Some days, it seems like the line for PLAYtrain® Doggie Daycare moves much slower than others. We realize that waiting in line isn’t ideal when you’re on the go—however, each step is working your dog toward something wonderful!
As part of our commitment to 360° of Happy Health® for your pet, we have expertly trained staff dedicated to moving dogs through our Resort in a safe and timely fashion. These team members are referred to as Resort Valets. Each Resort Valet, along with PLAYtrain® and Kennel staff, attends training classes to learn how to handle every dog with motivational based training in mind.
Why the Wait?
Here are just a few of the things that may be going on behind the scenes while you’re waiting in line!
Valets are Trained at Different Handling Levels
If you see a Valet skip a pup in front of you in line, they may actually be going to get an approved handler. Before retrieving your dog, our Valet staff determines if they’re approved to walk your dog on leash.
Because we accept all breeds and temperaments, we have comprehensive training and safety protocols for safe dog handling. This means only certain staff members, with the appropriate training, can handle dogs who may have challenging behavioral needs. Paying attention to body language, social skills, training level, and more, our Valets will find an appropriate handler that is cleared to properly bring your dog out to play. Once an approved Valet is available to handle your dog, they will then walk your dog through the Resort.
Valets Actively Work on Your Dog’s Leash Skills
When Valets are walking with your dog, they are always working good behaviors. Leash walking is a practical skill that Valets will help refine once they take your dog from the drop-off line.
You’ll notice all of our staff members are trained to walk with a dog to their left side, in order to keep dogs at a safe distance from strangers or other dogs. Valets will slow down when needed, redirect the dog, and use each moment to reinforce good behavior.
Other examples of Valets working a dog include:
- Pausing to redirect a dog if they are pulling on the leash. This creates a pattern of good leash manners over time.
- Having dogs sit at doors or thresholds. This reinforces good impulse control.
- Pausing and helping a dog reset if they are too excitable or overstimulated. This works on a dog’s self control whilst greeting people or other pups.
Valets Consider Your Dog’s PLAYtrain® Group Placement
The walk from drop-off to PLAYtrain® isn’t long, but there are many things to consider. Our Valets keep an eye on dogs that pass by one another on their way to group. Attention to canine body language and temperament become second nature for Valets, as they’re always actively keeping your fur-baby safe.
The play yards have multiple groups playing at once, which can be very exciting for your pup when they arrive. It’s important that your dog enters their playgroup in a calm manner to set them up for success. If a dog seems overexcited or excessively nervous, our PLAYtrain® team may direct the Valet to bring the dog to an indoor spot or an individual outdoor pen, to give them a little “me time” and allow them to warm up for the day before they join their friends.
Valets Help to Spot Check Your Dog
We spot check each pet coming and going to/from PLAYtrain® and Boarding. These spot checks are full-body checks where a staff member notes any abnormalities (scratches, lumps, bumps, or hotspots) and reports these to our Health4PETS® Liaison. If needed, the Liaison may take the dog and further assess the abnormality. These are closely monitored, documented, and communicated to you–the pet parent.
If a dog is brought in from PLAYtrain® with wet fur, a Valet makes sure they are comfy and dried off properly before heading home.
Valets Help Dogs Get Settled after a Boarding Visit
Keep in mind that some pet parents in the PLAYtrain® line with you are waiting to bring their pet home from an extended Boarding stay.
At the end of a Boarding visit, your pet may need some time to transition to seeing you (their favorite person!) again. Valets assist in creating a smooth transition for the dog, and check for belongings or medication that need to go home with you. Valets may also pause to help an owner get their dog to or from the car. If an owner has two dogs going home, a Valet may walk one while the owner takes the other outside. If an owner is carrying a large retail purchase, the Valet may assist them in getting settled before they leave.
What You Can Do to Help the Line Move Smoothly
When there’s a long wait in line, there are a few things you can do to help us move the line along as efficiently as possible.
- Practice behaviors with your dog! Standing in line gives you a great chance to practice commands like “Sit,” “down,” and good leash manners with your pup. The more you practice, the more it helps our staff, too! We use this exact training with your dog all day long, so the familiarity will reinforce great behavior. The better your dog is with leash skills, the more efficiently we are able to move them through the building.
- Inform your Valet. When you get to the front of the line, it’s helpful to tell the Valet your dog’s first and last name and exactly which service they are here for (Boarding, Daycare, Grooming, Half-Day of Daycare with a Grooming appointment, etc.). This helps a Valet quickly identify where to take or retrieve your dog in the building – this especially helps us move faster during peak pick-up times.
- Make sure you have your leash at pick-up. For safety reasons, we cannot allow dogs to walk or be carried through our Resort or Retail Store without being leashed. Remember! We never allow dogs to meet one another on leash. If you forget your leash, a Valet will need to walk your dog all the way to your car on leash before they can serve the next pet parent!
Every touch matters, and our Valets use teachable moments to enforce positive behaviors with your pup.
Our experienced trainers that lead our PLAYtrain® Doggie Daycare program also share their expertise with staff during weekly dog handling classes.
Staff members use their voice as the most important training tool (along with some yummy treats!), to teach your pup exceptional behavior.