Not ordinary daycare.
An educational daycare for social dogs.
Trainer-supervised play, brain games, and structured rest designed to balance your dog's physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Why our Daycare School is different
Our daily curriculum is designed and overseen by a professional dog trainer to balance physical exercise with mental stimulation.
Small groups
We strictly limit daily enrollment to a maximum of 15 regular dogs to ensure undivided attention, safe play habits, and personalized care for every student.
Peer bonding
Dogs maintain the same schedule each week, allowing them to form genuine canine bonds, feel secure, and avoid the stress of ever-changing group dynamics.
No crates
Our students are taught how to independently settle alongside their canine peers in a calm, comfortable environment—strengthening their self-regulation skills.
Outdoor spaces
Dogs have access to our fenced turfed yard throughout the day—including snow games, sunny naps, rolling, romping and outdoor decompression.
Training throughout the day
Learning doesn't stop because your dog is at daycare. We continue to reward your dog's good choices throughout the day.
Thoughtful socialization
Interactions are actively supported from the moment they arrive, so dogs can make healthy choices and rehearse appropriate social skills.
Enrichment
Every day includes structured brain games, body-awareness exercises, impulse control practice, obstacles, and quiet sniff spaces.
Rest matters
A good daycare day isn't just about exhausting a dog. Rest and emotional regulation are essential parts of the experience.
A relationship with their humans
At pickup, we enjoy connecting with guardians and sharing how their dog's day went.
What does a day at One Leg Up look like?
From morning arrival to afternoon activities, our students enjoy a balanced day of learning, play and rest.
Morning Arrival & Play
Dogs arrive through our front door after 8:00 a.m., with most arriving by 10:00 a.m.
Arrival is intentionally managed rather than rushed. Dogs have time to greet their friends appropriately, explore and settle into the day.
The morning is filled with supervised social play, outdoor time, games and enrichment.
Enrichment & Movement
We use toys as tools for building healthy interactions and carry food throughout the day to reinforce recalls, focus, settling and good choices.
Dogs move between indoor and outdoor spaces, explore playground equipment and have opportunities for different kinds of play and decompression.
Cage-Free Rest Period
Then comes an important part of the day: Rest.
Around noon, dogs settle into comfortable spaces throughout the school for a quiet nap with soothing white noise and music.
There are no crates used in our Daycare School program. New dogs learn by watching experienced friends discover that rest is part of their school day.
Afternoon Learning
Afternoons bring more social time and free play, along with focused one-on-one training for individual dogs.
We also set up obstacle courses and challenges, rotate pet-safe plants in the yard for different decompression experiences, and provide group learning opportunities.
A glimpse of a day at school
Program Eligibility & Acceptance
To maintain a safe, harmonious environment for all students, prospective daycare dogs must meet the following criteria:
Age
Must be 6 months of age or older (for puppies under 18 weeks, check out our Drop-off Puppy Socials!).
Social Habits
Pro-social with both humans and other dogs, including the ability to read canine body language and disengage from play independently.
Spay/Neuter Status
Must be spayed or neutered (some exceptions apply, please inquire).
Health & Veterinary Clearance
Your veterinarian must confirm your dog is healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations.
Suitability Assessment
Must pass an initial individual Suitability Assessment prior to enrollment.
Behavioural Suitability
Free of separation anxiety, resource guarding (toys, food, or space), excessive barking, or reactivity. Dog comfort is always our priority.
Daycare Hours & Pricing
There is no Daycare School on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.
Small Dog Wednesdays.
Wednesdays are specifically reserved for small dog playgroups.
Commitment Requirement:
We require a regular weekly commitment (minimum once per week on a fixed day). We are unable to accommodate occasional or drop-in visitors.
- Single Session Rate: $70 + HST per visit.
- Package Validity: Purchased packages must be used within 3 months of purchase.
- Payment: Payment is required in advance to hold recurring reservations.
Daycare is not right for every dog—and that's a good thing.
Our goal is to create groups where the dogs can genuinely thrive.
Dogs entering Daycare School need to be comfortable and appropriate for a social group environment. The intake process helps us determine whether the program is a good fit.
Dogs must meet the current program requirements and pass a suitability assessment before joining.
A quick, no-pressure questionnaire to check fit before you apply.
How to Apply for Daycare School
Because spaces are limited and the program operates with small, consistent groups, we don't offer casual drop-in daycare. The process to join is:
Review Policies
Read through our facility guidelines and force-free training philosophy.
Submit Application
Complete our online Daycare Application below.
Assessment Setup
Once an opening matches your preferred day, we will reach out to schedule an in-person Suitability Assessment for you and your dog.
Welcome to School
Get ready for a happy, enriched pup!