Developmental Daycare Program

Who This Is For

 

Developmental Daycare

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A Structured, Individualized Approach to Growth

Not every dog benefits from a traditional daycare environment. Some thrive with a slower pace, smaller group setting, and more intentional guidance.

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Our Developmental Daycare Program is designed for dogs who benefit from additional structure, individualized support, and opportunities to build the foundational life skills that promote confidence, emotional regulation, and long-term success.

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This program is ideal for dogs who may:

• Struggle with overexcitement or impulse control

• Need guidance with boundaries and structure

• Have difficulty settling in new environments

• Benefit from slower, more intentional socialization

• Require a more hands-on, supportive approach to care

• Be building confidence in new situations and experiences

• Benefit from learning calm coexistence and emotional regulation around other dogs

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How It Works

All services begin with a Meet & Greet to help Fitz & Friendz identify any initial safety, care, or fit considerations and learn more about your pup’s needs. Pet parents also complete a Paw Print Profile to provide additional information about their dog’s personality, routines, health, behavior, preferences, and daily care needs.

If information shared during the initial screening indicates that additional behavioral context would be helpful, Fitz & Friendz may request a Behavior Snapshot before the first stay.

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When no initial safety concern prevents care, your pup may begin their first reservation under the applicable Standard Day Stay or Night Stay service. This initial placement is preliminary and allows Fitz & Friendz to observe your dog within the actual care environment before making longer-term care recommendations.

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During the first stay, Fitz & Friendz observes your pup’s comfort level, communication style, regulation, response to structure, routines, interactions, strengths, and any areas where additional support may be beneficial.

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Following the first stay, Fitz & Friendz will provide a preliminary care determination and recommendations for future services. Depending on what is observed, your pup may continue with Standard Day Stay or Night Stay care, be recommended for Developmental Daycare or other individualized support, or receive additional care recommendations designed to support their success in the Fitz & Friendz environment.

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If additional support needs are identified during the first stay, Fitz & Friendz will communicate those observations with the pet parent and discuss any recommended adjustments to current or future care.

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What Makes It Different

Developmental Daycare is built around intentional growth, not simply supervision.

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Each day is intentionally structured to support:

• Real-time behavior guidance and redirection

• Calm, controlled transitions throughout the day

• Reinforcement of foundational skills

• Balanced exposure to other dogs in a low-stress environment

• Opportunities to practice calm neutrality rather than constant stimulation or play

• Consistent routines that promote confidence, emotional regulation, and impulse control

This is a high-touch, small-group setting where your dog is supported, not overwhelmed.

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The Fitz & Friendz Developmental Pillars​

Every interaction within our Developmental Daycare Program is intentional. Our approach is built around seven core pillars that support your dog's growth both in our care and at home.

 

🐾 Confidence - Helping dogs navigate new people, environments, and experiences with greater comfort, resilience, and independence.

🐾 Emotional Regulation - Supporting dogs in learning how to settle, recover from excitement, and maintain a calmer emotional state.

🐾 Impulse Control - Encouraging thoughtful choices, patience, and self-control through consistent structure and guidance.

🐾 Calm Neutrality - Teaching dogs to comfortably coexist around other dogs without feeling the need to constantly engage, play, or react.

🐾 Purposeful Enrichment - Providing activities that stimulate the mind, encourage curiosity, build confidence, and promote healthy problem-solving.

🐾 Rest & Recovery - Recognizing that quality rest is an essential part of learning, emotional regulation, overall well-being, and healthy development.

🐾 Continuity - Development doesn't end at pickup. We partner with your family to reinforce routines, expectations, and progress across home and daycare, creating a seamless learning experience that supports lasting success.

 

Because Fitz & Friendz is a small, home-based program, I thoughtfully consider not only how each dog experiences the environment, but also how they contribute to the overall balance of the group. Every new enrollment is evaluated to help ensure a calm, supportive atmosphere where every dog, including Fitz, feels comfortable, safe, and able to thrive. This intentional approach allows me to provide individualized care while preserving the peaceful environment that makes the program unique.

