FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any dog come in for dog daycare or dog boarding?
Given Paws Playgrounds is an open play environment, we have a rather rigid process before a dog can come and play with other dogs in our dog daycare. Once the pup has successfully completed the assessment and the trial play(s), then your dog may join daycare play and/or boarding anytime.
Can I take a tour?
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. We conduct our tours by appointment – Monday through Friday at either 6 or 6:30PM, and on Saturdays at either 4 or 4:30PM. Please call us at 416-461-4788 or email us at info@pawsplaygrounds.com to set up an appointment for a tour.
What is the assessment?
The assessment is an initial interview between the pup, the owners, and Paws. This is to ensure that the pup is comfortable here, the owners are comfortable with their pup here, and also to ensure that the pup is comfortable with being handled by Paws Daycare Attendants. The next step in the assessment process is to introduce other dogs to the new dog one by one to see how he interacts. All dogs must complete this process before entering our group play environment for a trial play.
What happens during a trial play?
Our trial plays are roughly two – three hours long and are complimentary. This give us enough time to get to know your pup, see his idiosyncrasies and personality. This is also a time to see if he is anxious or territorial without his parents around. If the pup is too anxious or territorial, then perhaps a daycare is not the best fit for the pup. If the pup is confident and happy to play, then he’ll be introduced to other dogs one by one and then into the playground to play with the rest of the doggies and will be matched based on size, energy level, and temperament.
Does the dog have to be a certain age?
Your pup must be at least 3 months old, and have completed their second set of puppy vaccinations to be accepted into our dog daycare program.
Are vaccinations required?
Yes. We require that all dogs be vaccinated against Rabies and Distemper. As well as flea and tick prevention program during the months April through to November. Please discuss with your vet.
What is doggy day care?
Your dog will run and play to his heart’s content! He will play with his daycare friends, splash in the pool, slide down the slide, jump through agility playsets, and climb on the jungle gyms! When that’s enough, he can climb up on the many sofas or curl up on a Paws Daycare Attendants lap for some cuddles and quiet time.
Doggie daycare is designed to provide regular exercise for your pup, which has several key benefits for your pup’s quality of life:
o Helps to maintain a healthy weight (along with a nutritious diet)
o Stimulates your pup’s mind which leads to:
• Reduced anxiety
• Fewer destructive behaviours at home
• Improvement in general well being
o Better socialization, both with other dogs and people
What do the dogs during day?
Your dog will run and play to his heart’s content! He will play with his daycare friends, splash in the pool, slide down the slide, jump through agility playsets, and climb on the jungle gyms! When that’s enough, he can climb up on the many sofas or curl up on a Daycare Attendants lap for some cuddles and quiet time.
My dog eats lunch. Can he have lunch at doggie daycare?
Yes, absolutely, and rest assured that every dog eats separately so no other dog will eat his food. Each dog is then given roughly 45 mins to an hour to eat to ensure they digest the food properly. If a dog goes out to play too quickly after eating, it’s possible that they could throw it up or worse, stomach bloat which may require surgery.
Do you walk the dogs away from the Playground?
No, we don’t take them off the premises as we can not control the environment outside our dog daycare facility. But rest assured, the amount of exercise your dog gets from running and playing is far above a regular walk. Your dog will be tired when he gets home! Your pup will run, slide down the slides, play on the jungle gyms, jump through the agility playsets, and splash in our pools all day in a supervised environment. Paws Playgrounds was established so that we could completely control the environment in which your pup plays and exercises. From knowing all the dogs, to ensuring they’re vaccinated, to climate control, to the grounds in the playground; we look after the pups in our playground.
Do you have an outdoor play area? Indoor play area?
In a word, YES! With over 10,000 square feet of outdoor play space, we have the largest private outdoor space of any daycare in the city of Toronto! We also have a very large indoor climate controlled space for those lovely winter mornings in Toronto!
I have an older dog. Will this be a good environment for them?
Most dogs enjoy this environment as they get to play, socialize, and wrestle with other doggies. However, sometimes older dogs tire quickly and are not in the mood to wrestle all day. We have an indoor play area specifically for older dogs who would like a slower pace of life.
I have a small dog. Is dog daycare or dog boarding the right place for him?
We have a separate small dog daycare for those little ones who are anxious or frightened of the bigger doggies. It’s a fun environment with toys, bones and a sofa and where one doesn’t need to be worried about getting trampled on. If your smaller dog is confident and enjoys larger dogs, there isn’t any issues for you smaller dog to play and interact with larger dogs. Paws Daycare Attendants are always watching and supervising to ensure that everyone is playing properly.
Do you offer bathing services?
Yes, we offer bathing, trimming of their nails, and ear cleaning. And if you have a Bulldog, we’ll happily clean between the rolls on their face.
What will my dog do during the day during his dog boarding vacation?
Your dog will run and play to his heart’s content! He will play with his daycare friends, splash in the pool, slide down the slide, jump through agility playsets, and climb on the jungle gyms! When that’s enough, he can climb up on the many sofas or curl up on a Daycare Attendants lap for some cuddles and quiet time.
Do I need to bring his bed?
You’re more than welcome to bring his own bed however we do offer orthopedic beds for all our suites – no matter the size of your pup!
What else do I need to bring for my dog’s boarding vacation?
We ask that you bring his food because we don’t want to switch his food too quickly as he may experience diarrhea or unpleasant tummy issues – and that doesn’t make for a great dog boarding experience. We understand if you’re in a rush, let us know what brand of food your dog likes and we’ll happily pick it up. If your pup doesn’t have stomach issues with switching food, then we’re happy to feed him our food.
My dog eats slowly. How do ensure that another dog doesn’t eat his food?
This is common among some dogs but rest assured that every dog eats separately and is given roughly 45 mins to an hour to eat to ensure they digest the food. If a dog goes out to play too quickly after eating, it’s possible that they could throw it up or worse, stomach bloat which may require surgery.
What makes Paws different than a traditional kennel?
Our boarding dogs play with our daycare dogs all day long! A traditional kennel takes the dogs out of their cage/kennel for a play or a walk a couple of times per day – usually 20 mins apiece. A traditional kennel may also have individual dog runs where the dog is isolated from other dogs for the duration of the stay.
Does someone stay with the dogs overnight?
Our Paws Daycare Attendants leave at 11pm in the evening and return at 6am. Each dog is separated into their own suites with orthopedic beds, their own toys, bones, Kongs, and water for the night. After playing all day, our guests are so tired that they happily wander into their suites to hunker down for the night. Studies have also shown that dogs get a better night sleep (when in a different place than home) without a person around. This allows the dog to get a good night’s sleep to be happy and alert and ready to play come daybreak!
Our premises are secured with state of the art technology for heat detection, smoke detection, carbon monoxide detection, web cams, glass breaks, and unlawful entry.