423 North Main Street, Sycamore, IL 60178
815-899-3435
Frequently Asked Questions: Doggie Daycare
Why is my dog put into a crate when he/she arrives?
Our daycare attendants follow a schedule and have set procedures. For the safety of all our friends, dogs may be placed in a crate temporarily when they arrive. During this time attendants are making adjustments to the pack, putting your dogs gear away, pulling their care card, taking them out to potty one more time (many dogs get the urge to go once they have entered our facility, even if they just went). These procedures are put into place to be sure your dog is set up for a successful day of play.
Why is my dog in a crate even after he/she has been here for a while?
When dogs are playing and they start to tire out, they need to be removed from the group and given the opportunity to take a break. Just like humans, if we were to run and run for hours, we too would tire out and would need to take a break. We try to keep dogs out of crates as much as possible however some dogs prefer their own space or become too over stimulated to rest. They are typically in a crate from 15-25 minutes. Rest time is just as important as play time to ensure a balanced, healthy dog.
My dog is thirsty when they get home, do the dogs get water here?
Yes, all dogs have access to water in all of our playrooms at all times. It is not uncommon for dogs to come home and drink a good amount of water.
Where do the dogs go to the bathroom at?
We have designated bathroom locations for all of our daycare dogs. We have yard space by the parking lot and we have a large fenced area to potty the dogs. This area has professional artificial turf made especially with canines in mind. All dogs will be taken out on a leash to these designated bathroom locations. As much as we try to keep them from eliminating in our daycare playroom, accidents do happen. We refrain from correcting the dogs for eliminating inside because it causes stress and some dogs are very sensitive. We instead try to get them outside more often.
I don’t see my dog in the middle play room, where are they at?
We offer 4 playrooms for our daycare dogs. We have the main room which can be seen from the lobby and 3 adjoining side rooms. These side rooms are large and have just as many toys in them as the main playroom. Dogs are placed into playgroups based on their play style. Once dogs are placed into these groups we put them into different rooms. Dogs are rotated into the main room every 10 to 15 minutes. We find this rotation helps keep dogs balanced in the play style for day.
Why do you do an evaluation on my dog?
We evaluate every dog before allowing them into our daycare. Not all dogs enjoy playing in a group setting. For the safety of all the dogs, we want to be sure any dog entering our daycare is a good fit for group play. Some dogs may play well at home with neighbor dogs, but when brought into a large group of dogs they may act differently. We take socializing dogs seriously and safety is our top priority, and aggressive or unfriendly behavior can be dangerous for both dogs and staff members alike. An evaluation allows us to determine what play style your dog prefers.
What does a daycare attendant do?
Our daycare is set up for dogs to play with other dogs. We have balls, toys and play equipment for the dogs to play with. When dogs are playing in a large group, our attendants supervise the play and monitor the entire group. They pick up after the dogs if they have eliminated in the daycare and take them outside to go potty. They feed lunches and give special treats like peanut butter stuffed kongs and doggie ice cream. Like a lifeguard watching a group of kids in a pool, it is not always appropriate for the attendants to stop their monitoring to play with one single dog. Some dogs will take this as a queue to jump up on the attendant or cause jealousy issues with other dogs. We find its best to stick with the attendants monitoring the group play and when appropriate they will toss toys and give loving to the dogs. During special events, the attendants do craft times, special snacks and play special games. Our attendants try to accommodate all our furry guest needs.
What are the risks of bringing my dog to doggie daycare?
The most common risk (which happens every day) - your dog will have a blast and come home very tired. However, while we strive to achieve a safe environment for all dogs at Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor, we cannot prevent accidents, injuries, illnesses or changes in behavior. By bringing your dog to Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor, you accept these risks and you release Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor and its staff from all liability arising from the occurrence of such events.
Just as when you send a child to school, dogs can get colds, coughs, stomach bugs and other contagious diseases. Just as your child’s school does not pay for doctor’s visits when your child is injured or becomes sick, Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor does not pay for vet bills if your dog becomes sick or is injured while with us.
Two of the more common contagious diseases are Canine Cough and Puppy Warts.
Canine Cough: Canine Cough or Bordetella is the name for many different strains of upper respiratory diseases that cause a dog to cough or make a hacking or choking sound. It is usually not serious and will pass in a few days. However, if your dog does begin coughing, we do recommend that they see a veterinarian to ensure that they receive proper treatment because the coughing can lead to more serious issues if left untreated. If your dog is coughing, do not bring them to Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor until your vet has cleared them to be around other dogs (typically a week or so after their symptoms have subsided.) If a dog is boarding with us and begins to cough, we have isolated areas where they can stay that are vented to the outside until they are picked up. We will also notify you and contact a veterinarian on your behalf.Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor does require the Bordetella vaccine for all dogs that visit us. But, the vaccine, like a flu vaccine for people, does not prevent all strains of potential upper respiratory issues.
Puppy Warts: These cauliflower shaped “warts” caused by the Canine Papilloma Virus typically appear in a dog’s mouth but can also appear on their paws or elsewhere. They most commonly appear in dogs with weaker immune systems like puppies. Like Chicken Pox for children, once a dog has had them, they have boosted their immune system against them and they typically do not get them again. So, it is often considered just a “right of passage” for puppies. They are not pretty, but they typically do not pose a health risk for your dog and they will usually just fall off in a week or two. However, if your dog does contract Puppy Warts, you may want to contact your veterinarian just to ensure that there are no health concerns you need to consider. Although Puppy Warts are contagious, very few dogs will contract them if they are around another dog with the warts since most dogs’ immune systems are strong enough to ward against them. Even so, Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor does not allow dogs that have Puppy Warts to participate in group play until the warts are gone.
Accidents and Injuries: Just as a school or sports team cannot prevent injuries for children who attend school or play sports, Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor cannot prevent injuries and accidents 100%. While accidents and injuries can occur at any time, there is a greater risk of an accident or injury if a dog participates in group play. Our group play is well staffed and our daycare attendants receive training beyond industry standards, but they are working with live animals that can be unpredictable. Dogs can sometimes receive puncture wounds or cuts, scratches, broken nails, sore paw pads, sprains or other injuries in group play. You need to be sure that you are comfortable with this prior to choosing group play for your dog.
Our staff checks over all dogs at least daily, punctures and cuts can sometimes be missed and can sometimes happen without our staff’s awareness. Even a small cut or puncture can become infected or cause more serious issues if not cleaned and properly cared for. So it is your responsibility to closely check your dog for any injuries and to ensure that they receive the proper care. We will notify you of any injuries via the daily report card. Of course in the event of a serious injury or illness we will call you if we feel the injury warrants a phone call.