Play School
PLAY SCHOOL
PLAY SCHOOL
Don't Just Go to Daycare. Go to School.
*For Dogs 1 Year of Age and Older
Some dogs need more than a day of play.
They need somewhere they can exercise their body, engage their brain, practice better behavior, continue developing social skills, and learn how to navigate the real world.
That's Play School.
Play School combines the things dogs love about Paws At Play with purposeful professional training.
PLAY. TRAIN. LEARN. REST. REPEAT.
And because every dog is different, Play School doesn't begin with a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
It begins by getting to know you and your dog.
STEP 1: TRAINER MEET & GREET
Tell Us About Your Dog.
All Play School dogs are required to complete a Meet & Greet with one of our trainers before beginning the program.
This gives us an opportunity to meet your dog, learn about their history and current behavior, and hear directly from you about what you'd like to accomplish.
We'll discuss things such as:
Behaviors you'd like help with
Your dog's previous training
Current skills
Household manners
Leash and walking concerns
Recall
Social behavior
Confidence
Environmental concerns
Your daily lifestyle
Your priorities
Your long-term training goals
Maybe your dog jumps on guests.
Maybe walks have become a workout.
Maybe recall disappears the second something exciting happens.
Maybe your dog needs confidence.
Or maybe you simply want better everyday manners.
Those goals become part of the plan.
The Meet & Greet also allows our trainer to determine whether Play School is the appropriate program for your dog.
STEP 2: 5-DAY PLAY SCHOOL INDUCTION
Now It's Our Turn to Get to Know Them.
Following the Trainer Meet & Greet, your dog begins a 5-Day Play School Induction.
Throughout the induction week, our training team evaluates areas including:
Social behavior
Play style
Confidence
Handler engagement
Basic obedience
Leash manners
Recall
Impulse control
Environmental responses
Ability to settle
Learning style
Individual training needs
We combine what you told us during the Meet & Greet with what we observe during induction to establish your dog's individualized training priorities.
STEP 3: 4 WEEKS OF PLAY + TRAINING
Daycare With a Purpose.
Following a successful induction, dogs continue into four weeks of purposeful Play School.
Rather than spending the entire day in open play, dogs rotate through appropriate experiences that may include:
STRUCTURED SOCIALIZATION
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING
ENRICHMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
REAL-WORLD SKILL BUILDING
APPROPRIATE REST
Our core Play School curriculum incorporates the skills associated with the AKC Canine Good Citizen® Programwhile also allowing our trainers to work toward the individual goals identified for your dog.
Training may include:
Sit and down
Stay
Place and settling
Loose-leash walking
Recall
Leave it
Release
Polite greetings
Handler engagement
Impulse control
Appropriate behavior around other dogs
Handling and grooming
Environmental confidence
Appropriate responses to distractions
Calm behavior
Individual owner-requested goals
PLAY SCHOOL GRADUATION
Five Weeks. A More Purposeful Dog.
At the end of the program, owners receive an update on their dog's progress, including:
Skills Achieved • Skills Still Developing • Individual Goal Progress • CGC Readiness • Recommended Next Steps
Dogs who demonstrate readiness may also have the opportunity to complete the official AKC Canine Good Citizen® test with our AKC Approved CGC Evaluator.
THE PLAY SCHOOL JOURNEY
Trainer Meet & Greet
↓
5-Day Induction
↓
4 Weeks of Play + Training
↓
Progress Review + CGC Readiness
OUR TRAINING PROMISE
Positive Methods. Practical Skills. Better Communication.
Every dog who walks through our doors is an individual.
Training isn't about forcing every dog through the exact same process.
It's about understanding the dog in front of us, finding what motivates them, teaching them how to succeed, and progressively building skills they can use in everyday life.
POSITIVE, REWARD-BASED TRAINING
We reinforce the behaviors we want and teach dogs how to make better choices.
NO E-COLLARS OR PRONG COLLARS
Our training philosophy does not rely on these tools.
INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING
Every dog learns differently. Our trainers adjust the process to the dog in front of them.
REAL-WORLD SKILLS
Training should work outside the classroom — at home, on walks, around distractions, and throughout everyday life.
PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE
Our trainers don't just train dogs. We help owners understand how to continue the process.
AKC MILESTONES
With an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator on our training team, eligible dogs can work toward nationally recognized AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and AKC Canine Good Citizen® achievements.
A CLEAR NEXT STEP
Training doesn't end at graduation.
We'll help you decide where to go next.
