The global pet market is worth roughly $246 billion, and it’s expected to grow to $350 billion by 2027. While this is great news for pet business owners like you, more demand comes with more competition. Are you doing everything you can to give dogs and their humans the best experience possible at your dog daycare?
Maintaining a safe, orderly facility with qualified staff is the first step to creating a good doggy daycare experience. But to truly take your dog daycare to the next level and thoroughly impress and engage your customers and pups, you’ll need to think outside the box.
To make your doggy daycare more fun than ever before, we’ll explore:
Whether you’re just starting your dog daycare or are a longtime owner, these strategies will help any pet-care entrepreneur turn their doggy daycare into a favorite stop for pet owners.
Top Dog Daycare Ideas to Keep Tails Wagging
Caring for your pooches means more than just grooming them, feeding them, and giving them belly rubs. Dogs are intelligent creatures that require socialization, stimulation, and enrichment to be happy.
We’ve put together a list of ways you can entertain—and challenge—your dogs (and a few geared more toward restfulness). Let’s dive in!
Pup Pageant
A pup pageant is a multi-tier competition held in your very own facility! Owners should sign up in advance to participate in the tournament for the chance to win a special prize, such as a discounted grooming session or free merchandise.
Here are some popular ideas to help you structure each round of the competition:
- A grooming and fashion contest
- “Simon Says” for common training commands
- A scavenger hunt for a treat or toy
Customers will be delighted to show off their pups’ skills, pamper their pets, and maybe even bring home the grand prize! Plus, you can even help turn their dogs into dog influencers by posting the winners on social media.
Water Day
Head outside and set up a few water games for pups to play, drink, and get their paws wet! Be sure to break out lots of towels and schedule some post-game cleaning for the pups that participate.
You can include a variety of different water play stations, such as:
- A water gun spray station for pups
- A bobbing-for-treats tub
- A shallow “puppy pool” for pets to swim
Remember that not every dog is going to love your water day. Don’t force any pups to get involved if they’re not fond of getting wet, and keep some extra treats and tennis balls on hand for the dogs that want to spend their time outside a little differently.
Frisbee Toss
Frisbee tosses are a great way to mix up the classic game of fetch. The rules are simple, and every dog breed can enjoy this timeless activity. Coordinate with owners to set up an official frisbee toss tournament or simply incorporate frisbee toss into your regular activity times for pups.
You can even break out a bit of branded merchandise to play the game. Use frisbees with your dog daycare’s logo to promote your brand—customers may take notice when they pick up their pet and want to purchase one!
Bubble Machine
Set up a bubble-blowing machine and sit back and watch as your pups chase after the bubbles! This is a simple activity that doesn’t require much preparation, supervision, or cleanup from your staff. But your more energetic dogs could be entertained for hours!
This is an especially great option if any of the dogs you’re caring for become possessive over resources like toys or treats—there are plenty of bubbles to go around, and dogs can’t fight over something that pops! Just remember to purchase a pet-safe bubble solution as dogs will likely get the bubbles in their mouths.
Nap Time
Every dog will have different energy levels, and some may prefer to snooze instead of play. Having an established nap time is a critical part of effective kennel management that can benefit all of your pups. Simply put, it gives them a break from stimulation and hectic comings and goings, giving them time to recharge and decompress.
To encourage dogs to take a nap at your facility, you can:
- Put them into individual kennels with comfortable bedding
- Turn down the lights and keep noise down
- Put toys away
- Limit staff entering and exiting the room
- Use calming, dog-safe scents or treats to relax them (consult a vet and get owner permission first!)
It’s likely that some dogs, especially high-active breeds like Belgian Malinois, just won’t want to nap during the day. It might not be in their nature, and that’s okay! Separate these dogs from your sleepier pups and take this time to do more laid-back activities. For example, if you have a trainer on your staff, they might teach or practice commands and tricks with these dogs.
Painting Day
Plan a painting activity and send dogs home with original art that their owners will love! There are so many ways to create adorable pieces, and all you’ll need are canvases, non-toxic paints, brushes, and cleaning supplies.
Here are a few ideas for your painting day:
- Paint each dog’s paw and create paw print flowers.
- Add dollops of paint to the canvas, then place it inside a zipper bag. Then, cover the bag with xylitol-free peanut butter (or another lickable treat) to encourage the dog to create its own abstract art piece!
- Create seasonal paw print art (e.g., ornaments for Christmas, Valentine’s Day cards, etc.).
This activity can also be a great way for you to strengthen your dog daycare’s team culture and staff leadership skills. It will require a lot of coordination to keep dogs from running amok with dirty paws!
Scent Trails
Have any breeds that love to sniff around like bloodhounds, basset hounds, beagles, or labs? Let them put their noses to work by creating scent trails that lead to a fun prize of treats or toys.
Simply drag a piece of food like ham, cheese, or chicken along the ground to create a scent trail. Make the trail as straightforward or winding as you like. While these trails don’t have to lead somewhere, you can reinforce your top sniffers by giving them a reward at the end. If you’re giving dogs an edible treat, just make sure to clear your choice with the owners first.
