(Day Train) DayCamp

Overview

DayCamp is our full-day, one-on-one training + enrichment program for dogs who learn best without the pressure of group play. Each day blends targeted training blocks, therapeutic enrichment, calm decompression, and—when appropriate—coached, at-distance exposures (not free-for-all play). We use the same grade-level curriculum as DaySchool (Pre-School → Dogtorate), adapted to individual pacing and safety plans. You’ll receive a daily Pupdate (photos/videos + 1–2 simple home tips) so school connects to home. Placement and goals are set through our PD360 assessment, and many dogs later bridge to DaySchool once social readiness improves.

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Topics

1. What is DayCamp?

2. Key Benefits & Features

3. Daily Schedule & Structure

4. Curriculum & Grade Levels 

5. DaySchool vs. DayCamp (Which is right for my dog?)

6. Tracking Progress 

7. Membership Options

8. Onboarding Process

9. Common Questions & Answers

10. Troubleshooting & Tips

11. Safety & Environment

12. Glossary
    

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What is DayCamp?

DayCamp is a purpose-built alternative to group programs: a quiet, individualized track that prioritizes clarity, confidence, and regulation.

What DayCamp is designed to do

• Build real-life manners (loose-leash walking, polite doorways, reliable Place/settle).

• Teach disengagement on cue (e.g., Out) and calm neutrality at safe distances.

• Grow confidence with shaping, novel surfaces, and body-awareness games (touch pads, placement box).

• Create predictable arousal regulation through planned rest and structured routines.

Who thrives here

• Dogs who are less social, over-aroused, or anxious/reactive in groups.

• Puppies/teens needing clear structure and a slower, confidence-first pace.

• Family dogs who simply do better with one-on-one coaching.

How DayCamp works (at a glance)

• 2+ individual training blocks/day targeting your dog’s goals.

• Calm enrichment (scent/foraging, puzzles, shaping) to satisfy needs without chaos.

• Structured movement (solo walkabouts, confidence courses, or parallel exposure when appropriate).

• Planned rest to prevent over-arousal and help learning stick.

• Daily Pupdate with photos/videos + plain-language notes and 1–2 easy homework reps.

How it differs from DaySchool & daycare

• DayCamp vs. DaySchool: DaySchool = small groups for social dogs; DayCamp = 1:1 for dogs who need space.

• DayCamp vs. daycare: DayCamp is training-led with therapeutic enrichment and rest—not open group play.

The curriculum engine

• Uses the same grade levels as DaySchool (Pre-School → Dogtorate), but criteria are tailored to one-on-one learning and controlled exposures.

• Trainers score daily reps; we advance when criteria are met consistently and safely.

Parent partnership

• Expect daily Pupdates with 1–2 micro-homework items (60–90 seconds each).

• Short, consistent reps at home make school gains stick between visits.

• Optional parent classes help you practice handling, pattern resets, and calm setups.

First 1–2 weeks: what to expect

• Week 1: Relationship building, baseline skills, predictable routine, easy wins.

• Week 2: Clearer leash rhythm, quicker disengagement, longer Place—reflected in your Pupdates with simple at-home practice.

Where DayCamp fits with other programs

• Bridge to DaySchool: When readiness improves, we’ll introduce short, coached transitions to small groups.

• Private Lessons & Group Classes: Transfer skills to you; polish handling.

• Boarding/Board & Train: Momentum continues during stays so progress doesn’t stall.

Safety & logistics 

• Environment: Quiet training rooms, shaded yards, non-slip flooring, visual barriers as needed.

• Staffing: Low staff-to-dog ratios; trainers guide all exposures.

• Health requirements & gear: Dogs must be at least 20 weeks old, with all necessary vaccines. No extra gear is required. See Vaccination Policy, here. 

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Key Benefits & Features

• One-on-one training (2+ blocks/day): Crisp, goal-driven sessions at your dog’s pace.

• Therapeutic enrichment: Scent work, puzzle/foraging, shaping (e.g., touch pads, placement box) to build confidence and body awareness.

• Arousal regulation: Planned rest between activities to support calm recovery.

• Coached exposures (case-by-case): Parallel walks, distance neutrality, visual barriers—safety first.

• Daily Pupdates: Photos/videos + what we practiced + how to reinforce at home.

• Integrated pathway: Smooth handoffs to Private Lessons, Boarding, Group Classes—and later to DaySchool if appropriate.

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Daily Schedule & Structure (Typical)

• Morning check-in: Health/behavior review; plan for the day.

• Training Block #1 (1:1): Priority goals (e.g., leash rhythm, Out/disengage, door manners, pattern resets).

• Calm enrichment: Scent games, slow foraging, shaping for body confidence.

• Structured movement: Solo walkabouts, confidence courses, or parallel exposure (if applicable).

• Rest & recovery: Intentional downtime to prevent over-arousal and cement learning.

