Waukee Dog Daycare

As a devoted pet parent, we understand your desire to give your furry friend the best and longest life possible. However, discovering ways to enhance your dog’s wellbeing and activity levels can be a challenge. At Dogtopia of Waukee, we can help.

Our team of highly trained professionals are not only dog lovers, but they are passionate about your dog’s health, happiness, and wellness and have the necessary skills to offer activities, exercises, and support to help guide your pup into a lifestyle that will keep them active and engaged.

Dogs are social animals and need interaction to thrive. Unfortunately, we cannot be with them all the time, so dog daycare is the next best option. At Dogtopia of Waukee, we provide a safe and supervised experience where your dog can interact with people and other pups safely, get rest breaks when needed, and meet their BFFFs (Best Furry Friends Forever).

This is not a dog park where your dog is running around loose and unsupervised with other dogs of various temperaments. At Dogtopia, your furry family member remains under the care of our trained Canine Coaches, who monitor their activities throughout their entire visit to ensure they have the Most Exciting Day Ever.

how does daycare work at Dogtopia of Waukee?

Pet parents can choose between two options: Pay Per Play for half or full day visits or one of our wellness plans that offer consistent daycare visits during the week that fit with your schedule. Creating a daycare schedule that your pup can look forward to taps into their love of routines and creates predictability, which offers security and lowers anxiety—it’s something your dog would ask for if they could!

When your pup arrives for daycare at Dogtopia of Waukee, our team will greet you in our lobby and then take your pup inside one of our three playrooms. As a brand new 5,200 square feet facility, our playrooms are spacious enough for your pup to explore off leash, but highly secure and monitored so you can rest assured that your pup is safe with us.

Which playroom will your dog enter? That’s up to their size, temperament, and play style!

• A small breed or puppy will thrive in our Toy Box playroom, where they won’t be towered over by bigger dogs.
• A larger breed will perform best in our Gym playroom, which offers the space for them to be around others that match their energy and eye level.
• Somewhere in between (aka medium-sized) will enjoy our Romper playroom, equipped to keep moods high and tails wagging.

Separate doggy playrooms make our pups feel confident to be their best selves, allowing them to participate in the activities we have planned during the day without feeling overwhelmed by other dogs that don’t match their playtime vibe.

Each playroom is climate-controlled, so no matter the weather outside, it’s a comfortable playtime temperature indoors. However, when the forecast looks favorable, our daycare dogs enjoy some time in our 750-square-foot outdoor play area, where we continue to maintain play group separation so that your pup will stick with their familiar daycare pack.

WHAT YOUR DOG CAN EXPECT AT DAYCARE

Wellness, safety, and fun are some top priorities at Dogtopia of Waukee, so our team plans different activities throughout the day that will keep our daycare dogs active and engaged. As they enjoy 8-10 hours of supervised play with breaks in between, our pups average up to 60,000 steps daily thanks to the agility-focused exercises and fun activities they partake in. This exceeds the 8,000 steps dogs at home average.

Keeping active during the day help enhance their overall wellbeing, as it boosts their cardio level, strengthens their muscles, and releases “feel-good” endorphins that bring smiles to their faces.

Proper socialization is another aspect of daycare your dog can benefit from, but what does that entail? At our facility, your pup will interact with their furry friends, which taps into their natural pack instinct. Since our playrooms offer a structured environment with supervision rather than an unsupervised, disorganized space (which you might expect at a dog park or another dog daycare), your furry family member has the chance to form special bonds with one another in our care.

Our expertly trained team members interact with each pup and help them “break the ice” with others in their friend group, giving praise for polite interactions and redirecting impolite behaviors. As your dog’s comfort levels rise in our space, so will their confidence.

To add more educational opportunities to your pup’s day, we use several brain games that help strengthen their problem-solving skills and boost their learning comprehension. Whether it be a puzzle with a tasty treat reward or a fun game of “follow the leader,” our daycare dogs get to flex their mental muscles.

