1. What
are the requirements for our dog to participate in
the adventure outings?
Each dog must be at least six months old, licensed, fully
vaccinated (rabies, bordetella, corona, DHPP),
neutered or spayed, non aggressive and well socialized.
Documentation of up to date vaccinations and spay
and neuter certificates are required. We at Daytime
Dogs respect and love all dog breeds, however we must
respectfully decline several breads in particular
that statistics reflect are capable of aggressive
behavior. Those breeds are: American Pit Bull Terrier,
American Staffordshire Terrier, Chows, Staffordshire
Bull Terrier, Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers.
We also reserve the right to deny service to any other
dog that displays aggressive and extreme non-social
behavior as determined by one of our handlers.
All dogs are required to be free of any condition
which could potentially jeopardize other dogs including
fleas and ticks. Owners will certify that their dogs
have not harmed or shown any aggressive or threatening
behavior towards any person or dogs and that their
dog is free of fleas and ticks. We always conduct
spot checks for all dogs for the health and well being
of both dogs and owners alike. Prior to becoming a
member of our “Pack”, we require a free
in-home evaluation and meet and greet with you and
your Canine best friend during which we can better
determine if your pup is well suited and will be comfortable
in participating in one of our outings. Often times
an insecure, shy or nervous dog becomes much more
outgoing and confident when once they have begun participating
in one of our adventure outings. We are concerned
for not only your dog's safety, but with the safety
of all of our Canine participants. In our social environment,
it is extremely important that we disallow dogs that
exhibit aggressive behavior or that have any medical
conditions that may be harmful to the other dogs.
2. How
do we sign up our dog for your service?
You can complete the Contact
Us information or by just giving us a call, we
can schedule an initial evaluation at a time most
convenient to you. This first meeting normally takes
approximately 30-45 minutes.
After you have scheduled our initial meet and greet
visit, please complete the required new
client forms which include a Pet
profile, Owner's Agreement
and Urgent Veterinary Authorization
prior to our meeting so that we can begin the evaluation
process once we arrive at your home. This will also
allow us to spend more time getting to know you and
your dog. Understanding you and your dog's special
needs and focusing on your questions and/or concerns
is extremely important to us! We want you to be completely
assured and comfortable with our service.
3. How
do you determine if a dog is suitable for group
outings?
We will normally bring one of our dogs
to our meet and greet meeting. We do this because
we have found it to be an effective measure of how
your dog will interact with other dogs. We will focus
on your dog's behavior while we introduce ourself
and our dog. Most of our customers have a pretty good
idea of how well socialized their dog is. During our
time together, we will ask a number of questions about
your dog's behavior and history. Then we will
walk him or her around your neighborhood with our
dog. We have found that most dogs will enjoy and greatly
benefit from our Adventure outings.
4.
What are the pick up and return arrangements?
Pick ups and returns are done in the
first and last half hour of each outing. Because we
are fully bonded and insured, we are able to pick
up and return each dog whether or not the owner is
home. During our initial evaluation we will obtain
preferably two sets of keys to your home. Each client's
keys are security coded and that code always remains
separate and secure from the keys which are stored
in our secure safe. At the end of each outing, your
dog is returned home safe and sound based on
any specific instructions you have given to us. We
will make certain that every dog has adequate water
supply prior to leaving your home. Any specific issues
regarding your dog will be left for you on our “Doggie
Report Card.
5. What
emergency plans do you have in place?
We maintain every dog’s detailed
information during each outing they participate in.
This includes the owner’s contact phone numbers,
your dog’s veterinarian as well as your dog’s
medical history. We also will have the consent forms
which have been provided to us and a comprehensive
listing of available veterinarians in our area. We
are also fully certified in Pet First Aid by the local
American Red Cross and we maintain an up to date American
Red Cross Pet First Aid kit which we carry with us
on all of our outings in the event of any emergency.
6. What
happens if we are experiencing inclement weather on
the date and scheduled time of our Dog's outing?
As we Floridians understand, if you
can't stand the weather, wait 30 minutes and it will
change! In many cases our stormy weather comes and
goes. Most times this usually allows us adequate time
to hold each group outing, however if this is not
possible, at a minimum we guarantee that each dog
will receive adequate exercise for that day and then
full regular group outings will resume on the next
scheduled outing. We will always use extreme care
in our outings when it comes to hot temperatures.
We will take our time giving plenty of water breaks
and will adjust our routine accordingly to assure
a totally safe and enjoyable session for all of the
dogs in the group.
7. Is
there a minimum number of outings required for our
dogs to participate in?
No, but we recommend participation at
least once a week. While the days and times
can vary from week to week depending on what best
serves your situation, we highly recommend regular
participation to promote consistency and to encourage
regular activity and exercise. Dogs, like people,
are creatures of habit.
8. Where
do you take the dogs on each outing?
We utilize a number of approved local
parks and nature trails in and around Gainesville.
The focus of each outing is the benefit of exercise
that each dog will receive from brisk walks. Along
the way, the camaraderie of the dogs in each group,
combined with the sights and smells provide a wonderful
beneficial experience for every dog in the group.
Throughout each outing, your dog will benefit from
the positive reinforcement we utilize of basic obedience
commands. At all times every dog is closely
observed and supervised while always focusing on the
safety of every dog.
