How do I get my dog started in daycare?
Before your dog can start daycare, they must have a successful trial day to make sure your dog and Unleashed are a good fit for each other. To schedule a trial day, first make an account with us on Gingr, and then email us at info@unleashedinevanston.com to determine a date and time for the trial day.
By the end of your dog's trial, you will receive a report card with photos and a report of how their day went and if we think they'll be a successful daycare dog. Based on that information, you can then email us to set-up a regular schedule, or request dates through Gingr.
How do I schedule or cancel daycare reservations for my dog?
We use Gingr to track all reservations at Unleashed. You can request and cancel any future reservations through the customer portal.
If you have any difficulties with the Gingr portal, send us an email and we can help make or cancel reservations from our end.
Which daycare location is right for my dog?
Our general guidelines are that smaller dogs (<30 lbs.) of all ages, and any larger dogs who have matured out of rowdy play attend daycare at UIE-Greenwood, and that larger dogs (>30 lbs.), and younger, rowdier dogs attend daycare at UA-Dempster.
However, we know that all dogs are unique and not all of them fall neatly into these categories. When starting out, our management team will discuss your dog and their personality with you to find the best fit.
Because our two locations are managed and staffed by the same team, we are able to transition dogs between locations if their behaviors and personalities change as they mature and grow to best serve their needs.
Can I switch my dog's daycare schedule this week?
While we suggest keeping a regular weekly schedule to keep dogs comfortable and to make sure they get to see their friends, we are often able to accommodate occasional changes.
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You can request additional days through your Gingr account or by emailing us to request a change. Availability is dependent on the number of dogs scheduled on that particular day and if we have reached capacity.
I'm going to be late picking up my dog! Where and when can I pick them up?
Please call us as soon as you know you will be late to pick up your dog! Daycare at UIE-Greenwood closes at 6:00pm and daycare at UA-Dempster closes at 7:00 pm.
Daycare dogs at UIE-Greenwood can be taxied to UA-Dempster to accommodate late pick-up between 6:00-7:00 pm for an additional taxi fee of $10.
All daycare dogs picked up after 7:00 pm will be charged a late fee: $10 for every 15 minutes after 7:05. Failure to pick up your dog by 8:00 pm will result in the dog staying overnight at the facility and the client being charged for a single night of boarding.
No. We require daycare reservations to be made in advanced at both facilities. Same day reservations may be made depending on availability. Please call or email us to see if we have room before bringing your dog to the facility.
Do you offer pick-up or drop-off services?
We do offer morning pick-up and evening drop-off taxi services. Please see our taxi service page for information on pricing, and our service map.
Does my dog need to be neutered or spayed to attend daycare?
For male dogs to be eligible for adult daycare, we require them to be neutered. This prevents fights between dogs due to the heightened levels of testosterone in intact males.
We do not require adult female dogs to be spayed, but we do ask that they take a break from daycare for the weeks surrounding their heat cycle.
Puppies in Mid-Day Play & Train do not need to be spayed/neutered.
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If you are looking for activities for your intact adult dog, we do allow them to participate in training classes!
How are the daycare dogs separated into playgroups?
At each location, we separate dogs into playgroups of no more than 15 dogs, based on each dog's size, personality, and play style. Every day, one of our owners or managers hand selects the members of each play group using what we know about each dog's personality and preferences. This means dogs get paired meaningfully with their friends, making sure that everyone has a great daycare day!
How often should I bring my dog to daycare?
We suggest that dogs come to daycare at least once per week, to establish a routine and to keep dogs familiar with the facility and their human and dog companions. Dogs with higher energy can certainly benefit from more visits, up to 3 or 4 times per week.
We do generally warn against every day daycare to prevent dogs from becoming overstimulated and over-tired, leading to poor decision making, but every dog is different! Our staff will work with you to determine what we think will be best for you and your dog.
What happens if my dog gets hurt at daycare?
Our staff is well trained in proactive fight prevention and keeping dogs engaged in more positive behaviors, so fights and injuries at daycare are rare. While we spend our time studying dogs' body language and behaviors, there are still things the experts don't understand about dog communication. Because of this we work with a "no-fault" mindset. We do not punish any dogs involved in a scuffle, as this only creates fear and stress for everyone involved.
On the rare occasion that more serious fights do happen, the owners of all parties involved are notified, but kept anonymous from each other. If needed, owners take liability for all vet expenses for their own dogs, as this is a risk we accept when enrolling dogs in daycare. Any dog that has injured another dog or human to the point of needing professional medical attention, will be asked to no longer attend daycare at Unleashed.