DAYCARE POLICIES
Late Pickup:
If your dog is picked up after business hours, the following late fees will apply:
Within 5 minutes: Free (grace period)
5–14 minutes late: $10 +tax
15–29 minutes late: $15 +tax
30 minutes late: $30 +tax
Over 30 minutes: $1 per minute +tax
Over 60 minutes with no contact: Your dog will be transferred to overnight boarding, and additional boarding fees will be charged. You will be contacted prior to the transfer with information for late night/boarding pickup.
If you experience delays due to traffic or accidents, please contact us as soon as you can—we will do our best to accommodate the situation.
Cancellation:
Free cancellation with at least 12 hours' notice.
$20 +tax for same day/morning off cancellation.
We understand that life happens and last-minute changes can be unavoidable. As a courtesy, we’ll waive the $20 +tax fee for the first instance. We're always happy to accommodate whenever possible.
Sick Policy:
If your dog is showing any signs of illness—including but not limited to coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or any unusual behavior—we require that you keep them home until they are symptom-free for at least 72 hours or have been medically cleared by a veterinarian.
To support our clients, no cancellation fees will be applied for dogs kept home due to illness.
Please note: This is a hard and fast rule with no exceptions. If your dog arrives at daycare showing signs of illness, we will contact you or the emergency contact immediately for pickup.
No-Show Policy:
No-shows without prior notice will be charged for the booked service and could affect future booking eligibility. We understand that emergencies happen—please don’t hesitate to reach out. We handle such situations on a case-by-case basis with care and understanding. As a one-time courtesy, we’ll waive the charge for the first occurrence.
Flea & Tick Prevention, Dewormer and Vaccination Requirements:
At Lucky Tail, the health and safety of every dog in our care is our highest priority.
We recommend regular deworming for your dog to prevent parasites that could be passed to other dogs. To ensure the health and safety of all our guests, we require that dogs entering our facility are in good health and pose no risk to others. Please follow your vet's guidelines for regular, valid deworming.
If any signs of fleas, ticks, or other parasites are found on your dog during their consultation/trail day, you will be contacted immediately for pickup. A temporary pause in daycare services—ranging from 1 to 2 months—may be required until the issue is fully resolved. Please note that Lucky Tail does not provide flea or lice baths, or tick removal services.
We require current veterinary documentation for the following vaccinations:
Rabies
Distemper/Parvo (DHPP)
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
Leptospirosis
Puppies (1 year or less) must have completed their third set of puppy shots, be on flea and tick preventative and dewormer to attend daycare.
Proof of vaccination must be submitted prior to your dog’s consultation/trail day and kept up to date to continue attending daycare. We’ll send a reminder 14 business days before any vaccine is overdue. Valid titre tests are accepted in place of standard vaccinations. If your dog cannot meet the above requirements due to health reasons, please contact us directly.
These policies are in place to ensure a healthy, happy environment for every member of the Lucky Tail Pack. If you have any questions or need assistance submitting records, we're always happy to help.
Spay & Neuter Policy:
At Lucky Tail, our priority is to maintain a safe, balanced, and enriching environment for every dog in our care. To help ensure a positive daycare experience for all, we have clear guidelines regarding spaying and neutering.
Dogs Over 1 Year of Age
All dogs over 1 year old must be spayed or neutered to continue participating in daycare. This helps prevent hormonally driven behaviors such as mounting, marking, and reactivity, contributing to a more harmonious group setting.
Giant Breed Exception
*Dogs at Lucky Tail may not exceed 120lbs.
We understand that giant breed dogs—such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs etc.—may benefit from delayed spaying or neutering. For these breeds, we allow attendance until 1.5-2 years of age without alteration. During this time, our daycare attendants will closely monitor behavior to ensure safety and compatibility with the group.
