Why a Trial Day is Required Before Boarding at The Dawg House
At The Dawg House, we know how important it is to find a safe, comfortable place for your dog to stay while you're away. That’s why we take extra care to ensure every dog is set up for success before their first boarding stay — and why we require all new dogs to complete a trial day of daycare ahead of time.
We understand that life can get busy and last-minute plans happen. But when it comes to your dog’s wellbeing, a little preparation goes a long way. Here’s why our trial day policy is so important:
🐾 A Trial Day Helps Your Dog Feel Safe and Comfortable
Imagine being dropped off at a place you've never been, surrounded by unfamiliar people, dogs, and sounds — and then sleeping over there for several nights. That’s a lot for any dog to process!
By coming in for a trial day, your dog gets the chance to:
Explore the space without the stress of an overnight stay
Meet our team and begin forming trust
Get to know the daily routine, sights, and smells
Engage with other dogs in a safe, supervised way
This first visit allows your dog to realize: “Hey, this place is fun and safe!” When it's time for their actual boarding stay, they’ll arrive with confidence instead of fear — which makes for a much smoother, happier experience.
🐾 It Lets Us Learn About Your Dog
Every dog is unique — and a trial day helps us get to know your pup's personality, comfort level, and needs. We use this time to observe things like:
How they respond to the group environment
Their social skills and play style
Whether they experience stress, fear, or anxiety
What accommodations may be needed for their comfort
This gives us valuable insight to ensure we provide the right environment for your dog during their stay. It also allows us to identify any potential red flags in advance, rather than discovering them mid-way through a boarding stay.
🐾 It Keeps Everyone Safe
Our group play environment is highly social, and we take safety seriously. The trial day allows us to evaluate how your dog interacts with others and whether daycare and boarding are a good fit for them. For the wellbeing of all dogs in our care, we only accept dogs who are comfortable, manageable, and non-aggressive in a group setting.
🐾 Why We Can’t Accept Last-Minute Boarding Without a Trial
Without a trial day, we have no way to know how your dog will respond to our environment — and that puts your dog (and others) at risk. We’ve seen dogs become stressed, fearful, or reactive when boarded without prior exposure. That stress can lead to behaviors like not eating, excessive barking, anxiety, or even aggression.
We want every dog in our care to feel safe, respected, and happy. Boarding a dog without a proper introduction compromises that goal — so we kindly ask all pet parents to plan ahead and schedule a trial day before booking any overnight stays.
🐾 Setting Your Dog Up for Success
We truly believe that a successful boarding stay starts before your dog’s first night. That’s why we’re committed to creating a positive, low-stress experience right from the start — and a trial day is a key part of that process.
If you're thinking about boarding with us, don’t wait until the last minute! Reach out to book a trial day, and we’ll help ensure your pup feels right at home with us.
Questions about our process? We’re always happy to chat and walk you through what to expect. At The Dawg House, your dog’s comfort and care come first — and we’re so excited to meet your pup!