FAQ’s

Daycare

What’s the best way to get a hold of staff?

The easiest way to get a hold of us is by sending a message through Paw Partner. We are on Paw Partner throughout the day checking dogs in and out as well as posting pictures of your pup! We will get back to you as soon as possible. Sometimes it can take a little longer if we are busier than usual taking care of the pups. If you don’t have a Paw Partner account, please email us at staff@ruffhousepdx.com or give us a call!

How old does my dog have to be to start daycare?

We would like your pup to be at least 20 weeks old. 

Do dogs have to be neutered or spayed by a certain age?

No, your dog can be intact at any age. However, females in heat cannot come to the park. If your dog recently went through heat, she will need to be a month out from when it started. Intact males are welcome to come as long as they are not showing excessive humping behavior. 

How do I sign up for daycare?

The first step will be to set up an account with Paw Partner. Paw Partner is the app we use for managing all of our reservations, bookings, vaccinations, and pictures. Check out the free Paw Partner mobile app in your app store. Directions on creating an account are found here: https://ruffhousepdx.com/book-services-now Once you have the account, book a reservation for an “Evaluation – new” under Daycare. This will send us the request at which point we will review the information and approve the request. We may call you if we have any questions before approval. After the evaluation, we will let you know if our daycare is the right fit for your pup.

What if I can’t bring my dog in for the regular evaluations on weekdays from 9:30 am to 10:30 am?

No problem! We can work with you and come up with a time that fits your schedule. We do evaluations on Saturdays. Just email us at staff@ruffhousepdx.com or message us through Paw Partner if you have an account so we can get that set up!

What is enrichment daycare and what makes The Ruff House different from other daycares?

Our off-leash play sessions offer a unique combination of playtime with other dogs, individualized attention with our staff, and fun activities that are hand selected just for your pet. Rather than just putting your dog in a large group all day long, we will find out what he really loves and rotate his time with us among several activities tailored specifically for your dog.

Our off-leash playgroups are focused on fun and the well-being of your dog. We are committed to understanding group dog behavior, educating all our staff on safe and humane management techniques that use positive reinforcement. But most importantly, we are committed to providing a day of fun and individualized care to your dog when he stays with us. Your pet will be treated like one of the family!

Will my dog still go home tired?

Absolutely! Your dog will go home tired but not so exhausted he can't eat dinner or interact with the family. We are striving for quality play sessions balanced with adequate rest so your dog doesn't get injuries from over exercising.

What kinds of activities will my dog do?

That really depends on what your dog likes! We will conduct a thorough assessment to find out what your dog really loves and then we'll rotate those activities into your dog's daily stay here. We have a wide range of activities including fetch, tricks, nose-work, agility, tug time, stuffed KONG time, etc. We'll pick the ones your dog loves best!

Will my dog have to stay in a crate or dog run?

When it's time to take a nap, your dog will be provided with a quiet place to rest. Normally this will be a comfortable crate or enclosure with bedding and a stuffed KONG treat or puzzle toy for your dog. Once he's done with his KONG, your dog will take a much-needed break before his next activity. We think this down time is vital to healthy dogs and helps your dog get used to learning how to relax during the day.

Don't all dogs love to play with other dogs?

This is a common myth that is shared as the popularity of dog daycare and dog parks has increased. The fact is many dogs do not enjoy playing with other dogs. A dog's life experiences, breed-type tendencies and social history all contribute to the activities that each individual dog enjoys. This does not mean anything is wrong with the dog, it just means he doesn't want to play with other dogs.

Why does my dog have to rest sometimes? Can't he play all day?

It's important that exhaustion is not our only measure of success when you bring your dog for day camp. Our approach to your dog's day in day camp is to balance physical exercise, mental activities, and rest periods. All three are equally important components to keeping your dog safe and healthy when socializing with other dogs.

Physical exercise is the most obvious benefit of off-leash play and it's what most pet parents think about when they drop their dog off to play. But for your dog's health, we also consider it important to provide mental stimulation, which allows your dog to think and use his brain during the day. Mental work is tiring for your dog while building their confidence and self control.

And naturally, after all this physical and mental work, dogs need rest. This is why

we include formal rest periods as an important component of our health and safety program for your pet. Dogs that get overly tired are less tolerant and grumpier (just like kids) which increases risk of injury.