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

[Jennifer and Jack]

Sounds amazing!

[Gail and Bailey]

What a great place!  And...more importantly, what a great Riley!!  Way to go doodle boy!  Have fun!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

What a wonderful report...you must have been so proud of Riley.  You have done a GREAT job with him!  Our Daycare owner also posts pictures and videos on Facebook.  It's really fun to see them "in action".  I really don't think I would take my Doods to a Daycare that didn't do an assessment of dogs before they were accepted....I would always worry, more about Guinness because of his size.

[Carol and Banjo]

Sounds like doggie (and doggie mommy) heaven!   WOW.....I'm quite certain we have nothing of similar caliber in this neck of the woods!   WTG Riley!!!

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

The day care that I use does an assessment but I didn't receive anything like this! All they said was "He passed!" Nicky, you need to save this for Riley's baby book!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Yes Doris, I feel like a proud Mama getting home the first School report card.  I wasn't expecting this at all as she told me when I collected him that he was fine and suitable which was what I really wanted to hear.  I peeped through the doors when I went to collect him and saw the dogs doing a group sit with a trainer.  Riley was sitting right there and that was good enough for me!  I collected him earlier than I needed as I couldn't wait any longer.  They told me it was rest time coming up and they were stopping the play time and getting them to go to the beds.  Needless to say Riley slept the whole way home and was as good as gold the rest of the evening.  He is going back Thursday for more.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

What a wonderful review - so congrats to the momma that did the training and socialization to get Riley to this point!!!!  Rooney & Stuart both have gone through the review process in FL and are getting ready to do it at a different place in Michigan - I'm always nervous that they do well although I didn't get this type of follow up letter - just a yep - they'll fit right in.  I have seen a person told that their dogs weren't going to be allowed to come - they had "issues".  So yippee for the both of you!

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Nicky, you have to be so very pleased and very comfortable with the daycare for Riley. It is a match made in heaven. We sure do not have anything like that here although most now have video cams so you can watch them play. The training part of what you will have for Riley is worth it's weight in gold.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I think this daycare sounds great and Riley made you proud. Way to go, Riley!!

[Linda and Murphy]

Very impressive assessment, Riley! Sounds like a wonderful place.

BTW, if the second week of July this young American couple appear to be stalking you, they probably are. Its just my human brother and his wonderful girlfriend (hopefully fiance by then).  I know they are missing me and are spending all their time in Europe looking for Doodles, which after all is perfectly understandable. 

Your pal.

Murphy

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Wow Nicky what a fantastic report. Of course we already knew this about him....perhaps there was a little bit of "proud of my dood" in this posting? LOL

Straight A's where it counts little man, good job.

Camp BowWow had a similar program, I love when they do this.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Wow, Riley you are a star. Nicky, I think you have found a wonderful place that you can leave Riley and be confident that he is in the best hands.