On-site, Full-service
Veterinary Hospital
How It Works
As a caring parent, you know that canines are one of the most pack-oriented species in the animal kingdom. While your family “pack” is extremely important in your dog’s life, the value of experiencing a canine pack with some regularity is critical to the overall wellbeing of your dog.
Doguroo’s daycare is designed to meet the core needs of your dog, needs that we humans, regardless of how much we love them, cannot provide. Our daycare provides:
- Active play-time, bonding and socialization with other dogs
- Mental stimulation promoting social development
- Certified Trainer involvement in all aspects of Yard Control
- Continuously supervised play yards monitored by trained, dedicated staff
- Over 7,000 square feet of climate controlled interior play areas as well as 2,000+ square feet of outside play yards
Our dog yards are divided between small/mild mannered dogs and large dogs. Your dog will be able to play or just chill with its pack of friends.
A Day in the Life of a Daycare Dog
When they first come in for their day of fun, your dog will be placed in one of our spacious Dens. Your dog will be led into the play yard soon after arrival. Why does my dog not go directly into the play yard?
Within our 25,000 square foot facility, your dog has access to over 9,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play spaces. Our yards are always managed under the watchful, trained eye of our dedicated Pack Members. In addition, our Certified Trainers are onsite and continuously monitoring the daycare yards while assisting with any dogs who may need a break or some individual Training.
Our outside yards are surfaced with concrete to allow for proper cleaning and a sanitary environment. During the hotter weather we fill up our outdoor kiddie pools for those that like to cool off or splash their friends! Once the temperature starts to rise, it’s back inside where our climate controlling HVAC system keeps things cool and comfortable.
You can request that your dog receive breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. Meals are served in one of our spacious Dens where your dog will have a full hour to complete their meal and digest before rejoining the Daycare pack. Naps are also a pack favorite and something we can do upon request or we may suggest a nap for your dog based on their age, health or behavior. In the late afternoon, they can also receive special treats or Lick-A-Lot Ice Cream Service (a pack favorite!)
If you’ve been to our facility or watched the Dog Cam, you’ve already noticed that even on days where there seem to be a lot of dogs in the yard, it appears very much under control. That control is by design and requires a specific set of procedures, routines and behaviors we call Yard Control. Just like in an actual pack (say, a wolf pack), everyone knows their place, who’s in charge and what is acceptable behavior. By taking the time to build up our daycare pack slowly and methodically, we are able to maintain a safe and controlled environment. Your dog can enjoy all the benefits of interacting with other dogs while we minimize the inherent risks.
What to Expect When Your Dog Gets Home
Whether it’s their first day or they’ve been coming for a while, you can expect your dog to come home pretty tired. Like summer camp, daycare at Doguroo is an active day! Most dogs spend anywhere from around 12 to 18 hours per day sleeping or quietly resting, while at home. At Doguroo, many of those hours are instead spent in socialized play or just being mentally awake and alert. So, when they return home, they will likely need to catch up on some Z’s. That is okay and to be expected.
Trial Day – First Day
The Trial Day is an integral and important step in acclimating your dog to the group play environment here at Doguroo. In addition, our comprehensive introduction procedure, which includes temperament and behavioral assessment, allows us to determine if your dog has the right “personality” for our group play environment.
Trial Days are scheduled by appointment only and are limited to a small number of dogs per day. This allows our Certified Trainers to work one-on-one with your dog and give them adequate time for individual attention. Be sure to make an appointment and complete all the requirements before you drop off.
Just like a first day of school, your dog may be a little nervous. Odds are, you will be more nervous than they are! We want to take your dog by the paw and help make them as comfortable as possible before they go into the play yard with all their new, future friends. Bring your dog in for their first day and know you’re leaving them in our capable, caring hands.
Drop off before 10am and plan on leaving your dog for the full day, at least 6 hours.
Upon arrival, your dog will spend time in one of our spacious Dens or Zen rooms. Their first hour or so will be spent just getting used to the environment by taking in all the new smells and sounds. Our ultimate goal is to give your dog a positive experience to associate with coming to Doguroo. We’ll utilize small groups, even one or two dogs, in a playgroup with your dog to begin the process. As the day progresses, and when your dog is ready, they’ll move into larger groups and eventually into the main play yard.
