Parent Handbook

Welcome to CANINE LANE! 

Thank you for your interest in joining our Pack - we’re so excited to get to know you and your dog!

It’s our joy to provide a loving, fear-and-force-free experience for every dog that comes through our doors. 

Our trained and dedicated staff is here to give your dog the most trusted, enriching, and safe experience in a fun and interactive environment that is created and maintained for your dog’s enjoyment. 

Here at Canine Lane, we are trained in helping your dog develop and further their confidence, and inspire them to become a  happy and healthy member of our community.

• We use kibble as well as mid and high level training treats to reward appropriate behavior and achieve training goals. 

• Dogs are given the opportunity throughout the day to play games, solve puzzles and other activities to stimulate them mentally as well as physically.  

• There is also plenty of play in small groups of dogs that are familiar to your dog whenever possible. We use positive reinforcement techniques only and promote structured, appropriate play.

• Training Drills are also a constant here at Canine Lane.   These are generally 2-5 minute manners refreshers and instruction for your dog on being an overall good canine citizen.  They involve basic "obedience" cues (like place, sit, stay, down, recall).   I will observe and test your dog's knowledge and aptitude the first couple of weeks they are in attendance to determine the level that your dog is at and then plan these drills accordingly.  As I have a passion for trick training,  there is a good chance that your dog will be exposed to trick learning at some point (if they are willing and/or  I suspect that they have an aptitude for it).  A simple trick can be learned in as little as one session while a complex trick can involve teaching many parts over several months.

• Here at Canine Lane, we know that, in order to support our dog clients, a relationship with parents is also necessary. To this end, we’re honest and will proactively communicate with you about your dogs’ behaviours and interactions during their stay with us.  If you would like to check in on your dog's progress, feel free to make a phone  appointment outside of drop off or pick up hours (at those times, its too hectic to speak meaningfully).  You are also welcome to schedule a 1 on 1 in-depth 1/2 hour  parent-teacher hour conference for an additional fee of $25.00.  You can do so every 6 months (your dog must be with us for at least 4 consecutive weeks before scheduling a PT conference).

• Dogs are like people- they have good days as well as bad and we feel it’s important for you to know how your dog is doing and what kind of a day they had.  For all Membership clients, a brief weekly report is provided.  

• Dogs do play with their teeth and their paws.  And some dogs like to play hard! They are mimicking natural behaviours that wild canids must perfect to be able to survive.   It is perfectly natural for your dog to occasionally suffer nicks and scrapes while playng.  It doesn't mean that another dog was aggressive towards them (or vice versa).   We will always be constantly observing your dog for any serious injury or potential for same, and will let you know if there is anything of concern to note.

• Dogs are grouped according to a variety of factors including temperament, play style, and age. At 2 - 5 dogs per playgroup, we keep our group sizes MUCH smaller than average to allow for more individualized attention, less stress, and a more enjoyable play time for your pup. 

• Given the educational component of our mission, it’s important for dogs to have these rest periods to keep their minds fresh for learning.   As such, we have a mandatory quiet/nap time mid-day.

*NOTE:  Unless you have a standing reservation on a certain day or are a VIP Platinum member, your spot is not reserved unless you confirm it with me (via text or email) the prior evening by 11 p.m.

EVALUATIONS

An evaluation is necessary before a student can attend Canine Lane to determine whether we are a good fit for your dog. 

Before we can evaluate your dog, we require  proof of vaccinations, a completed registration form,  and a signed waiver and policies and procedures agreement, 

After we’ve received all of the above, we’ll reach out to schedule your evaluation.

When you arrive, we’ll have a brief discussion about your dogs’ individual needs, and what support would be most helpful from us.

Then we’ll take your dog for their interview in the main playroom to get a sense of the group in which they will be the most comfortable and have the most fun. 

We evaluate your dogs’ behavior, body language, signals, and how well they read/interact with other dogs. 

(if possible - we pair them with an easygoing member of our pack to determine this.  If your appointment is outside of regular hours, we may not pair them with another suitable dog but will simply observe their reactions to various stimuli.)

We let your dog tell us that they are comfortable every step of the way, as that’s our biggest focus. 

This is vital as we practice a balance of rest and play so it is essential that dogs are comfortable being left for brief periods in separate areas, whether they attend for daycare or boarding. 

Then we’ll come back to you to discuss our observations. 

If for any reason, they are not comfortable in our environment we’ll make recommendations for next possible steps for you and your dog. 

It is important to note that our daycare program is not the right fit for all dogs. That doesn’t mean they aren’t great dogs and is no reflection on their owners- we’ll always recommend what we feel is best for your dog. . 

We require evaluation and one full day of daycare prior to any boarding stay. We have found it can be overwhelming for a dog’s first visit to be overnight. 

By completing one full day of daycare, your pup will have a chance to acclimate to our facility and feel more comfortable before they stay with us.

YOUR PUP'S FIRST DAY!

Imagine you are about 4 years old and your parents are driving you to a place you have never seen before.  You arrive and there are many grinning sets of teeth to welcome you.   To your disbelief, your parents then rush hurriedly out the door without a glance!  Unease hits you in the tummy.   You observe.

It looks like many other 4 year olds have also been left behind as well as some 2 and 7 year olds!    The bonus is that you at least speak the other kids language, when, in all honesty, you barely understand your own parents.   

 You just realize that you remember coming here on another adventure and that they have some decent and plentiful snacks.

BUT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW A SINGLE SOUL, EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE SMELLS DIFFERENT THAN HOME,  THERE ARE STRANGE NOISES, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE HOME IS IF YOU COULD LEAVE, AND YOUR MIND IS TELLING YOU TO PANIC!

All day long, you either feel a little bit sick and sad or silly, secure and satisfied. Sometimes, even within the same exact minute!  

 All the 2 leggeds are very kind to you and keep you well fed.  But by the time, your parents pick you up, you have taken many mentally taxing, emotional rollercoasters.

That's exactly how your dog must feel attending a new dog daycare.  Even if they have attended another daycare prior to us, every experience is brand new.

And even positive change can be stressful.

Your dog may experience gastric upset (ie, diarrhea) and will usually sleep alot on their first night after attending daycare.

This is normal and should regulate over time.  Please let me know how your pup has done on their first night after daycare, especially if there are any significant shifts in their behaviour or habits.