Barkside Social Club Practices & Principles

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A typical day at BSSC consists of many different engaging activities with the option to always add on more! Drop off starts at 6:30 am (when we open) to 10 am when last drop off is. From 10 am until 11:30 am we are outside with the dogs enjoying the safe and privately fenced off portion of our facility. We are often filling up the pools for your pup to cool off in or even playing with the sprinkler. For the dogs who don't love water as much as the others they have plenty of space for them to sit and bask in the sun. During the winter months we keep this area clear of snow to keep your pup comfortable. Of course on days that the temperature is very low or too high we are sure to have time controlled sessions outside as to not expose your pup to the dangers that can come with extreme temperatures. We have separated areas both inside and outside for the smaller dogs and bigger dogs. This is to ensure the safety and comfortability of all our pups. Around 11:30 am we will start feeding lunches (lunches must be provided by the paw-rents in a container labeled with your dogs name). We feed all dogs separately throughout different areas in the daycare. Ensuring their privacy and safety whilst eating their food. After the lunches have all been done we do have a mandated resting period of 1 hour where we will dim the lights and play some soothing music to help all dogs relax. We do not encourage play during this time as the dangers of play with a full belly can be potentially life threatening to any dog. Our job is to make sure your dog is kept safe and happy while being engaged throughout their stay with us at BSSC. Once quiet time is over we will get all the dogs up and outside again to allow for any potty breaks needed and some more playtime. Typically around 3:30pm pickups will start and we will bring everyone back inside the facility until their paw-rents come to pickup.

Once a month we throw unique themed parties to celebrate and capture adorable pictures of your pup for you to enjoy. All parties are posted at the beginning of the month inside our facility on our chalkboard along with a sign up sheet. Check out this month's theme on our socials! 

Here at BSSC safety is our number 1 priority for your dog. Due to this we require a screening process for new dogs at daycare over the course of 3 days. Please note; as dogs age, their temperaments and needs can change, so if we notice that daycare is no longer benefiting your dog, we will be open with you about what we are seeing/ noticing and offer different solutions. If your dog has a history of reactivity/ aggression, we do NOT recommend daycare as this may cause them further stress and reactivity as well as put others in danger. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety we also do NOT recommend daycare as this can cause them extreme distress. If you need help with these we work along side with a wonderful behaviorist who specializes in these exact things and can offer private sessions. Give us a call or send in an email for more information.

For daycare attendance we require all dogs be up-to-date on their vaccines for Bordetella, Parvo and Rabies. As well as any dog over the age of 6 months be spayed or neutered. Again; this is for the safety of all our pups who attend. We do require your dog be brought in with a quick release collar on. This is to comply with our emergency evacuation plan in the case of a fire or any emergency situation that evacuating the building is required. 

All staff at BSSC practice door control when coming both in and out of the facility during the day. Basic obedience with positive reinforcement is the only technique used by our staff members. 

This is to not only help stimulate your pup's mind, but to keep them safe. We never want a pup to get hurt and we have found the best way to do this is by adding a little bit of structure to their day. Not only will this keep their mind engaged and stimulated, it will benefit you too! Training a dog can be a lot of work and we are here to help in anyway we can. If there is something specific you are needing help with; whether that be jumping up, door control or your "sit" "stay" commands we are here to help. Let us know if/any things you wish to work with your dog on and we can incorporate them one on one with your pup during their stay. If you are needing a little more knowledge on how to or even just a refresher check out our training portion of our site to better guide you to what it is you need. Not finding what you're looking for? Send us an email to info@barksidesocialclub.ca to set up a customized class suited to your needs.