Train & Play is our new take on the daycare and in-facility training model that has been created to give your dogs a holistic approach to their learning and development. While dogs are very social and do need a lot of exercise, we are expanding the idea of “a tired dog is a good dog” to tackle what matters most in your dog’s daily life.
What is Train & Play?
With the help of expert & celebrity dog trainers, we have developed a new kind of program to give your dog the healthy social life and structured learning they so desperately desire. Train and play is a holistic approach to daycare that focuses on physical and physiological health with open free play, sports classes, excursions, designated nap times, obedience training, and strength training.
This is a mock schedule for demonstrative purposes only
Train
Here at Fitdog, we take advantage of all three dog behavioral models, with a focus on positive reinforcement operant conditioning.
Our training programs vary and are intensives that include rest and open free play, group learning, and field trips. Our trainers use the power of positive reinforcement operant and classical conditioning to gently shape behaviors and build boundaries for your dog. We use Observational learning in our group classes to help dogs learn how they learn best, by seeing and doing! We use science-based methods that we know yield results to put your dog in an environment where they can excel at new techniques and behaviors.
Our classes are built with enrichment in mind and backed by exercise to help your dog focus their energy and their mind. A healthy mind provides cognitive longevity and a sharp focused dog day to day. They learn how to hone natural instincts, such as odor detection and expand their physical capabilities in classes such as Fun and Fit agility and Cardio Tricks. We believe your dogs deserve to explore the boundaries of their mind to become confident, happy pups in their everyday lives.
Play
Healthy monitored playtime and appropriate body language learning is instilled at a young age through our Puppy Preschool and Puppy Essentials program. Did you know, dogs are visual communicators? They have very limited verbal communication so making sure they understand how and what to communicate is super important. Check out this body language chart:
Our staff helps keep the peace during open free play by monitoring play, giving “time outs” when dogs feel overwhelmed and stressed, and ensuring that everyone maintains happy body language out in the yard. Yes, it’s true, dogs are very social animals, so social in fact, that they can even make friends with other species (hello! Man’s best friend!), but that doesn’t mean they need to party all day long.
By breaking up playtime with enrichment classes and naps, we actually allow for the highest level of positive play and healthy play behavior. This is especially true for our working friends (shepherds, terriers etc) who have a hard time naturally “turning off”. It’s our job as care professionals to make sure they are getting the right amount of play and stimulation.
How we are different from other daycare centers
We put clear focus on overall canine wellness. We understand that the norm for daycare is that your dog runs the yard and plays all day. But our research and experts agree, this isn’t the healthiest solution for your dog.
Your dog wants to get exercise and to socialize, and we are here for it! We just want to set ourselves apart by creating programs and structures that help your dogs maintain healthy minds and bodies to last them a lifetime.
Did you know that long term open play can have negative impacts on your dog’s mental health? Taking a working breed like a shepherd to only open play daycare for hours on end can create unhealthy norms and cause obsessive behavior. We don’t want to create behaviors you’ll spend thousands on fixing later. In fact, we would rather just help you raise a well-balanced dog now.
Check out our app to build your dog’s dream enrichment schedule and start providing them with the holistic care they deserve to thrive.