time you’re at camp and she can fill you in on the details. Your dog will need to have a basic level of obedience to really enjoy the class, but many dogs who have never been in a formal obedience class have done very well in this agility course. We’d love to have you join us! If you aren’t sure whether this class is right for you and your pooch, you can schedule a 30-minute private consultation with Debbie on the agility equipment to give it a try before you sign up for a six-session class.
Not all dogs are comfortable at day care. It takes a dog with a certain temperament and personality to do well in a day care setting. An evaluation lets the staff determine if your dog will enjoy the play time and exercise at Miss Daisy’s, or if it will simply stress them out or maybe require a program to introduce them to the environment more slowly. Please remember that a dog that is not accepted into the Miss Daisy’s day care program is not a “bad” dog, it. That is a common misconception. Our number one priority at all times is to make sure our campers are happy and healthy. Daycare is not the best thing for all dogs, if Miss Daisy’s is not a good fit, we will help you with other options.
Of the dogs you evaluate, how many are accepted into Miss Daisy’s? Why or why not?
Over a period of time, roughly 60-80% of the dogs we evaluate are accepted into our day care program. Some dogs are accepted right away. They typically are dogs that have been previously exposed to other dogs, are well socialized, have spent some time away from their owners already and have a play style that meshes well with current campers. Puppies that are started in the program at an early age, almost always do well in daycare and boarding.
Other dogs are accepted on a conditional basis meaning we agree to give day care a try for a few times before making a final decision. These dogs might need some time to adjust to the day care environment. They might be timid at first, but adjust to being away from their owners and in a play group with other dogs after a few times.
And for some dogs, day care just isn’t a good fit. Sometimes older dogs who have never been to day care or spent time away from their humans are simply too stressed out to enjoy a day of play. Other fantastic dogs have a play style that is more suited to an environment with larger dogs. If we think your dog will be happiest in another setting, we will recommend that to you. Some dogs do better in other day care/boarding facilities while others function best with pet sitters or dog walkers. Please remember, if your dog is not accepted into Miss Daisy’s, it does not mean that they behaved badly. It simply means we feel our facility is not the best possible place for them to spend their play days and vacations.
Another note about evaluations, if your dog is accepted into Miss Daisy’s, but over time is showing signs that they no longer enjoy it (perhaps they’ve aged to the point they don’t like the play time or they develop a medical condition that makes day care not safe) we will be sure to let you know so that you can make better accommodations for them in the future.
What is the purpose of your weight limit? How strict is it?
Our weight limit serves our number one priority – to make sure all our campers are happy and healthy. Smaller dogs typically have different play styles than larger dogs, so limiting our campers’ sizes to under 35 pounds helps ensure that play time is safe and fun for everyone. Our weight limit is non-negotiable for this reason. If you have a dog that is over our weight limit, we will be happy to recommend another facility for your pet.
Can I tour your facility?
Potential customers can tour our facility provided they make an appointment. The health and happiness of our campers is always our number one priority and having “new and strange” humans walk through their space can get the campers overly excited. For this reason, we ask customers who want to tour our facility to make an appointment. This way, we can make sure dogs are put in secure locations for your tour. If you forgot to make an appointment, you can still view a large portion of our facility through a window in our office area.
What is your staff to camper ratio?
The average staff to camper ratio is 1:10/15. The campers are never left unattended during playtime, and the owner of Miss Daisy’s lives on premises. So even on an overnight stay, there is someone on site.
Why does my dog need to come to day care once a month in order to be able to be boarded?
Dogs that visit Miss Daisy’s regularly stay familiar with the staff, the other campers, the facility, and are much less likely to become overly stressed or ill during an overnight stay. Regular visits also make sure our staff stays familiar with your pet, their personality and their particular needs.
When my dog is boarded at Miss Daisy’s, what is the experience like?
We ask that boarding dogs be dropped off in the morning, so they will have a full day of play before bedding down for the night. You should bring an adequate supply of your dog’s food with written instructions. We are happy to accommodate any feeding rituals you have established. We feel it is best to make their stay at Miss Daisy’s as close to what they experience at home as possible. Some dogs like to bring their own crates or a special blanket from home. (Just remember, we can’t guarantee the blankets and toys will go home in the same condition in which they arrived.) During their stay, your dog will have a potty break and breakfast first thing in the morning followed by play time until about 12:30 PM. From that time until about 2:30 PM is nap time. This is an important part of the day for boarding dogs as well as day care dogs to make sure they don’t become overly tired. From 2:30 PM until about 7:00 PM is more play time. Boarding dogs are usually fed dinner at about 4:00 PM unless your instructions specify a different time. Typically between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, boarding dogs are put in their respective sleeping areas to calm down, and are given another potty break between 10 and 11PM before lights out. Then the fun begins again the following morning!
What happens if my dog becomes ill while at Miss Daisy’s?
We will keep a record of your dog’s veterinarian on file in our office. If we suspect illness we will contact you, the emergency contact you designated when you dropped your dog off, your dog’s veterinarian or our on-call veterinarian to make sure your dog gets prompt medical attention.
What is the best way to start a training program with my dog?
The “best” way to train any dog of course depends on the dog and the owner. To determine what is best for you and your dog, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Debbie Oliver, the owner of Miss Daisy’s. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed, and she is able to work with most dogs and owners to instill good behaviors and eliminate undesired ones. Consultations can be performed at camp or in your home. Once, you and Debbie have determined what your goals are, she will recommend a training program for you.
My dog has never tried agility before. Can they attend your Just For Fun Agility class?
Yes! All the dogs who begin our Just For Fun Agility class have had no prior agility experience. Talk with Debbie the next time you’re at camp and she can fill you in on the details. Your dog will need to have a basic level of obedience to really enjoy the class, but many dogs who have never been in a formal obedience class have done very well in this agility course. We’d love to have you join us! If you aren’t sure whether this class is right for you and your pooch, you can schedule a 30-minute private consultation with Debbie on the agility equipment to give it a try before you sign up for a six-session class.
