Daycare can be a fun way to let your dog spend the day, but it can also be rewarding for you too! When your dog is with us for daycare, he will not only get much needed exercise, we also work to reinforce basic manners and most importantly basic respect. We definitely do things a little differently when it comes to how we handle the dogs. We work to reinforce your dog's manners while with us, like walking politely on leash, and not jumping so that you get a dog that is just as good, if not better than when you dropped him off.

One of the most important things that sets our daycare program apart from others is how we run our play groups.

• Your dog will not "be out all day".
  We have learned in our 15+ years of offering group play programs like this that dogs out all day not only become less tired and more energized, but they also form a pack of dogs rather than a social group (a pack is fine, until you introduce a new dog...).
• We separate our play sessions throughout the day letting your dog follow his natural tendency for activity then rest and then activity then rest, etc.
• We separate our playgroups not just by size and how they play, but we work to create groups that the dogs play BEST in. Matching them with dogs they both know and like as well as different dogs that play similarly.

Being able to tailor groups to individual dogs is a major benefit to doing play like we do.

This means that you can expect a nicely tired dog when he comes home!

And as a side note, we like everyone to be aware that they may come home a bit thirsty, because even though they have constant access to water throughout the day, they may forget to drink since they are so busy having fun!

Prices

Please contact us if you have any questions about any of our programs!

Requirements

1. Creative Dog Training requires that all clients have proof of current vaccines before leaving their dog with us.

Vaccine Requirements: (must be done within 1 year)
Rabies
DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo & Para influenza)
Bordatella (aka Kennel Cough or Tracheo Bronchitis)* (Cahaba Heights Requires the Bordatella vaccine every 6 months)

*Kennel cough is a highly contagious airborne infection similar to the common cold that kids can pick up while at human daycare. No vaccine is 100% effective as new strains of Kennel Cough continually develop and some dogs can be more susceptible to the infection than others. Creative Dog Training takes all possible precautions to eliminate the possible spread of this infection in our facilities. We strictly monitor and maintain proper ventilation at all times and follow a rigorous cleaning schedule. In addition to requiring a current Bordatella vaccination we highly recommend that owners get this vaccination two weeks prior to their first boarding or daycare visit. The vaccine can take up to two weeks to become fully effective. There is also some current debate about how long the various vaccines will protect your dog. Ask your veterinarian for more information and make sure they know when your dog will be staying with us.

2. Creative Dog Training DOES NOT require a Temperament Test or Evaluation before leaving your dog. However our primary responsibility is to the safety and happiness of our loyal clients and dogs who use our services.
Because of this, if your dog shows unsafe behaviors towards dogs or humans you will be asked to immediately take your dog home.

3. Creative Dog Training expects all dogs to be on a form of flea preventative (frontline, advantage, etc). If your dog is found to have external parasites (fleas, ticks, etc.) we will bathe your dog to remove parasites at your expense.

4. Because of the group bathroom walks we use in Homewood, we require "in season" dogs to stay at our Cahaba Heights facility so they can be walked individually.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements, please contact us.

Questions

- Should I make reservations for Daycare?

Well, that depends on the time of year. Around Holidays we tend to be very busy and usually require reservations on the days right before and after. Besides those times we do not ask for reservations.

- Why don't the dogs play all day? I've seen other places say they're out "all day".

The biggest reason we don't do All Day Play is the Safety and Sanity of your dog. When a group of dogs are together for more than an hour or so, they will start to pick rank and work on forming a pack. This picking rank can cause scuffles between dogs that normally are very social. And once the pack has been formed, if you introduce a new dog, that dog will have to be "worked into" the pack. Meaning he will be picked on by everyone trying to figure out where he fits into the group.
For the sanity side, by rotating the play groups in and out throughout the day, it gives your dog natural down time that they normally take. I know very few dogs that can really go all day long. And the ones that can, it is very unhealthy for them.

- Does my dog go out with the same dogs every time?

The short answer is No. But, that does not mean your dog will not go out with some dogs he knows each time. By varying the dogs in each group a little it teaches your dog to adapt better to his environment, making it better for you when he goes to new places or new people come over to the house.
In other words, he goes out to play group and sees a few of the same dogs, but then looks around and sees a few he doesn't know and then has to quickly learn to interact with them as well as his friends he does know.

 

If you have any questions about this program, please contact us, or post us a question in our General Discussion section of our message board on our community page.

Our alternative to traditional boarding options allows each dog in our care to get out for supervised play sessions with other dogs.
This creates a unique atmosphere at our facilities inspiring the dogs to be more relaxed and happy than in traditional facilities.

Each dog that is with us is set up with his own (or with his fellow family members) spacious place to stay at night. At each of our facilities the dogs have multiple choices on the size of space they will be happy staying in. All of our boarding is fully indoors with Heat and Air Conditioning. Our runs also offer a unique ability to be split in half so that a dog that needs a friend can be next to and see someone they like without being in the same space together. This is great for siblings that don't always get along, and for dogs who have recently lost a companion.
One of the most important things that sets our daycare program apart from others is how we run our play groups.

