How we work

What to expect from us

We believe in creating a fun and loving centre to support modern dog-loving families. We are a small dog daycare centre with boarding facilities, based on having fun and positive socialisation. Our dogs mix and we work to actively encourage them to play with us or with their friends. We introduce our dogs to new experiences and monitor dogs that need extra rest times, so they don’t get too tired. Our centre is not just a holding place for dogs, it is really for fun, learning, and being a dog.

At Four Small Paws, we care about every dog in our pack, keeping them happy, safe and secure. This is why we ask new dogs to pass a tolerance test to assure aggression, excessive shyness or fear won’t be a problem. For the safety of your dog, we are unable to accept dogs that don’t socialise or play well.

Your Dog’s First Day

Our Dog Care Centre Team will interview you and your dog to find out if your dog is food or toy aggressive, protective of territory or fearful of humans, followed by an evaluation of your dog in various circumstances.

At Four Small Paws, we will undertake the following:

  • Administer the tolerance test used by Therapy Dogs International. This test involves tugging on the dog’s ears, pulling on its collar, judging its reaction to noise, and checking for food aggression (If they don’t let us touch them, our centre isn’t the best place for your dog to be in).
  • Introduce new dogs one-on-one with other dogs to see how they interact.
  • Put a new dog into a small group of four or five compatible dogs.
  • Supervise their behaviour during the first visit and then report back to the pawrent on our findings.

We offer all new first time clients a 25% discount for their dog’s first daycare visit. It is also strongly recommended for dogs who like to board with us, to book into a daycare visit prior to their boarding stay to ensure ease of settling in.

Four Small Paws requires that dogs have annual vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo virus (DHP) and Canine Cough and are taking preventives for fleas, ticks, and heartworms.

Rules, Regulations and Size Classification

In order to attend Four Small Paws:

  • All dogs over 7 months must be neutered/spayed or have a veterinary plan for doing so (size can be a factor).
  • Female dogs must not attend if in heat.
  • Vaccinations must be up to date, when you receive the reminder, please then bring in the proof that this has been done.
  • Worming and Flea treatments must be up to date.
  • Size: Height must be less than 42 cms. From ground to shoulder.  Weight: This will be taken into consideration as we have some very little dogs that must be safe, although some dogs may be short, they may be too heavy a build to play safely with the little ones.
  • Breed: This will be at our discretion, we will normally test them out with our more settled dogs first to see how they go.

All In A Day

Our daycare dogs will:

  • Arrive and get signed in.
  • Play – make friends for a couple of hours, some set activities.
  • Rest – This may be a sleep or even just a wander around but no set games during this time.
  • Play – ball throw or digging games, thinking games with the staff.
  • Slow down after 3:00pm. Make sure paws are clean, have a brush and a cuddle
  • Get ready for pick up time.

Our boarding dogs will:

  • In the morning, go outside for some fresh air and much needed toileting.
  • Receive a wellness check between play, making friends and participating in set activities.
  • Have breakfast and rest for a couple of hours.
  • After midday, have a play and hook up with friends to be all dog again.
  • Receive our end of day wellness check and make sure paws are clean, have a brush and a cuddle.
  • Have dinner and settle down for the night.