FAQ
Attention
- All dogs are required to pass an initial behaviour assessment. This ensures only friendly, sociable dogs are accepted and also provides the opportunity to understand their personality and whether your dog would be suited to day care.
The enrolment assessment costs £20.
It's a bit like school for your dog! Our guests are picked up by the doggie bus in the morning, spend the day playing, and are then dropped home in the afternoon after an amazing day with their friends.
It differs from typical kennels or boarding facilities as our main focus is enrichment. The entire day is dedicated to sniffing, exploring, playing and having fun, rather than simply providing accommodation.
No, we try to make sure the whole experience is hassle free for both you and your dog. We hold enhanced DBS (formerly known as CRB) certifications and ask you to provide a key to your home once the enrolment process has been completed.
No, the transport to and from the site is included in the cost of day care.
Absolutely, in fact we insist on it! Come and take a tour of our facilities, ask questions and see exactly where your dog will be spending the day. Just get in touch using the contact us page to book a welcome visit.
We provide a varied schedule of activities to make sure all our pups get the right balance of play & rest throughout the day!
8.30am-9.30am: The dogs are picked up & transported to the day care centre.
9.45am: Play time begins in the main field with lots of running, jumping and the opportunity to catch up with friends. Any new additions are slowly introduced to the pack.
10.30am: We slow things down, take a walk around the centre & encourage lots of sniffing & exploring. This is a great opportunity to use their doggy super powers & follow all the interesting smells coming from the farm.
11.30: Scheduled activities such as hunt the treat, the bubble machine or a whole box full of toys to play with! Hoomans are always on hand to throw it again, throw it again!
1.00pm: Nap Time! Everyone is tired from their morning adventures so we all settle down in the cabins to listen to some relaxing music, top up on cuddles & have a good snooze. Snoring is optional.
2.00pm: More playtime fun! Splash pool, ball pit or maybe a game of chase through the tunnels around the fort!
3.00pm: Back to using our noses! Explore the sensory garden, find some more treats in the small fields or maybe dig up those pesky mole hills that keep appearing!
3.30pm-4.00pm: It's been a jam packed day & everyone is ready for home time. Tired pooches jump in the van, ready to head home.
We accept dogs once they are 12 months old. It's an active day so it's best to wait until their joints are fully developed before they join in the fun.
No, we never leave any dogs unsupervised. We're always there supervising & including everyone to making sure each pup in the playgroup is having a pawsome time!
Absolutely not. All dogs that attend Joey’s Doggie Day Care have passed an in-depth behaviour assessment before being accepted to ensure they are suited to the day care environment. We only allow happy, sociable dogs to come join the fun!
We look after all kinds of breeds, big, small, young and old but the most important thing is that your dog enjoys their experience. Dogs, just like people, have different personalities and while some settle in within a few minutes, others may need a few visits before they feel comfortable.
We’ll keep a close eye on how they progress and keep you updated with daily “new starter” reports initially.
Yes, Joey’s Doggie Day Care has comprehensive coverage provided by a leading specialist animal trade insurer. Our insurance covers public liability, day care, custody, control, transportation of your pet as well as loss of keys.
We are fully licenced and have a 5 star rating awarded by Dorset Council (The highest rating a day care centre can receive!).
We maintain the highest health and safety standards; all staff have completed canine specific first aid courses and Southfield Veterinary Practice is always on hand to provide advice.
In the first instance, staff will assess the situation and contact you immediately to discuss the best course of action. If urgent medical assistance is required and we cannot reach you, we will take your dog to the nearest veterinary practice.
No, but we do recommend a coat for the winter months.
We have two separate chillout/snooze rooms in the air-conditioned cabin so it's always toasty or cool depending on the time of year. Each dog can come & go as they please & choose from a selection of individual beds or snuggle together in the shared cuddle areas.
Yes. All male dogs must be neutered in order to join us at day care. We also ask that any bitches in season remain at home.
We are afraid we do not offer boarding or overnight services. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm.
We are closed on weekends, bank holidays & in between Christmas & New Year.
All dogs must be fully vaccinated (including kennel cough) and we require a copy of their up to date vaccinations before enrolment.
All dogs must also be micro-chipped (this has been compulsory in the UK since the 6 April 2016) and have a clear identity tag on their collar.
Yes, we ask that all customers commit to a minimum of one day per week. We operate on a model very similar to a child's nursery where each dog comes on a set day/s each week.
This creates a more relaxed, stable environment full of familiar friends & allows the pups to develop long term relationships.
For bookings just visit our contact us page and give us a call, send us an email, or fill in a booking form online.
We can then discuss your requirements in a bit more detail over the phone, answer any questions you may have and if you would like to go ahead, book your dog in for a behavioural evaluation.