Behavior Is Communication
Every dog here has a voice. We listen.
Our Philosophy
At Dog’s Day, we believe behavior is insight into a dog’s wants or emotional states. And it is communication when directed towards a person or another animal. When a dog growls, backs away, or gets overstimulated, they’re telling us something directly or indirectly. Our job is to listen, assess, and respond in a way that keeps every dog feeling safe and comfortable. Our team is trained to read body language, manage group dynamics, and create an environment where every dog can feel safe, comfortable, and content.
This is why we avoid the use of labels, since context and environment are important. How some dogs behave here might be different than how they behave on a leashed walk or even at the dog park. Instead of “aggressive” or “dominant”, we talk about what we think is actually happening: a dog may be overstimulated, experiencing anxiety, may have missed another dog’s signals, or things may have escalated. Understanding the “why” behind behavior is how we keep our groups and individual dogs happy and safe.
Our Commitment to Safety, Comfort & Transparency
At Dog’s Day Farm, we believe you should always know exactly where your dog stands — and why. Every dog is evaluated on an ongoing basis for our 100% cage-free environment. Like people, behavior responses can change over time as dogs age and adapt to a particular non-static environment. Open, honest communication is a priority of ours.
How We Assess Every Dog, Every Day.
Every dog at Dog’s Day falls into one of these five categories. Dogs change quite a bit throughout their lives and because of that, he/she may change categories.
These dogs are naturals. They play/interact well with others, settle easily, and are comfortable with our staff. They thrive in our open, cage-free environment and are exactly who we built Dog’s Day for.
No news is good news — but we’ll still send you updates, photos, and check-ins because we know how much you love your pup.
These dogs are doing well overall, but we’re tracking some minor behaviors that could become a concern if they increase and/or become more consistent. This is very common, especially in new or younger dogs, and many dogs move out of this category with time.
Dog’s in this category are generally doing well, but there are some areas of concern that we will keep an eye on. Time and experience will help us to see how these behaviors will develop. We’ll communicate with you if we see these behaviors becoming more frequent. Mild risk for injury (scuffles, bites) come with some of these behaviors. Boarding eligibility is discussed and trialed on a case by case basis. In some cases, the acclimation process before boarding requires more than the initial two-daycare requirement to ensure that we can safely manage the environment/behaviors.
These dogs can often still be a part of Dog’s Day, but their behaviors require more active involvement from our staff and may not be manageable long-term if they become a consistent management challenge that takes our attention away from the group as a whole. We want to be upfront about this — both so you understand what’s happening, and so we can work together on next steps. The care plan typically requires that we take things one day at a time and boarding eligibility is not granted until we see progress. There is a higher risk of injury, fights and bites with dogs in this category and having a back up plan in place for boarding/care needs is a must in the event these behaviors can not be managed.
You’ll receive a text from us with a behavior update and over next visits, we will review your dog’s continued participation. These behaviors, if they escalate, don’t improve, or a significant event occurs, may affect whether Dog’s Day remains the right fit. These dogs are at a higher risk for injury and scuffles.
If your dog reaches this category, a serious incident has taken place or behaviors have reached the point of being unmanageable and potentially unsafe. Your dog will be removed from the group for the safety of everyone.
This does not necessarily mean your dog can never return — but it does mean we need to have an honest conversation about whether Dog’s Day is the right environment for them going forward. Being 100% cage-free with limited space to separate dogs, we cannot safely manage these behaviors.
You’ll receive a same-day call or text from one of our managers. Your dog will either be removed from the group and will need to find alternative care moving forward, or will be placed on a probationary period. We’ll do what we can to support you and offer resources for future care options.
Some dogs, through no fault of their own, are simply not suited for a 100% cage-free group environment. These are not bad dogs — they are dogs with needs that our setting genuinely cannot meet safely or fairly.
Because we are cage-free 24 hours a day with no ability to separate or isolate dogs, we have real limitations. A dog that cannot safely exist in our environment— puts themselves, our staff and every other dog here at risk.
Your dog will need to leave that day, and we won’t be able to continue care without documented evidence of improvement, in a group setting, from a certified trainer. We’ll always make this call with kindness and upon request, can provide you with some resources for alternative care options. There are great options out there for dogs who don’t thrive in our particular group setting.
Our Promise to You
No matter what category your dog is in, these things never change.
Treat Your Dog Like Our Own
and to ensure the safety and well being of all the dogs in our care.
We Communicate
We text you about behavior changes in real time and/or in your daily updates. We will always be transparent with you.
We Always Help You Find a Better Fit
If Dog’s Day isn’t the right fit for your dog, we won’t just show you the door. We’ll help you understand why and point you toward alternatives that will truly serve your pup.
Questions About Your Dog?
Every dog is different, and we’re always happy to talk through your pup’s specific personality, history, or any concerns you have before or after an evaluation visit. Every dog has a specific personality, but this personality can manifest differently depending on the environment, and every environment is different due to many variables. A dog park is different from our environment, and our environment is different from other cage-free facilities, so it is important to know that you we may see behaviors that you may not have seen or may never see. We do our very best to communicate every step of the way.
Get in Touch with Our TeamHow We Manage Groups
Our trained staff maintain careful ratios and thoughtfully match dogs into compatible groups based on size, play style, and energy level. Throughout the day we monitor group dynamics, rotate activities, and build in rest periods — because a well-managed group is a happy group.
Enrichment activities are woven into every day to keep minds sharp and bodies tired in the best way. For those needing extra support, we do offer one-on-one enrichment add-ons.
Want to See Our Approach in Action?
Schedule a meet and greet and see the farm for yourself.