Around mid-day or early afternoon, you’ll receive call from staff with an update and that your dog is in the yard.
At Pick-up, you’ll receive a report card with an assessment and feedback from the Training staff.
There are dogs that are not appropriate for our group play. In some cases their learned behaviors or temperament make them too aggressive OR too fearful to mix safely with other dogs. While it is rare, we do occasionally fail a dog on their Trial Day. More often, we will recommend training alternatives (either external or internal) and develop an “Extended Trial Day” plan to help your dog adjust safely and successfully into our play yards.
You can be assured that we will not accept any dog that exhibits extremely aggressive behavior towards other dogs or people. We do not restrict any breeds but rather rely on a case-by-case assessment and ongoing professional experience and observation. Access to our play yards is a privilege, not a right and dogs must act accordingly in order to participate every time they come.
Pricing
Pay per day or save money with a 10-visit pack card (your card never expires!)
Trial Day
One dog – $30
Each additional family dog* – $20
Per Day
One dog – $22
Each additional family dog* – $16
10-Visit Pack
One dog – $190
Each additional family dog* – $140
*Additional dogs must be from the same family household and live together on a regular basis.
Requirements
| Age: | 4 months and older. Puppies (under 1yr) will have mandatory Naps during the day to help prevent them from getting run down.
Senior dogs may also receive Naps for their wellbeing. |
| Spay/Neuter: | All dogs must be spayed or neutered by 7 months |
| Vaccinations: | Rabies, DHLP, Parvo, Bordatella.
Proof of vaccination administration from a licensed Veterinarian showing the dates the vaccinations are due to be renewed must be submitted in writing before any dog can be accepted into our facility. Ask your Vet to fax your records to us at: (404) 350-7850. Updated proof of vaccination must be submitted to Doguroo on an ongoing basis and is the responsibility of the parent. Documentation of current vaccinations is a legal requirement that all dog care facilities must adhere to. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our parents in helping us keep our records up to snuff! |
| Registration: | Registration & Release forms are available online or in store. A new Registration & Release form must be filled out for each dog added to your pack. |
| Trial Day: | Successful completion of a Trial Day. Trial Days are scheduled by appointment only. |
| Reservations: | Daycare reservations are recommended! Reservations may be made as far in advance as you’d like but cannot be made until the successful completion of the Trial Day. |
FAQs
What is Yard Control?
Yard Control describes our internally developed procedures for play yard safety, handling techniques and supervision. We maintain calm play yards that allow dog’s to play and socialize, but discourage extremely rough play or heightened levels of anxiety which can lead to an unsafe environment. Our Certified Trainers are a critical part of our internal Pack Member training program and teach both initial and ongoing Yard Control techniques.
What do you mean by small/mild mannered dogs?
Why do I see “large dogs” in the “small dog” yard? We divide our playgroups based on size and temperament. Have you ever known a small dog that doesn’t know it is small? We have some big dogs that don’t know they are big! We may place a big dog in the “small” dog yard if based on temperament and play style, the small dog yard is the best fit.
What do you mean by pack-oriented species?
Dogs are direct descendants of wolves. We all know that wolves travel and live in packs. Dogs are innately drawn to a pack environment, where they know there is the best potential for strength and stability. “In our view, the dog is not a possession, a personal commodity to be used solely for our amusement or ego-gratification. Rather, it is a living, autonomous, yet highly social, pack-oriented creature that has an amazing capacity for companionship and love.” The Monks of New Skete, The Art of Raising a Puppy
Why does my dog not go directly into the play yard?
Our primary goal at Doguroo is the safety of each member of our pack. By placing your dog in a den before entering the play yard, your dog has a chance to calmly acclimate to the facility by adjusting to the smells and sounds of their fellow canines. In addition, this allows us to properly control the development of our daycare pack by slowing introducing each dog and giving the pack a chance to adjust.
What is the Lick-A-Lot Ice Cream Service?
This service is extremely popular, especially in the summertime! We offer Lick-A-Lots ice cream cups for sale in our Retail lobby and upon request we will deliver these delicious and healthy treats right to your dog’s den. The frozen cups are microwaved for a few seconds then popped into a small, stainless steel bowl so your dog can lick away! Lick-A-Lots are an all-natural treat made right here in Atlanta with quality, human grade ingredients and No Preservatives! Yum.
