Many dogs are explorers driven by innate curiosity. This could mean trouble for you if you do not keep a watchful eye on the sneaky pups at all times. To keep your guests from causing a raucous out of boredom or worse, crying because they miss their owner, make your Playtime service creative, especially for your regular customers. Not only will you be keep the dogs occupied, but you can challenge their senses of smell or tickle their tastebuds with a new treat. Don’t stick to the same old tricks--differentiate your business and stir up a new routine with these suggestions!

1. Yappy Hour

“Yappy Hour” is a play on the popular “Happy Hour”. You can create your own version of a doggie Happy Hour by treating the dogs to special snacks (especially Kongs, which we’ll talk about in a second) and coming up with fun, challenging activities! Pinterest.com is a great place to search for savory and sweet dog treat recipes and games that other pet businesses have tried. Put together a group activity or add Yappy Hour as an extra service for customers to purchase through your PawLoyalty online booking software as an add-on to their appointments. Who will be able to resist a service that’s reminiscent of everyone’s favorite time of day?

2. Frozen Kong

Fill a kong with peanut butter and stick it in the freezer for playtime. Multiple dogs can play with this one. There are several ways to make a fun kong so get creative! Fill it with different dog-safe treats so that it’s a surprise each time. There is a variety a of kongs based on age group, size of the dog, and shape based on activity. How about a tropical treat like a “Bahama Mama”? When you are ready to try this out at your facility,kongcompany.com is the go-to website for unique recipes! Beware of food allergies and don’t forget to add this snack to the feeding report in your dog daycare software.

3. Bubbles

What dog wouldn’t love to chase around bubbles? Go big or go home with the extra large bubble wands that you would easily be able to find at a dollar store. When you’re outdoors, bubbles will dissolve in the grass and you won’t have to clean up a sticky mess. Standard bubbles can sometimes upset dogs’ stomachs so it is best to buy formulated specifically for dogs such as Bubbletastic Bacon bubbles!! You do not want any of your dogs to ingest the liquid or get it into their eyes. This bubble machine was made specifically for dogs and it smells like bacon!

4. Scent Exploration

Make your own scents or buy toys that already come scented. Use the scents in a treasure hunt for the dogs. They may not all be bloodhounds, but dogs will love sniffing around and targeting the source of the aroma. Don’t confuse them with multiple scents at once, but rather, have two items that are of the same scent. Hide one and use the other to give the dog a whiff then let them off the leash to go find it!

5. Dog Massage

This one is especially beneficial for senior canines with arthritis and osteoporosis. Through your Pet Health Record on PawLoyalty dog daycare software, you can check if any of your dogs have a disability or need special care. Every dog likes to be patted and belly-rubbed, but a massage delicately pinpoints areas prone to joint pain. Here is a video on how to properly massage a dog’s back legs.

6. Noise Makers

Ever throw a birthday party for a dog? Maybe you have at home, so why not at your facility? Some places allow reservations for birthday parties, this is where noise makers would be most appropriate. But playtime can be a great time to bring out the noise! Like the bubble wands, you can find many noise-making knick knacks at the dollar store.

7. Ice Cubes

How easy is this one? If the weather is usually nice at your location, just freeze a tray of ice cubes and dogs will love it on a sunny day. Plus, ice cubes are hassle-free! No cleanup necessary when dogs take their snack outside. It will keep their mouths cool and keep their focus on the activity.

Throw Us a Bone!

What fun things do you do to keep your dogs occupied?