Jolly Dogs Rules, Requirements & FAQ’s
FAQ
Are the dogs constantly supervised?
YES! Your pups are constantly supervised by our trained staff!
Do you separate the dogs by size?
We separate the dogs by both size and temperament. It is really important for small dogs to get used to big dogs and vice versa in a safe and controlled environment. We ensure we match dogs with other dogs of the same energy. Very little dogs have a space that big dogs can’t access, which is really important when they are feeling a little nervous. This gives them the opportunity to decide when they feel comfortable socialising. We separate the dogs according to their temperament, so your dog is always matched with dogs of similar energy! Sometimes, when all the dogs are of similar temperaments, we make our space into one large area and have all our dogs together. Our team manage this appropriately and do so only when safe.
What is your desexing policy?
All dogs must be spayed or neutered by 12 months of age. We may ask that your dog is desexed sooner to continue coming to daycare if they are displaying any unwanted behaviours related to hormones, such as humping or aggression.
How do I enroll my dog?
We have to do a temperament test with your dog first. This takes about 2-3 hours in the morning and is free of charge! During their temperament test, we are looking out for any signs of aggression, stress and over stimulation. Dogs must be comfortable around both dogs and humans. We will discuss options with you if your dog doesn’t pass the temperament test, or has things they need to work on.
What happens during their temperament test?
For the first 20-30 minutes your dog goes into a separate pool fenced area within the main bay. They are able to observe all the dogs playing and sniff through the fence. At this point the team members will carefully handle your dog to ensure they are not aggressive towards humans. We then assess how they react to the dogs through the fence before they are introduced to their first dog. We introduce them to our calmest dogs first in the temperament test area to ensure they are comfortable around dogs. They then meet a few dogs at a time before being introduced to the pack. Sometimes it takes a little longer than a temperament test to be sure they are comfortable. Daycare can be quite an overwhelming place to begin with, so we will often recommend half days to begin with if your dog is finding it a little bit much!
What if my dog doesn’t enjoy daycare?
Not all dogs are suitable candidates for daycare and some dogs do not cope well in this environment. Some dogs don’t enjoy hanging out with a number of dogs, or they are dog selective. Due to the nature of daycare we are unable to accept aggressive dogs. We are always monitoring to make sure your dog continues to have a good time whilst they are in our care. We have a 100% honesty policy and will always talk to you if we have any concerns about your dog. We will discuss alternative options with you if we deem your dog unsuitable for daycare. We will always put the health and safety of your dog first, and this includes their mental health!
What should I bring for my dog?
Dogs must come in on a collar and lead. Please do not bring them in on a harness as they are time consuming for the team and not comfortable for the dog to wear all day. You can bring lunch if they still eat lunch. We feed the dogs separately in crates. We provide fish & potato black hawk and beef liver for treats, however we understand that some dogs have sensitivities, in which case you are welcome to bring treats with you. You don’t need toys or bedding, as we have all of that here!
Where do the dogs toilet?
We are so fortunate to have a fully indoor & outdoor facility! Your dogs always have access to outside for toileting on synthetic grass. This is great for puppies learning toilet train as it encourages them to toilet outside where the others go!
What do the dogs do during the day?
We have lots of time for free play where the dogs play together, but we also have some more structural time too. We have periods in the day where we will play with toys, bubbles, in the paddling pools and with the hose. We also do some basic training such as sit and down! The team have also been known to teach a few epic tricks, such as sit pretty and spin! At lunchtime, we feed the dogs who have lunch with them and at this point we encourage quiet time for the dogs to nap. We have sofas, crates and beds for naps. Dogs sleep 14-18 hours a day so it is important they also get some rest when they are here.
What happens if my dog gets injured or sick, or there is an emergency when in your care?
We are monitoring the dogs at all times and ensure injury is prevented to the best of our ability, however as with any dog play injury can happen! If injury occurs we will be sure to notify you as soon as possible, and take any necessary action. If your dog has a severe injury we will contact you immediately and transport your dog to the closest vet. Sometimes, dogs may become sick in our care. Depending on the severity, we will contact you to make arrangements for them to go home or to the vet if deemed necessary. This is always a case by case basis depending on your dogs symptoms!
What happens if I don’t pick up my dog on time?