• Your dog will not "be out all day".
  We have learned in our 15+ years of offering group play programs like this that dogs out all day not only become less tired and more energized, but they also form a pack of dogs rather than a social group (a pack is fine, until you introduce a new dog...).
• We separate our play sessions throughout the day letting your dog follow his natural tendency for activity then rest and then activity then rest, etc.
• We separate our playgroups not just by size and how they play, but we work to create groups that the dogs play BEST in. Matching them with dogs they both know and like as well as different dogs that play similarly.

Being able to tailor groups to individual dogs is a major benefit to doing play like we do.

Your dog's day with us will consist of feeding on your schedule (morning, evening, twice a day, etc.), an early morning bathroom break, his group play sessions throughout the day, and then a late afternoon bathroom break.

And as a side note, we like everyone to be aware that they may come home a bit thirsty, because even though they have constant access to water throughout the day, they may forget to drink since they are so busy having fun!

Prices

*Cahaba Heights Boarding Prices include on-leash, one on one bathroom walks with trained animal clinic staff.

What to Bring

Items from home can make a boarding stay with us even more enjoyable. So take a look at the list of common items people bring:

• Food: Keeping your dog on his own food can prevent any strain from an immediate dietary change. We will feed your dog based on any instructions given and can handle almost any dietary need (if you have a unique situation, please contact us to make sure it can be handled). It is helpful for us during feeding, as well as to keep things consistent for your dog, if you could pre-measure your dog's food into individual ziplock bags. Just remember that your dog will be receiving more activity than usual so it may be good to throw in a little extra. If you cannot bring your dog's food then we have a premium quality house food we feed. Also it is always good to check with your facility of choice to see what the house brand of food we feed is so that if you feed the same thing, you don't have to bring it!
• Bedding: Having some type of bedding from home can always be comforting for your dog. We simply ask that any bedding you bring be machine washable and small enough to fit in our washer and dryer (just in case). However if your dog tears up or ingests bedding it may be a good idea to skip the bedding. Also, sometimes dogs like to have fun with their beds while staying with us even though they don't do it at home. So, it's always good to be aware of that fact.
• Toys: Nothing is better than a toy or 2 from home! We just request you not bring human items (socks, shoes, etc) or rawhide. Both of these items can be extemely hazardous if ingested and we cannot give them to dogs staying with us (sorry, just a safety precaution).
• Treats: If you would like to bring a few treats for us to give your pet during his stay, we are more than happy to. Just let us know!
• Medication: We can administer almost any medication on an as needed basis. If your dog requires an injection, we can accomodate that at our Cahaba Heights location, however we cannot give injections at our Homewood facility.

Please note we try to limit items from home to 3. This gives us a higher likelyhood of returning them safely!

But, please be aware that we make every effort possible to return all items from home safely, but with all the activity throughout the day, sometimes that gremlin that steals socks from the dryer will sneak out and borrow something from someone.

Requirements

1. Creative Dog Training requires that all clients have proof of current vaccines before leaving their dog with us.

Vaccine Requirements: (must be done within 1 year)
Rabies
DHLPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo & Para influenza)
Bordatella (aka Kennel Cough or Tracheo Bronchitis)* (Cahaba Heights Requires the Bordatella vaccine every 6 months)

*Kennel cough is a highly contagious airborne infection similar to the common cold that kids can pick up while at human daycare. No vaccine is 100% effective as new strains of Kennel Cough continually develop and some dogs can be more susceptible to the infection than others. Creative Dog Training takes all possible precautions to eliminate the possible spread of this infection in our facilities. We strictly monitor and maintain proper ventilation at all times and follow a rigorous cleaning schedule. In addition to requiring a current Bordatella vaccination we highly recommend that owners get this vaccination two weeks prior to their first boarding or daycare visit. The vaccine can take up to two weeks to become fully effective. There is also some current debate about how long the various vaccines will protect your dog. Ask your veterinarian for more information and make sure they know when your dog will be staying with us.


2. Creative Dog Training DOES NOT require a Temperament Test or Evaluation before leaving your dog. However our primary responsibility is to the safety and happiness of our loyal clients and dogs who use our services.
Because of this, if your dog shows unsafe behaviors towards dogs or humans you will be asked to immediately take your dog home.


3. Creative Dog Training expects all dogs to be on a form of flea preventative (frontline, advantage, etc). If your dog is found to have external parasites (fleas, ticks, etc.) we will bathe your dog to remove parasites at your expense.


4. Because of the group bathroom walks we use in Homewood, we require "in season" dogs to stay at our Cahaba Heights facility so they can be walked individually.

