Training Services: Schedule & Protocol
Staff SOP for the boarding-dog potty schedule and the slip-leash rotation protocol used to move dogs through the facility.
Purpose
This SOP sets the potty schedule for boarding dogs and the handling protocol for rotating dogs through the facility. Follow both every time you move a dog.
At a Glance
- Boarding dogs go out at 6AM, 10AM, and 4PM, plus after each training session and as needed.
- Rotate every dog on a slip leash, held at all times.
- Dogs sit at every threshold, inside and out.
- Never force a dog that is avoiding or resisting rotation; tell a senior staff member or manager.
- The gate stays closed while dogs are outside, no exceptions.
Potty Schedule
- Base schedule: 6AM, 10AM, 4PM.
- After each training session, ideally handled by the trainer.
- Adjusted per dog for age, medical issues, or training goals.
- As needed any time you notice whining, circling, or unusual barking.
- Weather can change the day's rotation schedule; a manager will tell you if it does.
Rotation Protocol
- Have a slip leash with you at all times.
- Maintain control of the dog you are handling for the entire rotation.
- Dogs sit at every threshold, going in and going out.
- Release the dog to potty only after it has crossed the threshold; some dogs stay on the slip leash while they go.
- Walk every dog on a loose leash; no pulling, lunging, jumping, or barking during a rotation.
- The gate is never opened while dogs are outside, for any reason.
Handling Different Behaviors
- Calm, neutral, or moderately excited: proceed as normal.
- Over-excited (barking, circling, jumping, bolting): slow down and work the dog through it before moving on; rushing makes handling harder and less safe.
- Insecure or anxious (cowering, shaking): never force the rotation. Tell a senior staff member or manager.
- Read the dog in front of you and adjust; this list is not exhaustive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for deciding when the potty schedule changes for weather?
A manager makes that call and will tell staff when the day's rotation schedule is changing.
Why would you never force a dog through a threshold?
Forcing a dog that is cowering, shaking, or otherwise resisting can turn a manageable moment into an unsafe one. Stop the rotation and loop in a senior teammate or the manager on duty.
Is the gate ever opened while dogs are outside?
No, never, for any reason.
Who to Ask
A dog resisting rotation, or any behavior you cannot read confidently, goes to a senior teammate or the manager on duty right away. Group size and staffing rules that apply alongside this schedule live in Training Services: Rotation Groups.