September Dog Daycare Highlights
September's Theme is Back to School
It’s back to school time, and our daycare dogs will be learning a fun new task. They'll be learning how to put their toys away! We’ll be teaching our dogs the clever skill using shaping, a positive training technique that allows them to figure out the behaviour step-by-step while having fun along the way.
But this is more than just a cute trick! Putting toys away is a great mental enrichment activity that gets dogs thinking, problem-solving and making choices. As they work out how to pick up and move their toy toward the basket and eventually drop it inside, they’ll be using their natural instincts for problem-solving, manipulating objects with their mouths, searching, and completing tasks. They also get the satisfaction of discovering, “Hey, I figured that out!”
Each dog will learn at their own pace, with plenty of encouragement, rewards and opportunities to succeed.
We can’t wait to see how much progress our daycare dogs can make this month! By the end of the month, they might be ready to help clean up at home!
Play and Train
Give your dog the opportunity to learn while they play with our Play & Train program! This exciting add-on service was designed exclusively for dogs attending daycare! Whether you have a puppy just starting their training journey or an adult dog that could use a refresher on basic obedience, Play & Train provides focused, one-on-one learning in a fun and familiar environment. During each daycare visit, your dog receives two private 10-minute training sessions, where they work individually with a trainer away from the daycare group. We also provide video updates so you can see your dog’s progress firsthand and continue reinforcing their new skills at home. Our program offers four training tiers, along with an optional Tricks tier, allowing you to choose as much or as little training as you’d like. Owners can also request specific commands, behaviors, or training goals they would like their dog to work on. Several dogs have already benefited from the program, gaining confidence, improving obedience, and strengthening communication with their families. Our goal is to help both dogs and owners succeed through consistent, positive training. Best of all, signing up is easy, simply add Play & Train when booking your dog’s daycare visit. To learn more about each training tier and what is included, visit our training page HERE.
August Recap
Take a moment to see the fun the dogs had last month at Embark Academy! From interactive playtime to outdoor adventures, our furry friends enjoyed every paws-on moment! Check out the photos and highlights of our exciting activities.
August Enrichment
August was all about keeping cool while having fun with our Ice Enrichment! Our daycare dogs enjoyed group activities featuring ice cubes packed with tasty surprises like treats, peanut butter, carrots, and apple. As the ice melted, the dogs used their noses, tongues, and problem-solving skills to figure out how to get to the goodies inside.
This activity provided sensory enrichment through the cold temperature and texture of the ice, giving the dogs a new sensation to investigate. Licking, sniffing, and working at the frozen treats also encouraged natural foraging behaviours and offered a fun mental challenge. The cold sensation provided a refreshing experience on hot summer days, while the group setting added a social element as the dogs enjoyed their icy discoveries together.
It was a simple activity with lots of tail
Reminders
Our next puppy group classes will be starting Tuesday, September 15th. Please be sure to register your puppy by September 11th . Spots are limited, please check for information and updates on our Services tab.
New Friends
We always welcome some new faces in daycare! Please say hello to our newest friends.
We make sure to make each dog feels understood and we take their individual needs into account. Shy dogs get additional one-on-one snuggle time with staff, while high energy pups get some extra structured play.