We also host occasional themed days each month that are always tail-wagging fun. They include:

• Dog photoshoots with themed backgrounds and props that produce the most adorable photos you’ll want to share everywhere.
• Parties with bacon- or peanut butter-flavored bubbles that our pups love to chase and chomp around the playroom.
• Arts and crafts where pups can create paw-painted masterpieces that showcase their creative talents.

THE DAYCARE SCHEDULE

Here is a quick run-down of what your dog’s schedule can look like at Dogtopia of Waukee.

When we open: Our early doggie risers arrive at daycare and enter their playroom to socialize with their furry friends while our team begins supervising and organizing their activities and games, helping pups expend energy built-up from the night before.

Noon: It’s time to break for lunch and enjoy a nap to recharge those playtime batteries. Our dogs will stay in one of our home-style crates in the same playroom they just played in to increase familiarity and enjoy some “me time” before returning to the playing, learning, socializing, and exercising that lies ahead. Does your dog need certain medication? Our team will administer it during this time or as directed by the pet parent. We also offer food for sale if you forget to bring your own.

2 p.m.: Rest time is over, and our pups are back to the playtime fun. Unlike other dog daycares that keep pups in their crates for most of the day, Dogtopia of Waukee’s open-play environment allows pups to roam and enjoy their secure playroom while under the watchful eye of our team.

Pick-up time: As our playrooms begin to empty, pups head back home, ready to drift off to dreamland. It’s a phenomenon we call the Dogtopia Daze that occurs after a fun, full day of play.

EXPERTLY DESIGNED DOG PLAYROOMS IN WAUKEE, IA

Because we are an indoor doggy facility, we paid extra close attention when we designed the playrooms. Dogtopia strayed away from the daycare pack and chose a playroom design that prioritizes your pup’s health and wellbeing.

Starting from the ground up, our playrooms use a flooring material made from compressed rubber that is easy to clean and non-absorbent. It is also extremely comfy on your pup’s paw pads, unlike the cement or gravel our competitors often use, and it supports their hip and joint health.

We have full-length soundproof walls to separate each playroom instead of wire fencing or plastic dividers, as you might see elsewhere. This keeps our playrooms isolated from one another, allowing pups to focus on the fun they’re having with their friend group rather than neighboring guests.

Our double-barrier doors add an extra layer of security to our playrooms, as there’s always a secure space between the playroom and our main hall. We can control all entries and exits this way, and it allows pet parents to rest assured that their pup will remain safe and secure.

In our efforts to maintain a hygienic environment, we’ve equipped HVAC systems in each playroom that bring in fresh outside air through an advanced filter, so your pup breathes in clean, filtered air that circulates throughout our facility. This allows dogs to feel like they are outside despite being indoors.

safety and cleanliness at Dogtopia of Waukee

Expert Canine Coaches: When your furry friend spends their day at our daycare, they receive quality care and attention from our team of highly trained Canine Coaches. Thanks to their specialized training, which includes an extensive four-part program, approved for continuing education credits by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, our Coaches have updated tools and knowledge to interact with large groups of dogs, regardless of breed.

Our Coaches get to know your pup’s personality and play style and will interact with them throughout the day to ensure all daycare dogs receive the exercise, socialization, and learning necessary to become even greater canine citizens. Skilled in understanding dog body language, our Coaches can tell when pups need some extra assistance breaking the ice with their furry pals and will respond quickly and with care to curb any unwanted playroom behavior.

Our team provides periodic report cards to pet parents that outline their dog’s behavior at daycare, the friends they met, and additional insights that many pet parents appreciate!

Playroom Sanitization: It is extremely important to us that our playrooms are kept clean during your pup’s stay, which is why we perform a twice-daily deep clean and sanitize all playroom surfaces using pet-safe, chemical-free cleaning products. Dogtopia of Waukee follows the expert guidelines established by Dogtopia’s Veterinary Scientist and Environmental Biologist to ensure we’re maintaining the high-quality care dogs deserve.

Dogtopia’s Commitments to Safety: Dogtopia of Waukee is proud to operate under the same Dogtopia dogma that all other locations in North America follow. Our main goal is to provide a secure and enjoyable environment for all the pups that come through our doors.

