You’ve booked your trip, set up dog boarding with us, and started getting everything ready for your dog’s stay. Then you discover there’s one more step: a temperament test.
If your dog has never been through one, the name can make it sound much more intimidating than it actually is.
A temperament test before boarding helps determine whether a dog is emotionally ready for group play. At Kanine Social, dogs must pass a temperament test before participating in daycare playgroups during their boarding stay.
The goal is to create a safer, more comfortable environment for your dog, the other dogs, and the people caring for them.
A dog temperament test is an evaluation used to determine how a dog responds in a social daycare environment.
Every dog is different. Some walk into a group of new dogs ready to make friends. Others need more time to adjust, and some simply prefer interacting with people rather than spending their day in a group.
A temperament test gives the daycare team an opportunity to get to know your dog before placing them into that environment.
At Kanine Social, the test determines whether your dog is a good fit for daycare group play while boarding.
Because boarding at Kanine Social isn't designed around leaving dogs in their suites all day.
Dogs that qualify for group play join daycare groups during their stay, giving them opportunities for exercise and socialization. Their day includes breakfast, playtime, a midday rest in their suite, more play, dinner, and another opportunity to get outside before bedtime.
When multiple dogs are interacting, however, their personalities and behavior matter.
Temperament testing helps the team determine whether group play is the right environment for each individual dog rather than assuming every dog will enjoy or thrive in the same setting.
We highly recommend scheduling a half or full day of daycare before your dog's first boarding stay.
There are two benefits to doing this.
First, our team can perform the initial temperament test and determine whether your dog is a good fit for group daycare.
Second, your dog gets an introduction to the facility before you leave for your trip. They can experience the new sights, smells, people, and surroundings and begin becoming familiar with the environment. It also gives the Kanine Social team a chance to become familiar with your dog before the boarding stay begins.
Think of it as a practice visit before the sleepover.
You can still board your dog!
If you aren't able to schedule a daycare visit beforehand, Kanine Social can perform the temperament test on the first day of boarding.
Kanine Social notes that most well-socialized dogs with previous daycare or boarding experience should pass. However, every dog is evaluated individually, and passing isn't guaranteed.
That's an important distinction. A temperament test isn't something your dog needs to "study" for. It's about determining which environment is appropriate for them.
Not passing the temperament test doesn't automatically mean your dog can't stay at Kanine Social.
If your dog isn't an appropriate fit for the daycare environment, they can receive individual play sessions with staff instead of participating in group play, provided they don't exhibit aggressive behavior toward humans. These individual sessions give dogs opportunities for exercise along with physical and mental stimulation during their stay.
This is especially important for owners of dogs that simply aren't social butterflies.
A dog can be wonderful with people and still prefer not to spend hours interacting with a group of other dogs. Boarding should account for the individual dog rather than forcing every guest into the same routine.
In addition to passing the temperament test, dogs must meet Kanine Social's health and behavior requirements to participate in group play. Dogs must be current on required vaccinations, including Rabies, Bordetella, and Distemper. Dogs over six months old must also be spayed or neutered to participate in daycare group play.
Dogs that are not spayed or neutered may still be able to board, but they receive individual play sessions rather than joining the daycare groups. Dogs in heat or expected to go into heat are not permitted to board.
The temperament test is required for dogs participating in group play. Dogs that aren't an appropriate fit for the daycare environment may instead receive individual play sessions, provided they do not exhibit aggressive behavior toward humans.
Kanine Social recommends enrolling your dog in a half or full day of daycare before the first boarding stay. This allows the temperament test to be completed while also introducing your dog to the facility and staff.
If you can't schedule daycare beforehand, Kanine Social can perform the temperament test on your dog's first boarding day.
Dogs that aren't suited for social daycare can still be welcome at Kanine Social as long as they don't exhibit aggressive behavior toward humans. Instead of group daycare, they receive multiple individual play sessions with staff.
The best time to find out how your dog feels about a new daycare environment isn't after you've boarded a plane.
Scheduling daycare before a first boarding stay gives your dog a chance to become familiar with Kanine Social while giving the team an opportunity to learn more about your dog's personality and determine the right play environment.
For Jacksonville pawrents preparing for an upcoming trip, that small introduction can make the transition from home to boarding much more familiar for everyone involved.
