New to Daycare and Boarding?
What to Expect?

Temperament Test: Every dog that attends River City Bark & Park must complete a minimum half day temperament evaluation where we check to see if social daycare is a good match for them. Your dog will be kept on leash and introduced to the pack slowly. When we feel your dog is comfortable and ready to be let off leash, we let them off and monitor their energy and behavior amongst the pack. Most dogs love playing and cruising with the pack, however not all dogs are destined to love Daycare. That’s totally normal- just how some people are social butterflies and some introverts, we will do our best to cater to all types of personalities and keep you informed of how your dog does.

Getting Sick: Similar to sending a child to school, it’s possible your dog may get sick while attending daycare. While annual vaccines do a great job at protecting your dog from serious diseases, below are some common illnesses your dog can contract in a social setting anywhere:

    Kennel Cough: This is the canine version of a cold. It is not serious and most cases resolve on their own without vet attention. Symptoms include coughing, honking or hacking, nasal discharge, and tiredness.
    Parasites: All dogs who attend River City Bark & Park are required to be flea free.  Worms are also another parasite your dog may have. If we notice that your dog may have worms, they will be separated from the pack, you will be notified, and we will make a plan for them to see a vet for treatment. 
    Giardia: Is a tiny, single celled parasite that commonly infects the intestines of dogs. The most common symptom is diarrhea, while vomiting occurs occasionally. While it’s not fun for you or your dog to experience, most dogs recover quickly with oral medication.

Getting Dirty & Playing Rough: Dogs play with their mouths, teeth, claws and paws. If your dog is actively playing with other dogs, please understand that this can result in scratches, nicks, scrapes, and even the occasional puncture wound. We are diligent in supervising play and will break up any play that goes too far, but injuries can still occur. Other injuries that may occur include stiffness or minor limping from running and jumping; broken, split or blistered pads, toenails or dewclaws from turning and twisting on pavement; and skin tears, scratches or minor punctures from over-exuberant play. If your dog gets injured in daycare, we will isolate him from the pack to assess the severity of the injury. If it appears to be superficial, we may clean the wound, monitor  closely from that point forward, and call you to discuss. If we believe your dog should see a veterinarian, but it doesn’t appear to be an emergency, we may call you to arrange early pickup so you can take your dog to the vet or we will take them to our vet. For true emergencies, we may decide to transport your dog to the closest veterinarian available. As soon as your dog is safely there, we will call you. We expect you to immediately contact the veterinarian to take responsibility for treatment decisions and provide full payment. You are responsible for your dog’s veterinary bills.

Tiredness: After a day of daycare or boarding, your dog will be very tired and may want to sleep for a day or two to recoup. Their paws may become sore if they are not used to being active for hours on end. The best thing you can do is let your dog rest!

Thirsty: Some dogs will forget to drink water while at daycare, despite fresh water being available in multiple locations. Daycare can be distracting with all the fun and excitement going on. Don’t be surprised if your dog comes home and wants to drink a bowl of water and go straight to bed.

 

Behavior Issues: If any behavioral issues arise, we will contact you to discuss.

 

Updates: Feel free to call or email us for updates on how your dog is doing throughout the day. We can provide updates anytime during business hours.