• Training Block #2 (1:1): Reinforce AM goals; add a small new challenge.

• Checkout: Pupdate with photos/videos + a quick home plan.

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Curriculum & Grade Levels (DayCamp Path)

DayCamp uses the same grade ladder as DaySchool (Pre-School → Dogtorate), but adapts criteria to one-on-one learning with controlled exposures instead of group play. Advancement is guided by PD360 and ongoing trainer scoring. Timelines are typical, not promised—every dog progresses at their pace.

Pre-School (Foundations & Comfort)

Goals: Confidence, predictability, positive associations.
Core skills: Name response, hand target, “Watch,” short Place (10–20s), gentle leash starts, cooperative handling, threshold manners, calm crating.
Readiness (examples): Accepts treats softly; recovers from minor surprises; walks 5–10 loose-leash steps in a quiet area; holds Place 10–20s with trainer moving nearby.
Parent focus: Micro-sessions (30–60s), calm entries/exits, 3–5s eye contact before cues.

Kindergarten (Routine & Reliability)

Goals: Short behavior chains; intro to mild distraction.
Core skills: Sit/down (5–10s), Place 30–45s, hallway/yard leash follow, early recall on a light line, door/food wait, neutral observation at distance (no approach).
Readiness: 10–20 calm steps with one mild distraction; recall 6–10 ft on line; relaxed crate entry/exit.
Parent focus: Pattern games (Stop→Auto-Sit; Watch→Heel 3–5 steps), door routines, short calm-downs.

Elementary (Control & Impulse)

Goals: Controlled choices around mild–moderate distractions.
Core skills: Place 1–2 min, leash turns (Right/Left 90°), Auto-Sit on stops, food/toy neutrality, intro Out (disengage), parallel exposure at comfortable distance.
Readiness: 30–40 calm steps with two mild distractions; recall 10–15 ft on line; Place 1–2 min while trainer moves about.
Parent focus: Short sidewalk reps (curbs/mailboxes), sit-to-greet rules, easy Out games at home.

Middle School (Distraction-Proofing)

Goals: Keep criteria when the world gets interesting.
Core skills: Heeling patterns with circles/turns, Place 2–3 min with dogs/people at managed distance, improved recall with low-level distractions, touch pads/placement box for clean starts/stops, polite pass-bys using parallel paths.
Readiness: 50–60 calm steps with two moderate distractions; recall 15–20 ft on long line; neutral pass-bys at 10–12 ft (adjusted per dog).
Parent focus: Structured walks (pattern resets every block), Place during meal prep, long-line recalls in a quiet park.

High School (Public Manners—Controlled Contexts)

Goals: Consistency in real spaces with thoughtful staging.
Core skills: Calm store-entry routines (quiet times), short aisle heeling, Place 3–5 min, brief out-of-sight stays (safe setups), car loading, short cafe/bench settle well off traffic.
Readiness: Heels a short aisle with two controlled stops; recall 20–30 ft on long line with ambient distractions; Place 3–5 min with routine foot traffic at distance.
Parent focus: Micro field trips (10–15 min), 5-minute cafe settle in low-stimulus zones, car-to-doorway routines.

College (Real-World Fluency—Low/Moderate Stimulus)

Goals: Apply skills under layered, manageable distractions.
Core skills: Variable-pace heel, clean halts, Out/re-engage near moving stimuli at safe distances, recalls 30–40 ft on long line, public settles 5–8 min, “opt-out” greetings (choose neutrality).
Readiness: 2–3 minutes heel with mixed paces/turns; recall 30–40 ft from moderate distraction; settle 5–8 min in shaded/public edge.
Parent focus: Weekly outing plan (15–20 min), long-line recall games, settle while you chat with a friend.

Masters (Duration, Distance, Difficulty—Case-by-Case)

Goals: Endurance and decision-making under pressure with strong safety margins.
Core skills: Stays/Place 8–12 min, complex heel patterns in busier areas, moving past higher-value distractions, consistent first-cue Out, robust door/food manners.
Readiness: Short multi-skill public sequence (heel → sit → place → recall) with minimal coaching; recall 40–60 ft on long line; Place 8–12 min with periodic changes.
Parent focus: Two structured outings/week, sequence practice, doorbell drills.

Dogtorate (Polish & Versatility—Your Dog’s Best Version)

Goals: Calm, versatile performance across novel places; quick resets; minimal scaffolding.
Core skills: Mixed-environment generalization, stable neutrality at safe distances, handler focus without food in hand, balanced arousal (work→rest→work).
Hallmark: Predictable, happy performance wherever we train together.

Progression at a Glance (Typical DayCamp Targets)

* Recalls use a long line where appropriate and lawful; off-leash is simulated unless specifically approved.
** Neutrality distances are examples; actual distances are customized to your dog’s threshold and safety plan.

