RUFF STUFF DAY CARE
WHILST YOU WORK, LET THEM PLAY!
Frequently Asked Questions
How old does my dog need to be to start? As long as your dog is at least 10 weeks old and has received both sets of initial injections they may start. (Kennel cough jab is also strongly advised). For some dogs it may be slightly too soon (depending on their attitude etc), however most dogs of course benefit to socialising from as young as possible.
Will my dog be out with the entire pack straight away? In short, yes. However we remove some of our dogs for your first visit so that it creates a quiter and less daunting entrance for your dog. We use the exact same method with puppies; we need to remember that age and size is not a factor when dogs are in their natural 'pack' environment. Pups will learn & benefit much more from being with mature dogs than from being with others their age. Of course if any dog is too daunted and requires easing in, we will discuss this with you.
How many dogs do you have in at once? Currently we care for around 10-25 dogs each day and there are 2-3 members of staff on site. We have an indoor area and a seperate pen so that we can allow the dogs 'time out' so as to constantly lower the general risk.
What do you do in hot or wet weather? We have an 18x10ft shed built on the land (with sofas & dog beds) that the dogs can go in at their leisure. We also have a timber shelter providing shade / further shelter. Lastly, we have a dog friendly office. If it is very hot, we have paddling pools and put up sheets for extra cool areas. For example if it pours all day, we may stay out from 7am until 1pm and bring the dogs inside, taking them out for walks around the farm in the afternoon. We of course make these decisions based on your dogs' character and whether they'd rather be playing outside or come in for a cuddle.
What do you do if dogs don't get on / fight? This is a very rare occurance as we do not accept any dog showing aggression and complete a thorough trial and assesment on each dog that we register. We carry pet correction spray and whistles to be able to suprise and therefore stop the dogs if they are becoming too hyper or irrate. All of my team are taught general handling and distraction techniques. We are all trained to deal with minor injuries and all staff have a strict procedure regarding how to deal with incidents and/or injuries.
Are you able to train dogs? None of us here are qualified trainers but do have vast experience in dealing with a range of dogs. At all times we are consistant with: not allowing jumping (turning away or telling the dog no), practising re-calls, asking for sit before food/a treat, using pet corrector spray in absense of bad behaviour and of course praising good behaviour in the correct manner. There is no beteer training a dog can have than to be within a pack of their own on mutual ground.
Do you / can you feed whilst my dog is with you? Yes, we have storage space & a fridge so can store any type of food. We do have spare food on site, (tinned meat & complete biscuits), however most owners like to bring their dogs' own meal if they are to have lunch.
Can you pick up / drop my dog home? Yes. We are key holders for our pick up or walked doggies as of course bookings, dogs and routes will change daily. Therefore we offer a consultation at your home initially, so that you can give us specific instructions. Our pick up window is 7.30am-9am & drop homes from 4.30pm - 6pm. These times will of course change as this side of the business grows. They will change to allow a wider day however (e.g 7am-6.30pm), it will not result in your dog having a shorter day :)