Play Groups for Boarding Dogs Gains in Popularity

Max can hardly wait to reach the playroom. As he bursts through the doorway, his friend Sam rushes forward to greet him. Happily, the two run off to romp and wrestle for their two-hour play session.

What's different about this play group is that Max and Sam aren't kids -- they are dogs taking part in a new service offered for canine boarders at the local Best Friends. Each day at noon, play group participants are taken from the boarding kennel into a play area for two hours of socialization and exercise with other dog-friendly boarders.

"This is a service that many of our clients asked for," explains Joan Nieman, Best Friends Director of Operations. "And since we've been offering it, we've found it's really in demand."

Burning up energy

"Dogs are 'pack animals' and enjoy being with others of their own kind," she adds. "We've found that play group participants expend lots of energy, so they eat and sleep better during their boarding stay. It's a great choice for high-energy dogs, but almost any pet who enjoys a group setting will benefit."

Groups are small, ranging in size up to a maximum of 10 pets, and a carefully supervised by specially-trained and certified "counselors". Currently, boarders join play group only by invitation. To be eligible, boarding dogs must be fully vaccinated, spayed or neutered and non-aggressive. They must also be comfortable interacting with other dogs in a group setting. Older pets can participate only if they are in good enough physical condition to handle the "rough and tumble" of group dog play.

Cost is $20 for a two-hour session, and clients can schedule play group as many days as desired during their pet's boarding stay -- from one session to every day. For pets who don't do well in the group setting, Best Friends offers one-on-one playtime sessions with a staff associate at a cost of $5 for a 10-minute session.

The interactive service is currently already offered as a customer benefit at 13 Best Friends facilities -- Norwalk, CT; Brockton, Sudbury and Tyngsboro, MA; Chestnut Ridge, NY; Berlin and North Plainfield, NJ; Pineville, NC; Marietta GA; Cincinnati, OH; Carmel and Indianapolis, IN; and Prairie View, IL -- and will be introduced at additional location before the summer vacation boarding season.

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