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Our Approach

We focus on clarity, consistency, and calm energy. Dogs are guided through structured interactions, supported during moments of excitement, and rewarded for making thoughtful choices.

Throughout the day, we intentionally balance enrichment, learning, social experiences, and restorative rest to help dogs build confidence, emotional regulation, impulse control, and the ability to navigate different environments with greater ease.

Our goal isn't to create the "perfect daycare dog." Our goal is to help each dog develop practical life skills that support success both here and at home.

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Progress & Transition

As your dog progresses, we continually assess their readiness for Standard Daycare and Boarding services.

Every dog develops at their own pace, and there is no predetermined timeline for progression. Some dogs transition quickly, while others benefit from continued structure and support. Every recommendation is made with your dog's long-term success, confidence, and well-being in mind.

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Owner Partnership

Your dog's progress doesn't happen in isolation.

We partner with you to promote continuity between home and care by sharing observations, guidance, and practical recommendations that help reinforce the structure and skills your dog is developing while in our care.

Together, we create greater continuity between home and care, helping your dog carry the skills they develop here into everyday life.

 

Getting Started

Every dog's journey begins with three important steps designed to help us get to know one another and create the best possible experience.

Meet & Greet
An opportunity for us to meet, answer questions, and ensure Fitz & Friendz is the right fit for your dog and your family.

Paw Print Profile
A comprehensive questionnaire that helps us understand your dog's personality, routines, preferences, and individual care needs.

Initial Trial & Assessment Period(Click to see if your dog's ready for daycare)

 

Once enrolled in Developmental Daycare, your pup’s first two consecutive weeks of attendance serve as an initial trial and assessment period. During this time, Fitz & Friendz observes your dog’s comfort level, communication style, regulation, response to structure, routines, social interactions, strengths, and areas where additional support may be beneficial.

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These observations help shape your pup’s individualized developmental goals and ongoing care recommendations while allowing support to begin from the first day of care.

 

Households with Multiple Dogs

Every dog brings a unique personality, learning style, and support needs. In multi-dog households, dogs may naturally influence one another’s behavior, making it helpful at times to observe each dog individually as well as together.

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When additional individual observation would support a clearer understanding of each dog’s temperament, regulation, communication style, or support needs, Fitz & Friendz may recommend that dogs be introduced to the program or observed separately during portions of the initial trial and assessment period. Any such recommendation is made at the professional discretion of Fitz & Friendz and is intended to support thoughtful, individualized care recommendations for every dog in the household.

 

Individual Assessment Stays are not required for every multi-dog household. However, Fitz & Friendz may recommend separate Assessment Stays when additional observation would support a more accurate evaluation and individualized care plan. Any recommendation for separate assessments is made at the professional discretion of Fitz & Friendz and is intended to provide the most thoughtful and appropriate recommendations for every dog in the home.

 

What Happens Next?

Throughout the first two consecutive weeks of Developmental Daycare, Fitz & Friendz gathers observations from your dog’s actual care experience and combines them with information collected through the Meet & Greet, Paw Print Profile, pet parent insights, Behavior Snapshot when applicable, breed considerations, routines, and other relevant care information.

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Following the initial trial and assessment period, Fitz & Friendz completes a Comprehensive Care Assessment that brings these insights together into one personalized report.

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Your Comprehensive Care Assessment highlights your dog’s strengths, developmental opportunities, observed care needs, and individualized recommendations. It serves as a foundation for ongoing developmental goals and helps guide the care and support provided moving forward.

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The assessment is also designed to be a useful resource that may be shared with your veterinarian, trainer, groomer, pet sitter, or other trusted pet care professionals to help support continuity of care.

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Following the assessment period, Fitz & Friendz will review your pup’s progress and provide recommendations for continued Developmental Daycare, progression toward Standard Day Stay or Night Stay services when appropriate, individualized care priorities, and any applicable Tailored Care Support recommendations.

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Development is ongoing, so recommendations may continue to evolve as your dog grows, gains confidence, develops new skills, and demonstrates readiness for different levels of care.