DOGGY DAYCARE
Are You Interested in Structured Daycare for Your Pup?
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The Dog Park is now offering Structured Daycare from our King Street location in Old Town Alexandria!
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Our Structured Daycare provides a safe and engaging environment for your dog, combining supervised play with reinforcement of appropriate behavior and direct interaction with our trainers. We offer small, highly supervised playgroups, multiple daily outdoor walks, and a mix of confidence-building and enrichment activities all designed to engage your dog’s body and mind.
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We understand that maintaining the training and structure that you provide your dog at home is important, something that is often lacking in a typical daycare setting. We incorporate training principles into the entire day for each dog. When you leave your dog with us, we will reinforce impulse control, place command, accepting grooming, and other basic training that every dog benefits from. Structured daycare incorporates all the traditional benefits of socialization and playtime with the added focus on reinforcing appropriate behaviors and addressing individual needs one on one with our trainers.
​Why Choose Structured Daycare?
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Small, supervised playgroups tailored to your dog's needs
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Daily training reinforcement, including impulse control and grooming acceptance
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Personalized care and attention to maintain your dog's training and behavior standards
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High staff to dog ratio, never more than ten dogs per handler in the space at a time
Requirements for Daycare Services
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All potential daycare participants must undergo a complimentary evaluation to ensure they are a good fit for our daycare environment
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Dogs must be at least 16 weeks old, vaccinated, and in good health
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Nails must be trimmed (nail trimming service available at check-in if needed)
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Behavior issues such as resource guarding or severe reactivity must be addressed with training before daycare enrollment
Operating Hours
Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM
Late pickups by prior arrangement only: $20 per 15 minutes past 7 PM
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Daycare Drop In Rates
(no prepaid appointment scheduled)
$80 Single Half Day (<5 hrs)
$100 Full Day (<8 hrs)
Monthly Subscription Package Rates
Half Day Full Day
1 Day per week $300 $360
3 Days per week $840 $1020
5 Days per week $1300 $1600
Savings of monthly package vs daily rate
Half Day Full Day
1 Day per week $75 vs $80 $90 vs $100
3 Days per week $70 vs $80 $85 vs $100
5 Days per week $65 vs $80 $80 vs $100
Grooming Add-ons
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Please see our grooming page for complete price list and services offered. All grooming services, except for nail trims, are by appointment only.
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$20 Nail Trim
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$25 Nail Dremel
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$45-100 Bath (weight dependent)
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$80-180 Bath + Brush (weight dependent)
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$85-225 Bath + Full Groom (weight dependent)
FAQs
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1. What is Structured Daycare?
Structured Daycare at The Dog Park offers a safe and engaging environment for your dog. It combines supervised play, training reinforcement, and direct interaction with our trainers. We provide small, highly supervised playgroups, daily outdoor walks, and a mix of confidence-building and enrichment activities to ensure your dog's wellbeing, reinforce appropriate training and development.
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2. What are the requirements for my dog to attend Structured Daycare?
Dogs must be at least 16 weeks old, up to date on vaccinations (Distemper, Rabies, and Bordetella), and in good health. Nails must be trimmed. We may accept dogs that are not spayed or neutered or well crate-trained for the first month on a caseby-case basis. Dogs must not be leash-reactive and must be good with humans.
3. What is the pet screening process?
All potential daycare participants must undergo an evaluation to ensure they are a good fit for our daycare environment. The screening evaluates your dog's temperament, behavior, and compatibility with other dogs. Screenings are scheduled by appointment and must be completed before your dog's first daycare session.
4. What are your operating hours?
Our daycare is open Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM. Late pickups can be arranged in advance and will incur a fee of $20 for every 15 minutes past 7 PM.
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5. What activities will my dog participate in during the day?
Your dog will participate in small, highly supervised group play rotations, enrichment activities and various exercise activities and rest periods. We also include group training sessions and other activities designed to build confidence and reinforce training.
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6. Do you offer grooming services?
Yes, we offer a variety of grooming services based on the groomer's availability. Services include nail trims, baths, brushes, and full grooms. Please see our Grooming Page for the full list of services and fees.
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7. What happens if my dog gets sick while at daycare?
If your dog shows signs of illness while at daycare, we will immediately isolate them from other dogs and contact you to pick them up. It is important that dogs attending daycare are in good health to prevent the spread of illness.
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8. Can I drop off my dog without an appointment?
While drop-offs and pick-ups are welcome anytime during operating hours as long as there is availability. Prior to using our daycare services, we require all dogs to undergo an initial screening appointment to ensure your dog is a good fit for our daycare environment.
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9. Do you accept all breeds?
Yes, we accept all breeds if they meet our health and behavior
requirements. Each dog is assessed individually to ensure they are a good fit for our structured daycare environment.
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10. How often should my pup come to daycare?
We have seen the most progress with dogs that consistently come at least once a week. Especially with our dogs that are working on building confidence away from their people, consistently making daycare a part of your weekly routine can greatly help them feel more comfortable here.
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11. Why is my dog wearing a leash in play group?
You may see equipment on dogs in pictures and videos including leashes and muzzles. All new dogs are considered Shadow Dogs and are kept on leash as a precaution until we get to know them, and they get to know us! At first dogs are on leash and the leash is held by a staff member while that staff member shadows them. This is to ensure that dogs are interacting with us and other dogs appropriately and if not, we can easily guide them away using the leash. Leashed Shadow Dogs are closely monitored and never wear equipment in kennels.
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12. Are dogs kenneled during daycare?
Appropriate rest time is an important aspect of our daycare program. Dogs are split into two playgroups depending on size, temperament, and play style. One group will spend 45 minutes playing while the other group is resting in the kennels and then we rotate! We also have an all-dog nap time where we dim the lights and let them rest deeply from 12:30 pm to 2:00pm.
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Visit us at 705 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
For more information, please contact us at (703)-888-2818