Interview Process
Our interview process is a temperament test where we evaluate if our Northglenn dog daycare is a good fit for your dog. This day is FREE* day of daycare for you for your pup to meet us and see if we can provide the best environment for them.
On your dog’s first day, we just ask that you stay for the initial introduction, typically 15-20 minutes per dog. We will introduce them slowly to the pack in order to assess their social skills. Once we’re able to get them comfortable with the rest of the pack, we’ll dismiss you and they can stay and play for the day. We ask that you leave them for at least 5 hours to acclimate and make some friends.
We primarily watch for aggressive behaviors and fear that we cannot safely control, predict, redirect, or improve. While we want every dog to grow and improve at daycare, we consider each dog on a case-by-case basis. Our primary goal is to make sure every dog is safe and enjoys their stay with us, so we want every dog to be comfortable and happy around dogs and humans. We are constantly assessing and monitoring every dog’s behavior.
Over time, temperament changes can be common in this environment. Please understand that even if your dog passes their interview day, new behaviors may develop later on that may cause the need for us to dismiss your dog for the safety of them, the other dogs, and the staff. If that happens, we will be happy to re-evaluate your dog after 60 days with proof of professional social behavior training.
*Interviews for non-local residents, without the purchase of a future stay, will be charged at the full daycare rate.
Interview Specifics
We offer interviews by appointment only Monday – Friday from 8am-10:30am. You can book your appointment directly online by creating a customer account. Appointments are available every 30 minutes, and we ask you to plan to stay for that entire time while we introduce your pups to the pack. Once they pass, we will keep them in our play group for a minimum of 5 hours or until 7:00pm.
There is a chance that your dog will not pass his/her interview. Please understand that daycare is not always the best fit for every dog. The stress of being away from home can bring out fear or aggression in your dog that you’ve never seen before. If that happens, we will be happy to re-interview your dog after 60 days with proof of professional social behavior training.
In the extreme case where we dismiss a dog due to a significant injury to another dog or person, that dog will not be allowed back into the facility for any reason.
Interviews are good for one year, meaning as long as your dog comes to daycare or stays overnight once per year, additional interviews are not required.
Overnight Boarding – If you are planning to board your dog, interviews must be completed at least a minimum of one day prior to the overnight reservation. Many dogs are very overwhelmed on their first day of daycare, so we require at least one night for them to decompress at home before staying with us overnight. It also allows dog’s to meet us and associate us as a positive experience to make their overnight stay a little easier.
Grooming Services – We highly recommend scheduling an interview at least a day prior to any grooming services. We want to make sure that their first day is a positive experience, and many dogs do not enjoy the grooming process. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for basic grooming. *Any interviews done on the day of a Full Service Grooming appointment, without the purchase of a future daycare/boarding stay, will be charged at a full daycare rate.
Non-Social Dogs – Our facility is not set up to accommodate dogs to stay in our facility that cannot pass an interview/social temperament test. If your pup cannot participate in daycare, we do not have the resources to give one-on-one care throughout the day that your pup deserves.
If your dog cannot be a part of our social play group, we are happy to recommend some alternate care options for your pup.
In rare cases and based on our current vacancy, we can make exceptions for non-social dogs to have them stay with us in their own space away from other dogs. We will factor in the length of their stay, their previous boarding experience, and their anxiety levels.
How to Reserve
The first step to requesting an interview day would be to create an account from our website by clicking here. You will be able to fill in information about yourself and about your pup(s) that will help us get to know them a little bit before their first day. Once that is complete, click on the “Request Services” button from your home page and select “Request an Interview Day.” From there, you can select any available appointment slot.
If you are unable to complete the application online, please give us a call and we can assist you.
What to Bring
Tail Wagger Application – Prior to bringing in your pup, a Tail Wagger Application must be digitally signed directly from your profile. If you cannot complete the application prior to your scheduled interview, you must arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign the application in person. Please understand that we do not accept paper applications. The application must be signed digitally from your computer or smart devise.
Updated Vaccination Records – From your account, you can upload your dog’s vaccination records, photos, and information about your dog. If you do not have access to upload your dog’s medical records, you will need to bring a paper copy with you to your scheduled interview. Please ensure the records show an up-to-date record for Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella (given within the last 6 months). You can visit our Requirements page for more information.
A quick release collar with your dog’s name and your contact information – For safety reasons, we require all dogs to have a collar with a quick release clasp, optimizing our chances of removing it quickly in case of an emergency. Belt buckle, pinch, martingale, and training collars are not accepted and must be removed. You can purchase a quick release collar from any major retailer. Click here for an example of a quick release collar.
We do not allow dogs to wear audio, shock, or pinch correctional collars in the facility.