We understand that s**t happens and Auckland traffic can be a nightmare! Depending on the circumstances, there may be additional fees for late pick up which we will discuss with you at the time. (Don’t forget, we have to pay the staff overtime until you get to us!) If you are REALLY REALLY LATE we may take your dog overnight and charge accordingly. Please ensure to contact us if you think you will be late so we can make arrangements.
How often should my dog attend daycare?
We recommend dogs come at least 1 day a week (either a full day or a half day) to get used to the pack and become accustomed to it. Dogs are welcome anywhere from 1 - 5 days per week! Every dog is different, so we will discuss your dogs specific needs if we feel they aren’t getting enough daycare or if they are finding it too much coming for multiple days.
My dog has a disability, can they come to daycare?
We don’t discriminate on breed, size or disability! If your dog is comfortable in daycare and it doesn’t cause strain on their disability we will happily accept them! We have multiple deaf dogs and some partially blind dogs that love coming to daycare!
At JOLLY DOGS Playland Indoor Dog Park we are committed to the safety of every dog in our care:
Dogs must pass an evaluation which then allows them full access to the services we provide
We cannot accept aggressive dogs, or dogs with an inability to interact socially with other canines.
In order to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of our guests, all our day care guests are required to undergo a temperament test prior to being allowed to participate in activities. (Temperament testing need not apply to puppies under 6 months old)
You need to bring a copy of your pets current vaccination records to include a current Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccination. For your convenience you may also have your veterinarian email the vaccination records to us at team@jollydogs.co.nz
Temperament Evaluation:
The Temperament Evaluation will take between 2-3 hours to complete and is free of charge. If you would like your dog to stay for the remainder of the day following their evaluation this will incur a half day fee of $40. In the event your dog does not pass our evaluation, you must be available to collect them.
On your pets evaluation day we need you to arrive at a pre-determined time, this gives your pet the opportunity to meet our regular pack members individually, ensuring a smoother transition into the pack environment.
Prior to conducting the temperament evaluation, we review the information presented on the application to include the dogs history, known issues and previous socialization and interactions with other dogs.
We want to know as much as possible so we can make their transition into the pack as smooth and enjoyable as possible. This process generally takes around 10 minutes, and once complete you may go about your daily activities while we conduct the evaluation with your dog at our facility.
There is no need for you to wait or be present while we conduct the temperament evaluation. Our experience has shown that we are able to gain a much more realistic and accurate assessment of the dogs social skills when you are not present as they are not focused on impressing Mum and Dad, but on interacting with other dogs.
The temperament evaluation begins with each staff member becoming personally acquainted with your dog, in a controlled environment away from the main pack, after which we will slowly introduce one of our control dogs known for their friendly nature and well rounded socialization skills.
We will carefully monitor your dog for body language, posturing, and reactions during these critical first social interactions. Once the initial canine greeting is out of the way we will carefully introduce a toy into the situation to ensure that there are no toy obsessive or possessive tendencies present, we will then give them both a treat in close proximity to check for food possessiveness. We then observe for 15 minutes while the two of them interact, we will repeat this process with multiple dogs until your pet is interacting safely and socially. At which point we will introduce your pet to the pack and observe for another two hours.
In the event that we feel a dog may need more training to interact safely with the pack, we contact you and allow them to stay in one of our pet suites until you can pick them up. The interview process is a very straight forward process designed to address the individual needs of your dog and determine their current level of socialization while ensuring that everyone in our care, has a happy, safe and fun time.
JOLLY DOGS Playland guidelines:
All Dogs Must be free of fleas & worms. All Dogs are inspected upon entry into the facility if parasites are found they will be flea treated at the owners expense and sent home until there are no further evidence of fleas or worms.
Puppies must be fully vaccinated before they start daycare to keep them safe before they come in to play.
Dogs must be in a good condition of health. (No coughing, vomiting, diarrhea 48 hours prior to arrival at the facility)
We cannot accept aggressive or anti-social dogs.
All dogs must be brought in and out of the facility on a collar and leash.
All dogs must have current vaccination records to include DHPPi (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Para influenza) Leptospirosis, and Bordatella (Kennel Cough).
Dogs wishing to play with us must be spayed or neutered if older than 12 months, and have a current registration.