9. Can
we use your Canine Concierge Service if our dog is
not actively participating in the Adventure outings?
Yes; however you will still need to
go through the initial
in-home evaluation.
10. What
dog training methods do you use?
We believe in a positive reinforcement
philosophy with every dog, utilizing praise, rewards
and consistency. During our sessions with your dog,
we become your dog's pack leader and as such when
these standards are applied on a consistent basis,
the end result will be very a positive experience
for your dog and hopefully one in which every owner
will benefit from as well. We practice such basic
dog commands as sit, stay, come, down. We never use
choke or prong collars. We utilize the safe and reliable
“Martingale” type collar and leash throughout
all of our outings to insure your dog's safety and
security at all times.
11.
Can you transport our dog to the veterinarian or groomer?
Yes; with our canine
concierge service, we will transport your dog
to and from the vet, groomer or wherever your dog
needs to go. We can also remain with your dog throughout
a scheduled vet visit, should you desire.
OR - We can also arrange to take your dog to a pre-scheduled
visit with a groomer after any Daytime
Dog Adventure.
12.
What do you do in case of illness or injury?
We will assess the situation to determine
what plan of action is best to take. Our concern is
always what will be best for your dog. Depending on
the situation, we will either rush the dog to the
closest veterinarian or, in a non-emergency, we will
make every effort to take them to your designated
veterinarian. We will always attempt to contact the
owner to get their permission for our chosen course
of action.
13.
I have an older dog. Will they enjoy this environment?
This will depend on your dog. Some older
dogs love the interaction with other dogs and will
benefit greatly from the exercise and stimulation
these outings provide. During our initial evaluation
meeting, we may determine based on size and the activity/comfort
level your dog exhibits, that he or she should be
placed in a grouping with smaller, more laid back
dogs, or with larger and more energetic dogs. Your
input during this evaluation process will help us
determine the best possible situation and environment
for your best friend. During each outing, we will
always be observant of each dog and should we find
that your dog might be best suited to a different
group, we will give you our recommendation on our
“Doggie Report Card.
14.
My dog has health issues; can he/she still come?
This depends on the health issues. There
are certain illnesses that don't mix well in a social
environment. We cannot accept Epileptic dogs. We cannot
give your dog injections if they were to have a seizure.
We also cannot accept any dog with communicable diseases
or parasites or any condition which could potentially
jeopardize the health and safety of other dogs. There
are other health issues such as ear infections, arthritis,
glaucoma, and cancer which we are usually able to
accommodate. It is best to discuss any possible issues
with us during our initial meeting with you and your
dog.
15.
What are your reservation and cancellation procedures?
Reservations are required for participation
in our Daytime
Dog Day Adventures as well as for our Canine
Concierge Services. Cancellations not made by
24 hours prior to the scheduled activity will be charged
one half of the applicable rate for that service.
16.
Should I feed my dog before going on a Daytime Dog
Adventure?
It is best to have your dog eat a minimum
of 1.5 hours prior to he or she being picked up by
us. This is to prevent potential bloating. Bloat can
be caused from exercising and playing too soon after
eating and can be harmful. If your dog ate less than
1.5 hours before his or her scheduled activity, please
let our handler know for the safety and well being
of your pet.
17.
Is there a specific kind of collar my dog must wear
to come to camp?
Daytime Dogs does require all dogs wear
a collar with an ID tag including your name and phone
number.
18.
What happens if my dog gets sick or injured?
Our handlers are all highly experienced
dog handlers and are certified in pet first aid and
CPR by the American Red Cross. We will take excellent
care of your dog if anything comes up. You will be
contacted and in the event of an emergency your dog
will be brought to a vet immediately.
19.
Are you insured?
We are fully insured and bonded. Our
certificates of coverage are on file and available
upon request.
20.
Are you licensed?
Daytime Dogs, LLC is a registered business
with the State of Florida and Alachua County.
21.
Can you provide references?
We sure can. Please contact
us and we will be glad to send you a list of personal
references.
22.
Are the dogs ever taken off leash?
We do not promote off leash walking
and strictly adhere to all local regulations. Off
leash walking is only permitted in leash-free locations
designated as such by the City of Gainesville and/or
Alachua County. The safety and security of your
dog is our utmost concern and priority!
23.
How do we get started?
Contact us to set up the initial evaluation
"meet and greet" at your home. You can do
this by going to the Contact
Us page of our web site and filling in the required
information. We will contact you promptly to set up
our initial evaluation meet and greet. Then, click
on the downloadable
required enrollment forms icon and complete prior
to our scheduled meeting. You can also just pick up
the phone and call us to set up the initial meet and
greet appointment.
During our free consultation we will
go over the standard contract for service and pick
up 2 keys to your home.
All payments are due at the time service
is rendered. We accept cash or credit card and for
your convenience and security, we offer online payment
via credit card by Pay Pal.
24.
Who will have access to my home?
Daytime Dogs, LLC, its employees and
employer, will be the only parties with access to
your home. All keys are kept in a secured safe
when not in use and no address or other personal information
is attached to your key. We are fully bonded and insured
and copies of our certificates are available to you
by request.
