It’s a Dog’s Life

Robin Blair and her staff create a home-like atmosphere for their daycare “guests,” complete with couches, beds and chairs for lounging, plenty of toys to play with and an outdoor agility course for exercise.

Blair’s “guests” are the four-legged kind attending Dog Days Daycare Center at 281-283 Roycefield Road.

A life-long dog lover, when Blair decided she had had enough of the corporate world, she asked herself, “What could be more fun than having dogs to play with all day?”

The practical side of the 15-year township resident also realized that “there’s just never been any alternative to a traditional kennel” in this area. It is also a community where many dogs live in households were both owners work all day and the time to spend with their pets is limited.

“The dogs come here for day care. They play with their friends. There is lots of mental stimulation and they get to play all day and go home and relax with their owners,” Blair explained.

 “Even for people who don’t work, it’s good for the dogs to socialize with other dogs,” she added.

Blair and her husband Jim opened Dog Days Daycare Center almost 6 years ago. The facility now includes:

• Two buildings (the “Dog House” for smaller dogs, puppies and older dogs and a second 4,000-square-foot “Ruff House/Play Room” for larger and high-energy dogs), where animals can play with each other and staff members and are free to go in and out of the enclosed facilities / outdoor play areas as they like;
• A dog grooming service run by their son Matt, who has 600+ hours of grooming training;
• Trans-PET-ation pick-up and drop-off service in the “Pooch Caboose”;
• Training conducted by highly regarded trainer Gail Kulur of Make Sit Happen; and
• A new massage therapy service performed by a certified pet massage therapist.

Owners of prospective day care “guests” must complete an application and provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations and spaying or neutering.

Because she recognizes that not all dogs are suited for day care, Blair also requires a two-step screening process before accepting new participants. The first step is an at-home visit so Blair can meet the dogs in their own environment. The second screening is a short stay at the facility, where the pet can meet other dogs and the staff can evaluate any signs of aggression or fear.

Like Blair herself, the staff (one per 10-15 dogs to ensure constant supervision) reflects an overall calm demeanor when dealing with their “guests” and there’s plenty of TLC to go around.  While the dogs have the “run” of the facility, the animal who has that momentary lapse of behavior may find himself in “time out.”

Dog Days Daycare is open 365 days a year, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Owners of dogs who participate in day care can also arrange for a “doggie sleepover” when they must be away overnight. During those times, someone stays with the dogs overnight and feeding is done in one of three private rooms, one guest at a time.

 “We don’t allow dogs to come here every day. It’s just too much for them,” she added, noting they generally limit it to two to three times per week.

Fees, Blair said, are all-inclusive, with no-cancellation fees. “We try to make it easy on our customers and for the benefit of the dogs.”