Most people ask us the same question: is my puppy old enough yet? The short answer is four months, with their shots up to date. But age is only part of it.
Here is how to tell whether your puppy is ready for daycare, and what to do if they are not quite there.
Before any dog joins us, three things must be true:
We also take small breeds only. A Chihuahua and a Labrador do not play the same way, and size mismatches are where most daycare accidents come from. Everyone in the room is size-matched.
A very young puppy has not finished their vaccination course, so a room full of other dogs is a risk. They also tire quickly and get overwhelmed easily. Four months gives their immune system and their confidence time to catch up.
Not four months yet? Phone us anyway. We will tell you roughly when to come back, and you can book the free Meet & Greet for the week they become eligible.
None of these mean never. They mean not this week.
This is the honest test, and it costs nothing. You bring your puppy in for 30 minutes. They meet the caregivers and a small part of the pack in a controlled way. We watch how they handle it.
Afterwards we tell you the truth, even when the truth is "give it a month". We would far rather say that than take your money and have a frightened puppy on our hands.
Days follow the same shape every time, because dogs settle faster when they know what comes next: arrival on the hour, supervised play in size-matched groups, lunch at 13:00, a proper nap, then an afternoon session before pick-up.
Most puppies sleep hard that night. That is the point.
You do not have to begin with a full day. A 2-hour visit is R120, and it is plenty for a first go. Build up from there once you both know how they cope. Four hours is R200 and eight hours is R350, and regulars usually move onto a pre-paid bundle once daycare becomes a habit.
Bring them for a free 30-minute Meet & Greet. We will watch how they settle and tell you honestly what we think.