Woodland Veterinary's Klub K-9: Frequently asked questions!

Q: Where does my dog stay when the group is not playing?

A. Woodland Veterinary Clinic is also a full-service boarding facility, with indoor/outdoor runs for our guests. These rooms are 3' x 8' inside and 3' x 15' outside, so your dog has plenty of room to rest and relax during his day.

Q: What if my dog normally is fed during the day?

A. We are happy to make sure your dog receives any meals or medications that he would normally receive at home during the hours he is here. We feed Hill's Science Diet™ products or you may bring your pet's food from home. We also provide bedding for your dog during his stay at Klub K-9!.

Q: Should I bring my dog's toys for him or her to play with?

A. We encourage our clients to bring any items from home that will help make their pet's stay more relaxed. You are welcome to bring any toys that your dog likes to have with him. During the play groups, we prefer that the dogs interact with the toys we have at the clinic for their use; this usually discourages possessive behavior that can lead to conflict.

Q: How will my dog be introduced to the group?

A. All dogs are brought into the room one at a time on leash. This gives your dog a chance to meet the other playmates while carefully supervised, and if necessary, the leash allows us to safely and quickly bring your dog back out.

Q: What if my dog misbehaves?

A. If we observe inappropriate behavior, we have a 3-step process. Step One is a very short time-out in the room. We place the dog in a sit/stay to one side for about 1 minute. This gives him a chance to calm down and relax. We then release him back into the group. If the behavior persists, the second step is a longer time-out; perhaps 5 minutes. During these time-outs, other dogs are kept away from the time-out dog to allow him to calm down. Step three is a time-out in his boarding room, just outside the play area. The dog is leashed and walked out of the room and placed into his indoor/outdoor run to give him some breathing space. Again, this time-out is only about 5 minutes. In extreme situations where the behavior persists or worsens, the dog is removed from that particular group for that particular session and placed in his boarding room. Using our best judgment, we may re-introduce that dog to the group during a later play session, or introduce him to a different play group. At no time do we physically punish your dog! In addition, we have no crates at Klub K-9 - even a dog exhibiting extreme behavior is simply placed back in his boarding room for the duration

Q: What types of behavior are considered inappropriate?

A. Very good question! Many people consider it a challenge to determine what constitutes inappropriate behavior between dogs, mainly because their physiology and style of communication is very different from ours! Dogs at play commonly jump and wrestle with each other, as well as use their teeth in what are clearly play-bites - inhibited bites that are not intended to cause any harm. In addition, most dogs at play seldom vocalize beyond a few playful barks or friendly grunts and growls. Accompanied by the well-known "play bow" posture, these vocalizations show the dog is having fun and feeling relaxed. Generally, we look for these types of behaviors: Excessive dominance displays such as standing over other dogs, "humping" behavior, or holding a dog down. A dog exhibiting these displays beyond what is needed to establish dominance will be given a time-out. We also look for the obvious signs such as snarling, showing teeth, raised hackles, or excessively fearful behaviors like cringing, whining, showing teeth, and hiding. In all of these situations, we apply the time-out plan outlined earlier. Our goal in observing for behavior and using the time-out plan is to prevent fights, accidents, and injuries before they have a chance to occur. There is always a risk of injury when dogs are in a group situation - even in obedience classes! - but by carefully observing the behavior and stepping in when appropriate we can greatly reduce that risk. Of course, just as children on a playground will get the occasional bruise or scraped knee, dogs at play may receive similar minor bumps or cuts. They do play with their teeth and claws! However, these types of accidents are nearly always very minor and seldom need medical attention.

Q: What if my dog is injured or injures another dog during daycare?

A. Because we are a full-service veterinary clinic as well, we have excellent veterinary care right here. The appropriate owners are contacted right away to help decide the best treatment for their pet

Q: I have more than one dog; is it okay to let them both play together in a group

A. Certainly! "The more, the merrier", it's been said, and it's not that different for our canine friends! In some cases with dogs that live together and come to Klub K-9, we occasionally observe different behaviors such as one dog trying to protect the other, or both dogs "ganging up" on others. Again, these are handled with the time-out method. At your request, we may put the dogs in separate playgroups to allow them to a chance to interact on their own - these situations can be worked out on an individual basis.

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