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 ensure a safe and appropriate fit. From there, each pet parent completes a Paw Print Profile to share insight into their dog’s behavior, temperament, and overall needs.

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Based on this information, dogs may be:

• Approved for standard daycare and boarding

• Recommended for Developmental Daycare support

• Approved with conditions requiring structured support

• Determined not to be a fit for the environment at this time

If Developmental Daycare is recommended, you will receive a personalized program plan with next steps for enrollment.

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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.

Daycare Readiness Assessment (Click to see if your dog's ready for daycare)

A structured day of observation that allows us to evaluate your dog's comfort level, behavior, communication style, regulation, and overall fit within our program while developing personalized recommendations for their care.

 

Households with Multiple Dogs

Every dog brings a unique personality, learning style, and support needs. In some multi-dog households, dogs may naturally influence one another's behavior, making it beneficial to observe each dog independently before evaluating them together as a household. When appropriate, this allows Fitz & Friendz to better understand each dog's individual temperament, regulation, and support needs, resulting in a more accurate Fit Determination and personalized care recommendations.

 

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?

Following the Assessment Stay, Fitz & Friendz completes a complimentary Comprehensive Care Assessment that brings together insights gathered throughout your dog's enrollment journey, including your Meet & Greet, Behavior Snapshot, Pet Parent Insights, Assessment Stay observations, breed considerations, and individualized recommendations into one personalized report.

 

This personalized assessment serves as the foundation for your dog's care plan and is designed to be a valuable resource that can be shared with your veterinarian, trainer, groomer, pet sitter, or other trusted pet care professionals to help support continuity of care.

 

Included as part of every Assessment Stay, the Comprehensive Care Assessment is independently valued at $50.

 

Whether or not you ultimately enroll, you'll leave with meaningful insights and professional recommendations that can continue supporting your dog's development at home and throughout their journey with other trusted pet care professionals.

 

Once your Comprehensive Care Assessment is complete, you'll receive your Fit Determination along with recommended services, tailored care recommendations, enrollment options, and any applicable Tailored Care Support recommendations. We'll then discuss the path forward that's best suited for your dog and your family's needs.​