Why the ladder matters in DayCamp: Using the same levels as DaySchool makes it easy to bridge to small groups later—skills and criteria translate cleanly when your dog is socially ready.

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DaySchool vs. DayCamp (Which is right for my dog?)

How we decide: A PD360 (4+ hr) assessment reviews temperament, goals, thresholds, and history to place your dog. We may start in DayCamp and bridge to DaySchool when ready.

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Tracking Progress (Pupdates, Assessments, Reports)

• Daily Pupdates: Photos/videos + notes on criteria met and 1–2 homework reps (60–90 seconds each), written in your dogs point of view.

• Behavior logging: Trainers score reps against your dog’s targets.

• Re-evaluation cadence: We review milestones regularly and, when appropriate, propose a DaySchool bridge or add Private Lesson/Group Class to transfer skills to you.

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Membership Options

✅ Legacy Memberships (active for current clients)

• Silver: 8 DaySchool days + 4 Pet Parent Classes

• Gold: 16 DaySchool days OR 4 Pet Parent Classes + 1 Private Lesson

• Platinum: 24 DaySchool days OR 4 Pet Parent Classes + 1 Private Lesson
  Billing options: monthly; quarterly (≈90-day expiry); annual (≈180-day expiry).

🆕 New Membership Tiers

• Prepaid pricing: $49 per DaySchool; $99 per DayCamp.

• You may remain on a legacy plan or switch to a new tier at renewal.

Note: Pricing/availability can change. We’ll confirm your plan in writing at enrollment.

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Onboarding Process

1. Consultation & Pre-Assessment: Share goals and history in your Parent Portal.

2. PD360 Assessment (≈4+ hrs): Temperament, triggers, thresholds, and safety plan; recommended path (DayCamp vs. DaySchool) + first goals.

3. Orientation Day: Low-pressure intro to the routine; confirm reinforcers and decompression needs.

4. Program Start: Full DayCamp days begin; expect your first Pupdate the same day.

5. Review & Adjust: We’ll fine-tune targets and, if appropriate, schedule a DaySchool bridge plan.

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Common Questions & Answers

Who is DayCamp best for?
Dogs who need structure without group play—including dogs with fear, reactivity, overstimulation, or those who excel with one-on-one attention.

What kind of training will my dog receive?
At least 2 personal training blocks/day focused on your goals (leash skills, disengagement, Place, confidence). We layer in calm enrichment and controlled exposures to build neutrality.

How do I track progress?
You’ll get a daily Pupdate with photos/videos and clear notes (what we practiced, what succeeded, and 1–2 simple home reps). We’ll also recommend next steps (e.g., Private Lesson, DaySchool bridge).

Is DayCamp the same as daycare?
No. DayCamp is training-led with planned rest and targeted enrichment. There’s no free-for-all group play; any social exposure is coached and structured.

Can DayCamp be used while I’m out of town?
Yes. It’s a consistent routine with meaningful activities; we can also integrate Boarding so training continues during your trip.

What if my dog has a behavior diagnosis (e.g., reactivity)?
That’s exactly what DayCamp is designed to support—within a clear safety plan. After PD360, we’ll set thresholds, distance rules, and a reinforcer plan. If a different program is a better first step, we’ll advise you.

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Troubleshooting & Tips

• Over-tired at pickup? Full days are stimulating—expect a nap at home and keep the evening quiet.

• Slow progress near triggers? Increase distance, simplify criteria, and do more wins indoors before trying again.

• Backslide at home? Revisit the Pupdate homework; do 2–3 micro-reps (60–90s) instead of long drills.

• Considering DaySchool? Ask your trainer about a bridge plan when neutrality and recovery are consistent.

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Safety & Environment

• Spaces: Quiet training rooms, shaded yards, non-slip flooring, visual barriers when needed.

• Staffing: Low staff-to-dog ratios; trainers supervise all exposures.

• Health: We follow current vaccine/health requirements. Dogs must be at least 20 weeks old. See the most up-to-date Vaccination Policy, here. 

• Gear: Flat/buckle collar or approved equipment

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Glossary

• PD360: A multi-hour behavior/temperament assessment that sets goals and safety plans.

• Pupdate: Your dog’s daily photos/videos plus notes and 1–2 home practice items, written in the voice of your dog.

• Parallel exposure: Controlled side-by-side work at safe distance—not free play.

• Pattern reset: A simple movement (e.g., Left/Right About Turn, circle) that restores focus.

• Disengagement (“Out”): Cue to stop engaging and move away from a stimulus or item.

DayCamp gives less-social or easily overstimulated dogs a quiet, personalized path to progress—focused training, therapeutic enrichment, and predictable routines, all without the pressure of group play. With PD360-guided goals, a clear grade-level curriculum, daily Pupdates, and simple at-home steps, you’ll see safer choices, calmer walks, and growing confidence. When your dog is ready, we’ll map a bridge to DaySchool so skills transfer to small-group life, too.