FAQ

What makes Sit! Stay! Play! different than other dog daycares?

Sit! Stay! Play! is the most experienced and best-staffed dog daycare in Tucson. We offer a convenient mid-town location close to Downtown, the University, major hospitals, Davis-Monthan, and major highways. Our hours, 6:00am – 8:30pm every day of the year, and flexibility cannot be beat. We listen to our customers and do our best to exceed expectations. Our goal is for you and your dog to have a great experience each and every time.

I’m having trouble viewing the web cameras. What do I do?

Our web camera is hosted by Online Doggy. Your questions might be answered on their tech support page. If not, please contact them by phone or email.

How many dogs do you allow at your daycare?

The number of dogs depends on the size mix of dogs on an individual day. Typically, Sit! Stay! Play! hosts 40-50 dogs per day in 6,500 square feet of indoor space and 1,000 square feet of outdoor space. We staff at a ratio of one counselor per 12-15 dogs. Reservations are required so we can ensure appropriate staffing for our guests.

Do you separate small and large dogs at daycare?

Yes, we separate dogs by size and play style. During naptime, when the larger dogs are napping, our smaller friends have the run of the large play area and outdoor space. We sometimes allow a very limited number of larger dogs who do not nap to interact with the small dogs during this time. This gives the small dogs an opportunity to interact with larger dogs, but in a controlled environment.

Do the dogs really take naps? I want my dog to be tired at the end of the day.

At home, most dogs spend a great deal of the day sleeping. Daycare provides dogs with social interaction all day long. And while daycare is fun, it can also be tiring. Our goal is to send home a tired, happy dog — not one who is exhausted and grumpy. Naps give the dogs time to settle themselves emotionally and physically. Naptimes at Sit! Stay! Play! are scheduled from noon until 2 PM. Our facility is closed during this time. Crate-trained dogs are taken to the nap rooms one at a time, placed in a crate, and given a biscuit. For the others, beds are placed on the floor and the dogs are given their treats and brought into the nap room. The same soothing music is played each day, encouraging the dogs to lie down and rest. The dogs leave naptime refreshed and ready to play again in the afternoon. At the end of the day, your dog will be tired, happy, and ready for a relaxing evening.

Do dogs have access to water all day?

You may find that your dog is more thirsty than normal after attending daycare. The dogs are playing most of the day and even with encouragement from staff often do not drink enough water. However, large stainless steel buckets and bowls of water are available to the dogs all day. The bowls and buckets are continually washed and refreshed.

Should I bring food for my dog?

Many dogs are too excited to eat while at daycare, but we will try our best to feed them if you bring their food in a clearly marked container with instructions. We provide naptime cookies, but are happy to feed your dog treats you bring from home.

What happens if I have an emergency and am unable to pick up my dog before closing time?

We are open from 6:00am until 8:30pm every day of the year. Extended hours are offered for an additional fee by reservation. If you do not make extended hour reservations and your dog is not picked up by the time we are ready to close for the evening, your dog will be fed and made comfortable in a kennel for the evening. Overnight fees will be applied.

What are the risks for my dog at daycare?

The risks for a dog coming to daycare are similar to those of children in school. Canine Cough, or canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in dogs. Most cases of Canine Cough are not serious and resolve in 7-21 days, often without medication. Different agents can cause Canine Cough, including bordetella broncheseptica, the parainfluenza virus, and mycoplasma — therefore, even a vaccinated dog can acquire the disease. Coughing dogs are not permitted to attend daycare. Whole Dog Journal recently published an article on canine cough. Puppy warts (canine papilloma virus) are most often a problem in dogs younger than 2 years old, but can occur in dogs of any age. We cannot quarantine against puppy warts because the virus is contagious several weeks before the ‘warts’ are visible. Typically, the growths disappear in about six weeks. The condition is generally benign, and once a dog has had the virus, he rarely gets it again. If a dog is already attending daycare and acquires the virus, the dog may continue to attend daycare. Even fun can be stressful. Sometimes dogs may experience diarrhea after their first time or two at daycare. Although the dogs are carefully monitored, normal play can result in scratches, nicks, and scrapes.

My dog is shy and hasn’t interacted very much with other dogs. Is dog daycare right for her?

Maybe. Dog daycare is an environment for social dogs, but some shy or timid dogs may benefit from daycare if they are introduced to groups of non-intimidating dogs carefully. We have seen many wallflowers blossom at daycare. The interview process helps us determine if our daycare is the right environment for your pooch.

My dog is older, but I would like him to have the opportunity to play. Can Sit! Stay! Play! accommodate older, less active dogs?

Older dogs and even geriatric dogs may get bored when left home alone every day and can benefit from the stimulation of a social environment. Some of our older guests aren’t interested in rowdy play, but love watching the action and often engage in more quiet one-on-one play. Geriatric dogs may need an extra nap or two during the day. Kurunda dog beds are located throughout the play areas for the use of our daycare dogs, and the nap rooms are always open!

What happens when daycare dogs don’t get along with one another?

At Sit! Stay! Play! your dog’s safety is our top priority. Because we require an evaluation of each dog prior to attending daycare and because Sit! Stay! Play! is a carefully managed environment, fighting is a rare occurrence. Dogs who aren’t getting along are separated into different playgroups. A misbehaving dog is first redirected to other activities. If the dog is still in naughty mode, he is asked to sit and stay for a few seconds. Often, this is enough to allow the dog to refocus, but if the dog remains aroused, he is given a three-minute time out. Sometimes, despite our best efforts an individual dog may not do well in a large play-group setting. All dog parents will be apprised of their dog’s behavior in daycare and will be notified of any problems.

I noticed that there wasn’t a lot of barking at your facility. I want my dog to play and have fun. Are the dogs having a good time at Sit! Stay! Play! ?

Absolutely! Dogs bark, and while we don’t mind an occasional woof, we do limit excessive barking. Barking is often a stress response and an indication that dogs are overly aroused or anxious. Barking also leads to increased stress and arousal levels in both the dogs and the staff. Increased levels of stress, anxiety, and arousal set the stage for altercations between dogs. Staff members control barking by redirecting the dog’s activities to something more appropriate, isolating the culprit using a three-minute time out, or by using a Calming Band™ or Gentle Leader™. Uncontrollable excessive barking may lead to the dismissal of a dog from our daycare.

I don’t want to neuter my dog. Can he still come to Sit! Stay! Play?

It depends. We do not require dogs to be spayed or neutered, but generally, adolescent and adult unaltered male dogs tend not to do well in the daycare environment. Testosterone levels begin to increase in male puppies 4 to 5 months old and by 9- to 10-months intact male puppies produce testosterone at a rate five to seven times that of an intact adult male dog. As a result, some male behaviors can become extreme during adolescence. Often other dogs react to the increase in testosterone by harassing the intact youngster. Occasionally, an intact male dog is able to play harmoniously in our daycare, but that is the exception rather than the rule. Each dog’s behavior must meet the standards required of all dogs attending Sit! Stay! Play!

Will daycare ruin my house training efforts?

A dog who understands his potty training at home will continue to apply those skills in that environment. We regularly encourage the dogs to go outside to relieve themselves, but even well-trained dogs sometimes treat the dog daycare environment as a ‘dog park’ and potty inside.

Who is the dog in your ads and on the Web site?

My Vizsla, Hunter, was the inspiration for our logo. Rumer, my female Vizsla, is featured on the Web site. The Vizsla is a hunting and pointing retriever of Hungarian descent. I am blessed to live with two Vizslas , Rumer and Turk, and a whirling dervish of a Chihuahua named Lulu.