*We are not veterinarians and we do encourage to listen to your vets recommendation for when to sterilize your intact pet.*
Breed Restriction
Due to insurance reasons we have a breed restriction against:
Rottweilers
Malinois
Heelers
Pitbull/Staffys (any kind)
Mastiffs (any kind)
Female Dogs in Heat
For the safety and well-being of all dogs in our care:
No dogs in heat are allowed in daycare. If your unspayed female begins her heat cycle, please notify us right away and keep her home. Late cancellation fee does not apply.
If a dog starts showing signs of heat while at our facility, she will be removed from group play immediately and you will be contacted for prompt pick-up.
Lucky Tail is not liable for any pregnancy or related outcomes if an unspayed female becomes pregnant while attending daycare. All days with intact dogs will be internally recorded for liability purposes.
By enrolling your dog, you agree to this policy. Thank you for helping us provide a safe and stress-free environment for all dogs.
General Exceptions & Evaluations
Dogs under 1 year of age are welcome regardless of spay/neuter status. However, all unaltered dogs must demonstrate safe and respectful behavior. Temporary exceptions for older unaltered dogs or mildly reactive dogs may be considered on a case-by-case basis following a strict behavioral evaluation.
These policies are in place to protect the health and comfort of every member of the Lucky Tail Pack. If you have questions about spay/neuter timing or daycare eligibility, our team is always happy to help.
Assessments/Consultation:
Before enrolling your dog in daycare, a consultation/trial session lasting 2 hours is required. During this time, our daycare trainer or attendant will conduct a behavioral assessment. We will observe how your dog interacts during pack play to determine suitability for our daycare environment. Once approved, your dog will have full access to all of our daycare services, including half-day, full-day, and express options.
If you choose to extend your dog’s stay beyond the initial 2-hour consultation, you will be charged the $20 + tax consultation fee, along with the regular fee for the selected daycare service.
If we haven’t seen your pup in the last 6 months, a new consultation and assessment will be required before resuming daycare. This helps us safely reintroduce your dog to our space and ensure a smooth integration with the Lucky Tail Pack.
Lunch Reminders:
If your dog is staying through lunch, please clearly label their tupperware/plastic baggie/holding container with both your dog's name and your last name to help us ensure everything is returned correctly.
Three Strike Rule:
At Lucky Tail, the safety and well-being of all dogs in our care is our top priority. Our daycare attendants supervise each pup closely throughout their visit, working diligently to maintain a calm, happy, and harmonious environment.
To support this, we follow a “Three Strike” behavior policy. Due to the dynamic nature of group play, our team closely monitors and documents each dog’s behavior. If concerning behaviors—such as excessive reactivity, mounting, resource guarding, or repeated negative behavior with handler interruption—are observed, they will be noted and communicated with you.
After three documented incidents, we may need to pause daycare services for your pup to reassess their fit within the group. This policy helps us ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for every member of the Lucky Tail Pack. Each case is assessed on a dog-to-dog basis.
We’re pleased to share that we've been very fortunate—there have been no instances requiring enforcement of this policy to date.
Excessive Barking:
At Lucky Tail, the safety and comfort of all dogs in our care is our top priority. While barking is a normal form of communication for dogs, excessive or continuous barking can create an overly stressful environment for other dogs and staff.
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Initial Consultation/Observation:
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All dogs are monitored for behavior, including vocalization levels.
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If a dog exhibits excessive or disruptive barking, staff will attempt redirection techniques that align with positive only and Fear-Free ideology (e.g., engaging in play, quiet-time breaks).
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Temporary Removal:
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If barking persists and disrupts the group, the dog may be given some time in a quiet area to self regulate their emotions.
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Owner Notification:
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We will notify the owner if a dog’s barking becomes a repeated consistent concern.
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Continued Disruption:
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Dogs that continue to bark excessively and do not respond to redirection or other training methods by our daycare staff may be subject to a modified schedule or may no longer be eligible for group play.
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In very extreme cases, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate daycare privileges for the well-being of all dogs in our care.
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