Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center Our Services > Dog Daycare

Our Services > Dog Daycare > Getting Started

Here's what you need to do to get started with Tucker Pup's dog daycare:

If you want to come in for a tour, you may do so on any weekday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm without an appointment, or on Saturdays between 8am and 12pm. Feel free to bring your dog to the tour, although this is not a requirement.

Once you're ready to join us, please contact us to let us know when you want your dog's first day to be, so we can check availability.

Fill out and submit our required forms. You can bring them on your first visit, or fax them to us at 312-276-8588 (please note that, for legal reasons, the Liability Waiver must be hand-delivered and may not be faxed).

We require current vaccination records before your dog can join us for daycare. These can be faxed to us from your vet (our fax number is 312-276-8588) or you may fax them or bring them in yourself as long as the vet's information is on the document. At a minimum, your dog must be currently vaccinated against rabies, bordatella (kennel cough), parvo, and distemper. Please note that we will keep your copy on file, and will remind you in the future when we need updated records.

Please ensure your dog has a tight-fitting collar that has dog tags with his name and your current phone number. Tight-fitting means not loose enough that it can slip off his neck. If you can comfortably fit two fingers under his collar, it's probably not too tight. Please note that we do not allow prong collars or shock collars during daycare.

Please provide payment when you drop off your dog. Credit cards are our preferred payment method (Mastercard and Visa only), although we also accept checks (no out-of-state checks, please). If you want us to hold a reservation for you in advance, we require a credit card number.

All dogs must pass our screening evaluation, which is conducted in our facility by our staff. Your dog's evaluation can be during your tour (if at a time when other dogs are present), or on your dog's first day. The evaluation process involves an examination of the dog's physical exterior (such as checking for any signs of fleas and skin conditions). In addition, we will place your dog in the activity room with certain other dogs, introduce conditions which are representative of the daycare environment, and see how she handles it. Behaviors such as shyness, playfulness, and moderate barking are OK. Behaviors such as attacking another dog, viciously snarling, and so forth, are not OK. You must be present during the entire evaluation. Dogs who don't pass the behavior evaluation may benefit from training, whether at Tucker Pup's or elsewhere, and are welcome to come back later and try again if we receive a recommendation from your trainer.

Most dogs eat twice a day. However, if your dog eats three times per day and you want us to feed him while here at daycare, please provide a baggy each day with the food and any pills if necessary. The baggy must have a writing surface, and you must write your dog's name and your last name on the baggy with a Sharpie or similar marker. Please note that you must supply food each day, as we don't store food for daycare dogs unless they are also here for boarding.