Sniffer Station has been a life saver with a new puppy at home. We do not have a fenced in yard, so…read moreour rescued husky/Malamute mix was limited to only leashed walks which was absolutely not enough to combat her energy. Her only playmates at home are my two elderly, small dogs who do not have the patience for her.
I found Sniffer Station after initially looking at some of the bigger companies in the area. While there are daycares closer to me, I was concerned by some of their policies and my dogs safety. One major benefit of Sniffer Station is that they do not allow collars to be worn during playtime (which I feel is a major safety risk and their jaws can get stuck on the collar). They also have staff inside the play yards as opposed to just watching a camera or standing outside. After an initial (free) evaluation she was cleared to start attending daycare.
Being a rescue my puppy has been shy and anxious around people, but thanks to puppy playtime at Sniffer Station and now weekly daycare sessions she LOVES other dogs. She is her most confident when she pulls up to daycare. Through her interactions with the staff I can slowly see her start to build her confidence with humans as well. She actually goes up to them now looking for affection. My puppy has learned the safe and proper way to interact with both other dogs and humans.
In addition, my husband and I have also learned so much about how to actually interact and train a puppy. When we rescued her I was adamant that she would go to both training and daycare so she could learn how to socialize (which I failed with my first 2 dogs). We started attending the free Puppy Playtime sessions on Saturdays as soon as she was old enough which was lead by Chris. He showed us how to introduce the puppies to one another and then the playtime began. Some behaviors I thought were a problem he assured us that it was just how puppies play and that they were ok. We learned a lot about dog body language during this time, which helped us at home with our other dogs as well.
After a few months we signed up for the lowest level training class that they offer, and Chris helped us learn basic commands that were both helpful and necessary. We learned come, sit, lay down, stay, and how to hold their attention. Most importantly we learned "leave it" and "drop it" which is crucial when your dog likes to put everything in their mouth and they don't know what's dangerous. Chris taught us both verbal commands and hand signals. At the end of each lesson we were given printed instructions on what to work on at home.
One thing that was not covered in our class that we were having trouble with at home was our puppy going crazy when we were getting her food ready for her. She would be barking nonstop and would not sit down and wait. We were able to add on short training lessons within her daycare sessions to address her specific issue. She was able to work one on one with Chris and get the help she (and we needed).
Most recently we have signed up for their agility class. Chris leads all the dogs (and parents) through a large outdoor yard course complete with sway bridges, tunnels, teeter totters, jumps, and more. Honestly I didn't think my dog would be able to do any of them but she has surprised me. Is she going to be an athlete? Absolutely not, but she is having fun in a safe environment.
Another benefit is their boarding services which I utilize every time I go out of town because I do not have family or friends that can babysit such a large dog. The scheduling and drop off process for boarding is simple, and I am happy that I can always add a kennel bath before pickup.
Finally, what I really love about Sniffer as a dog parent is all of the activities that they offer throughout the year. Food Fridays, beauty pageant photo shoots, Mother's Day crafts, etc. I don't have human children so I am always willing to pay for a printed photo of my dog child!
The staff really goes above and beyond not just ensuring safety but also offering enrichment and a personal connection. When we walk in the door my dog is immediately greeted by name, and she immediately goes to the door to get the fun times started. I trust her reaction more than anything, and again the only thing she displays when we pull up is confidence and excitement. My favorite part is when she paws at the outside door if I am not opening it fast enough for her to get in. Heather at the front desk as well as Alex and Ashley in the yard are always so sweet and helpful, but everyone we have encountered has been great.
When I bring my now 1.5 year old dog home she is immediately passed out for the night and sometimes through the next day. That alone would keep me coming back, but it's the training, the dedication, the fun, and the safety that Sniffer Station offers that makes them our go-to daycare and boarding facility.
