What does a day at doggy day care in Lota actually look like?
I pick your little one up from your door, they spend the day in my garden with a small pack of friends their own size, you get photos, and they come home tired. Here's the whole day, hour by hour.
I pick your little one up from your door in the morning, they spend the day in my garden in Lota with a small pack of friends their own size, you get photos while you're at work, and they come home in the afternoon worn out in the best way.
That's the short version. Here's the long one, because "what do they actually do all day?" is the question I get at every meet & greet.
Half past seven: the round
I'm on the road early. The van does a loop from Wynnum down to Birkdale, and I knock on doors along the way. No car park, no queue, no handing your pup over a counter.
The regulars know the sound of the van. Harvey's family say he's beside himself when I knock. Charlie races to the door.
By nine, everyone's at my place.
Nine o'clock: into the garden
The garden's big, it's secure, and it's got shade. That's the whole setup.
The first half hour is the noisy bit. Everyone says hello to everyone, and then they sort themselves into whatever game's on. The pack is little ones only, never more than eight to a carer, and they come on the days their own set of friends are here. So the hellos are between pups who already know each other.
Why that matters: a pack that's been matched up plays well. Nobody's the odd one out, and nobody gets pushed around.
Mid-morning: play, a sniff about, a nap
Every day is a little different, but the shape is the same. A run around with friends, a game, a wander along the fence line to see what the neighbours are up to, and a snooze in the shade when they've had enough.
I'm out there with them.
This is when the photos happen. Your phone buzzes at your desk and there's your fur baby mid-zoomie, or flat out asleep on the lounge with a friend.
Lunchtime and after
After lunch the pace drops. The ones who've had enough find a shady spot or the lounge and sleep it off, and the ones who haven't get another game. Nobody's made to do anything.
By two, the games have gone quiet and most of the pack are asleep somewhere shady. That's my cue.
The afternoon: home tired and happy
I load the van and do the round in reverse. Your little one lands back at your door mid-afternoon, worn out, happy, and ready for cuddles and an early night.
That last bit is the one families mention most. A day at my place is a day out for a small pup. They sleep like babies.
Key takeaways
- Pick-up from your door on the weekday round, Wynnum down to Birkdale. No drop-off, no car park.
- Care runs nine to two at my home in Lota, in a big secure garden with shade.
- Never more than eight little ones per carer, on the days their own set of friends are here.
- You get photos through the day, while you're at work.
- Home mid-afternoon, tired and happy.
Common questions
What time is doggy day care at Oodles of Paws?
The day at my place runs nine to two, Monday to Friday. The pick-up round starts before that and the drop-off round runs after, so your little one is collected from your door in the morning and back mid-afternoon.
Will I see my fur baby during the day?
Yes. I send photos through the day, so you can see them playing, or asleep on the lounge with a friend, while you're at work. Families tell me it's the best part.
How many pups are there in a day?
It depends on the day, but never more than eight to each carer. All small breeds, and always the same little set of friends on a given day. I match the pack, so each day has its own group who get on. If you'd like your little one in it, start on the day care page and I'll come back with the days I have.
More notes from Ros
Want your little one in the pack?
Every new pup starts with a meet & greet at my place. No pressure. Tell me about your fur baby and I'll come back to you with the days I have.