Hide and Seek
Teach the dogs a new game by playing hide and seek! While this game will likely have a bit of a learning curve for the pups, it will feel so rewarding once they get it down.
The first time you play hide and seek, try these steps:
- Let the dogs see you (or another staff member hide) while other staff members hold them back with leashes or gates.
- Have assisting staff members to the dogs to find you, and reward them when they do.
- Over the next few rounds, make the game harder by choosing more difficult hiding spots and not letting the dogs see where you hide.
Make sure to transfer who is hiding to other staff members throughout the game. After a little practice, the dogs should catch on and start looking for anyone hiding once they hear the right command.
Dog TV
Did you know that there are movies, TV channels, and even VR technology designed specifically for dogs? Take advantage of these tools by using them to entertain pups. This can be a great way to keep them occupied while staff are busy with things like cleaning tasks.
Start by looking for a few different options for the pooches to watch. Some dog TV options are more soothing, while others may invite more rowdy behavior (like videos of squirrels). Choosing a variety of shows will ensure you have one for every mood and occasion.
Spa Services
For the dogs that love to be pampered, help them relax with a spa day! Give these pups special grooming and spa services like:
- A relaxing massage (with belly rubs of course!)
- A thorough brushing to detangle and de-shed their coats
- Moisturizing dry paw pads
- A warm bath
- A gentle nail trim
- A special treat
- A new fancy collar, bow, or bandana
As you know, some dogs hate baths, pedicures, and the like. Treat these dogs in a way that makes them happy, whether that’s a long petting session or chasing a tennis ball.
Outdoor Adventures
Enjoy great weather and help your more high-strung dogs burn off some energy on an outdoor adventure! Choose a fun location for an outdoorsy field trip like a local lake, campsite, or hiking trail. Then, arrange safe transportation for the dogs and take them to explore.
In addition to skilled, effective leadership, you need the following before going on your excursion:
- Permission from owners
- Secure leashes, collars, and harnesses
- Dog life jackets, protective boots, reflective vests, and any other protective gear that might be needed
- Plenty of extra water and food
- A plan outlining what to do if any accidents occur
- Your most responsible, experienced staff members
Make sure to take the proper precautions before taking dogs out of your facility. This may mean only bringing a limited number of your best-behaved pups or simply keeping an eye on outdoor temperatures. Additionally, take a proactive approach to issues like runaway dogs by using wearable tech like tracking collars.
Special Senior Programs
Your pups who are advanced in years are likely the most easy-going, sleepy dogs in the bunch. While they might move a little slower than their younger counterparts, these dogs still deserve stimulation and fun.
Separate your senior dogs out and offer them their own tailored programs, such as:
- Low-impact exercise like swimming or relaxing walks
- Puzzle games or toys
- Obedience or trick training
- Hide and seek with a toy
Make sure to check your schedule for when you’ll have senior-heavy days and prep some of these fun activities for them!
Bonus: Tips for Engaging Owners
In addition to making the experience fun for your four-legged friends, make sure you’re engaging your human customers, too. Building loyal, trusting relationships with them will help you retain them for the long haul.
One key is to keep your dog daycare at the top of their mind—don’t become something they only think about when it’s time to drop off or pick up their pet! Some of the things you can do to build a tighter relationship with dog owners are:
- Issuing pet report cards. It’s almost impossible for many pet parents to drop off their fur babies at your facility and go the entire day without wanting to check on their pups. Pet report cards provide updates on individual pets’ behaviors and experiences throughout the day. At Gingr, our report cards go the extra mile by offering customizable comments and notes about pet health and demeanor, photos and videos, and compatibility with email and SMS platforms.
- Offering loyalty programs, discounts, and other incentives. You likely have regular clients who drop their dogs off every day or have used your services for years. Reward and encourage their loyalty with special incentives. For example, you might allow them to collect points for each booking that eventually earn them free services or items.
- Selling merchandise. Offer branded pet-care products and accessories so customers can publicly show support for your business. Some items you might sell include toys, collars, leashes, food bowls, and apparel (for dogs and humans).
Make sure to have a robust communication strategy in place as well. While you should always send messages like reminders of upcoming bookings, you can also get more creative. Promote any events you’ve planned, like a costume contest, and make customers aware of special discounts or deals.
Additional Resources
To continue developing and nurturing your doggy daycare business, you need to step out of your comfort zone and brainstorm new ways to keep your customers (human and canine) happy. By adding more fun and playfulness to your business, you’ll enrich the customer experience and give them something to look forward to every time they use your services.
Still curious about other ways you can strengthen your dog daycare business? Check out these resources:
- Robust and Easy-to-Use Dog Daycare Software by Gingr. The right tools can supercharge your business, helping you meet your most ambitious goals. See what Gingr has to offer.
- Designing a Balanced Diet for Dogs in Daycare. You might not be a certified pet nutritionist, but this guide can help you learn the basics of providing the pets in your care with a balanced diet.
- Ensuring a Healthy Work Environment in Your Pet-Care Business. Your staff's mental and physical wellness is critical to your business’s success. See how to promote a healthy work environment in this guide.
