Doggy DayCare

Not necessarily.

Dog parks provide a whole different atmosphere. While our daycare area is indoor and outdoor we don’t have as much nature as a dog park does. Daycare dogs also establish deeper connections and bonds with repeated friends allowing for a different play dynamic. The dog park is full of unfamilair dogs. You probably don’t act the exact same with your group of besties as you do a group of people you just met, right?

We also have a higher standard of what is acceptable play behavior than most daycares. Think of us as a “private school” for puppies!

We are San Antonio’s first and only training-based, enrichment-focused doggy daycare. Traditional daycares allow your pup to romp around in a free-form style of play. And there’s nothing wrong with that but we want to offer a bit more learning for your pup. Our program was designed and is overseen by certified dog trainer, Stephanie Garza, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA. 

Training-based: We know you’ve worked hard teaching your pup manners such as not pulling on leash, not rushing out of crates, not jumping on people. Our program follows the same rules to offer more consistency for your Sidekick. We reinforce good choices, and redirect or ignore naughty ones.  

Enrichment-focused: Our trainers work with each dog either individually or in small groups to build various basic manners like sit-stays at doors, or play fun games. These enrichment activities stimulate your pup’s brain so they go home tired physically AND mentally! 

For safety reasons, memberships allow us to control our person:dog ratio a little easier.  

For training purposes, consistency is key to keeping good behaviors. We would like to eliminate (as much as possible) chunks of time your pup doesn’t visit. Long-term absences may lead your dog to “forget” some of the training and behaviors of daycare. 

Plus, it saves you money!!

Our activities and enrichments vary and will continue to develop! Dogs will be pulled from group play individually or as small groups (depending on the activity). We may do a Search-and-Seek treat game, work a puzzle toy, teach/walk on a treadmill, or teach simple manners. We can’t promise your dog will go home knowing brand new behaviors and tricks, we just want to work their brain. Your pup will enjoy two activities a day.

Make sure you subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up with what we are currently working on and videos on how you can continue training at home.  

YES, reservations are mandatory! We are very strict with our person:dog ration. We don’t want more than 12 dogs per person. Reserving ahead of time can allow us to staff appropriately. Walk-in’s will not be accommodated. 

We offer daycare Monday-Friday. Drop off is 7am-9am and pick-up must be completed by 6:00pm. A $40 late pick-up fee will be charge after 6:10pm.

We do not accommodate daycare drop off’s after 9am. This allows the group to find it’s desired energy level and maintain that level for the rest of the morning. Pets dropped off after 9am will rest in a kennel until the afternoon sessions starts back up at 1pm.

7am-11am: Group play with 1 enrichment/dog and 1 group activity

11am-1pm: All pets rest with an optional owner-provided lunch to decompress and recharge

1pm-5pm: Group play with 1 enrichment/dog and 1 group activity

For a couple of reasons!  

First, dogs are crepuscular animals, meaning they are naturally most active early in the morning and again in the evening. Left on their own, dogs will sleep much of the day. We don’t want daycare to mess with this natural circadian rhythm.  

Second, dogs SHOULD get used to being home alone. We don’t want to develop a co-dependency to needing attention all the time. 

Third, while physical and mental stimulation is a good thing, too much can lead to burn out or a compromised immune system. We want all of our Sidekicks healthy and in crime-fighting shape!