Dogtopia is committed to:

• 8-10 hours of off-leash, open play to encourage socialization, learning, and exercise.
• A universal vow to treat your dogs like a member of the family.
• Effective in-store cleaning products created specifically with your dog’s safety in mind.
• A passion for providing the best possible service to pet parents and their pups.
• Supporting a charitable cause through the Dogtopia Foundation that enables dogs to give back to humanity.

LIVE HD DOG PLAYROOM WEBCAMS

As a pet parent, you will have access to our unique iDog Camera system that allows you to watch your furry family member on the Dogtopia app or website during play hours. The cameras are equipped in all the playrooms as well as the outside play area. The only time we turn off our livestream is from 12-2 p.m. when pups are eating and napping.

Say goodbye to other online dog videos—our livestream footage will be the only video you’ll want to tune into!

ADD A TRIP TO OUR DOG SPA IN IOWA

Our state-of-the-art spa offers a modern yet comfortable environment for your pup to stay on top of their hygiene routine. From relaxing baths to nail trims to teeth brushing and more, our spa team has your pup covered!

Add a couple of spa treatments to your dog’s day at daycare so by the time you pick them up, they’ll be looking, feeling, and smelling like a million bones!

DOG DAYCARE REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

Dogtopia has established a set of “must-have” requirements to maintain a safe space for all pups. They include:

• All dogs must be at least 12 weeks old and older.
• Pups seven months or older must be spayed or neutered.
• Vaccination records must be up to date and include the common doggie vaccines like Rabies, Bordetella, and DHLPP/DHPP (also known as “distemper/parvo”). Our team will inform you on whether the Canine Influenza vaccine is a requirement before your visit.
• Must be in good health and free of ticks, fleas, or any other communicable conditions for the past 30 days.
• Must show no signs of aggression and are not food- or toy-protective.

DOGTOPIA’S MEET & GREET

Before your dog’s first day of daycare, they must pass Dogtopia’s Meet & Greet assessment. This is a chance for us to meet you and your pup and see if Dogtopia of Waukee is the right fit.

First, our team will review your dog’s health history and perform a nose-to-tail assessment to see how your dog reacts to staff interaction and if they have any sensitivities. Next, we’ll recreate a mini play space with like-minded daycare dogs to see how your pup responds to socializing with others and their comfort in our daycare environment. We will also try out our home-style crate, where your pup will nap mid-day at daycare to see how they respond, as we always want every pup to feel comfortable in our care.

From there, we will sum up our observations and report back to you whether your pup has the green light to attend daycare. We understand that it can be tough to adjust to new environments with other dogs. If your furry friend is feeling a bit overwhelmed, we recommend that you wait until they feel more comfortable before returning to daycare to try another Meet & Greet.

Click here for our convenient online Meet & Greet booking service.

FIND US AT 1500 NW GETTYSBURG LANE, STE 150, WAUKEE, IOWA

Ready to get your dog’s daycare journey with us started? Owners Jon and Shelly Renaud and our entire team at Dogtopia of Waukee cannot wait to meet you and your canine companion.

You can find us just north of Hickman Rd./Highway 6 past 10^th Street in Waukee, where we proudly serve pet parents from Clive, Waukee, West Des Moines, Grimes, Urbandale, Johnston, and more.

On your way to our facility, you’ll see the new Northwest High School on Waukee, along with the Raccoon River Valley Bike and Walking trail. We are also mere minutes away from the Waukee medical facilities and the new MercyOne Medical Facility.

Looking to run some errands while your pup is at daycare? We’re a quick drive to Fareway grocery store and other nearby retailers. We’re also close to the Waukee Historic Downtown Triangle and Waukee Community Center, making daycare drop-offs a breeze thanks to our on-site parking.

We are proud members of the Waukee Chamber of Commerce and in partnership with local businesses such as Zoom Room Dog Training, and we cannot wait to expand our reach within this incredible community.

CONTACT US TODAY

Our team is ready to help you book your first day at Dogtopia of Waukee. Call us at 515-220-8181 or use our online inquiry form if you have questions about any of our services.