Day Care Assessment

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

After a year of looking we finally found a Day Care facility and yesterday it was assessment day.  Here is the email I got back.  I just wondered if this was normal practice in your Day Care?  I am really really happy with this one and Riley will be going once or twice a week.  They even take pictures and videos which they post on FB throughout the day so you can see what they are doing.

Hi Nicky & Riley, 

It was so lovely to meet you both yesterday and I was thrilled you could make it over. I am really looking forward to having  Riley  join daycare, he has a super personality and I know he'll love it. Its so important to us that any of our doggy clients are happy and content so please make sure you let us know how he does on the evenings after attending daycare so that we can improve or change the routine if there are any issues.

Anyway on Riley 's assessment, he has a superb greeting with other dogs which means that I would be confident any negative reaction from him meeting another dog will most likely be a result from the other dog and not from  Riley. He gives all the right signals without being too forceful for play. He knows his boundaries and communicates in all the right ways. On that front you have done a terrific job. For such a young dog I was very impressed with his self control when it comes to greeting/playing. 

In terms of toys/food which are both high resources in the dog world Riley scored very high on his tolerance levels for sharing and stepping out of a conflict.  Riley  is a dog that would rather flight than fight which is exactly what you want in a social situation. For daycare that is the most important characteristic, because our daycare is very interactive and we us a lot of toy and food rewards it is vital that all the dogs are happy to "share".  Riley  passes with flying colours. 

Handling he scored in the high which is super, its not a very important behavioural trait but good for vet exams and for strangers touching him, he is only very slightly uncomfortable with this. That means he accepts it and does enjoy it a lot but is still unsure, we work on this using food and toys so that he will have a positive association with handling. 

He is still a little nervous of new objects & sounds. We will work on this by making every experience a positive one so he gains confidence. You have done a terrific job with him and he is maturing into a lovely dog. You should be very proud. We will work on some recall with him in daycare and fill you in on how he is doing and hopefully work together on perfecting a quick recall. If there is any thing else you'd like to work or improve on just let me know.

Looking forward to working/playing with  Riley, I can see he will become a favourite in daycare :)

Any questions just ask 

Kind Regards

[F, Calla & Luca]

What a nice letter and a great assessment for Riley. This place sounds like  a class act.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have no experience with doggy daycare, but this certainly sounds like a top-notch facility! And WTG Riley for being such an excellent member of the group!

[Leslie and Halas]

That sounds like a great place!  Riley really impressed them, so that's a great start!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

OMD I want to sign up Winston and Sophie! Too bad it's on the other side of the ocean. Sounds like you found a great place!

[Pat and Traveler]

That is a terrific report!  It's wonderful that they will work with him on recall, or it sounds like pretty much anything else you'd like to work on.  Sweet Riley--you're a winner!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

wow great report! So fantastic that they do these assessments, so you know all the dogs there are "nice" dogs! Way to go Riley!!!!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

This sounds like a wonderful facility  with attentive people. What more can you ask for? None of the daycare facilities I use come nowhere near yours. I know I'm a crazy doodle mom, but I would really love to be able to see my dog throughout the day via an online camera, know if he pooped and how the poop looked, whether he found a friend to play with, whether he was drinking enough water during the day, and whether he slept during the lunch break. Congratulations, you found a great daycare!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jarka I am the same as you!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

wow.  that is a nice email from them and it was very informative.  Sounds like you found a great place!

[Lynn D.]

Where can I sign Echo up?? This sounds like a wonderful place. From the letter I get that they are genuine in caring for all their charges! This is exactly the day care I would want for my pooch if he didn't have a work at home dad.

[Camilla and Darwin]

WOw, that is a very thorough review! Way to go Riley for being such a good boy. :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Wow, this is like getting daycare and a trainer all in one.  Sounds like he did really well and had a great time.