FAQs

- Should I make reservations for Daycare?

Well, that depends on the time of year. Around Holidays we tend to be very busy and usually require reservations on the days right before and after. Besides those times we do not ask for reservations.

- Why don't the dogs play all day? I've seen other places say they're out "all day".

The biggest reason we don't do All Day Play is the Safety and Sanity of your dog. When a group of dogs are together for more than an hour or so, they will start to pick rank and work on forming a pack. This picking rank can cause scuffles between dogs that normally are very social. And once the pack has been formed, if you introduce a new dog, that dog will have to be "worked into" the pack. Meaning he will be picked on by everyone trying to figure out where he fits into the group.
For the sanity side, by rotating the play groups in and out throughout the day, it gives your dog natural down time that they normally take. I know very few dogs that can really go all day long. And the ones that can, it is very unhealthy for them.

- Does my dog go out with the same dogs every time?

The short answer is No. But, that does not mean your dog will not go out with some dogs he knows each time. By varying the dogs in each group a little it teaches your dog to adapt better to his environment, making it better for you when he goes to new places or new people come over to the house.
In other words, he goes out to play group and sees a few of the same dogs, but then looks around and sees a few he doesn't know and then has to quickly learn to interact with them as well as his friends he does know.

 

If you have any questions about this program, please contact us, or post us a question in our General Discussion section of our message board on our community page.

Compare Training Programs

Dog training isn't hard, if you find the right program. And after 30+ years developing our unique approach to training dogs, we have a program to make sure you reach the whatever goal you want to achieve with your dog!

And as always, please call or email us with any questions!

Intensive Training

Programs tailored to your needs, to reach all of your goals.

Our Intensive Training Programs are designed with one thing in mind:
How can we make training as easy as possible for people who don't have as much time as they would like or need to spend?

Our mission and goals for Intensive Training:

Proven and simple methods for transferring training to you Custom tailored to your needs

Easy and Reliable follow-up training system A commitment to giving you exactly what you want

Prices

Training Classes

Our training classes are designed around a basic philosophy:

A clear focus on Easy and Practical training techniques that do not require any extra time with your dog, just restructuring the time you already spend.
We promise, you will learn at least one (Very effective) training skill that you can teach while relaxing on the couch!!

Under 12 Weeks	Puppy Jump Start Program Description: The Puppy Jump Start is a Private Lesson with your family and your new puppy. This Lesson is designed to get you started on the right path with training. We give you easy and practical tools to get started with: Housetraining Leash Walking Fun games for kids to play Puppy Biting Socialization and future training options   Program Details: 1 30 minute Private Lesson Can be done at Homewood or Cahaba Heights location Cost: 1 Puppy - $35 2 Puppies - $50
12 Weeks - 6 Months	Puppy Kindergarten This program is all about answering your questions concerning the most important behavioral issues. Each of our 4 Puppy Group Classes is designed to help with the most common issues that we encounter when training a new puppy! The Puppy Training topics covered are: Housetraining Puppy biting Chewing (and Other Destructive Behaviors) Effective Discipline, Handling (including grooming, nail trims, bathing, vet visits, etc) And of course the most important; Socialization! Class Details: 4 Week Course Meets once a week Each group class is 45 Minutes Cost: $145 (with pre-payment discount)
Over 6 Months	Our Current Core Classes: Basic Respect 101 This class is designed to lay a solid foundation for building the Respect necessary to have the dog you have always wanted. And as a Creative Dog Training exclusive, the class includes 1 Day of Intensive Daycare before the Group Classes start so that we can get to know you and your dog! Class Details: 1 Day of Intensive Daycare, 4 Weekly Group Classes, 45 Minute Classes Cost: $225 Mastering the Basics This class builds on the foundation of Respect you have built and uses that to strengthen the skills needed for a lifetime with your dog. Class Details: 4 Week Class, 30 Minute Classes Cost: $145 Our Current Contuinung Education Classes: Trust Course This class is designed to intentionally put you, and your dog in "umcomfortable" and out of the ordinary situationsin order to boost the level of trust in the working relationship between you and your dog. Class Details: 4 Week Class, 30 Minute Classes Cost: $145   Classes Coming Soon: 'The Results Class', 'Dogercise', 'CGC Certification Course', 'Distraction Training'
Private Lessons	Private Lessons Private Lesson can be used for Puppy Kindergarten Class or Basic Obedience Class as well as to create a custom program to reach a unique goal like a CGC test or Therapy Dog Certification. Since it's a Private Lesson and there are no other dogs or owners present, we can tailor the lessons to your pace and your schedule. Program Details: Each Private Lesson is 45 minutes Lessons can be done at Homewood or Cahaba Heights location Cost: 1 Lesson 1 Dog - $85.00 2 Dogs - $125.00 4 Lessons 1 Dog - $300.00 2 Dogs - $425.00