Visiting Pets
Why owner and friend visits during a stay tend to add stress instead of comfort, and what we offer owners instead.
Purpose
Occasionally an owner asks to visit their dog during a stay, sometimes because of construction or remodeling at home, and occasionally asks a friend to stop by and "check up" on the dog instead. This SOP explains why we discourage these visits and what we offer the owner in their place.
Why We Discourage Visits
Picture a dog mid-stay who sees his owner walk through the door. The dog reads that moment the same way he would at home: it's time to go. When the owner then leaves without him, that expectation gets broken, and the dog is left more confused and more stressed than before the visit happened, not less. A friend "checking up" on the dog creates a milder version of the same problem: an unfamiliar arrival and departure that unsettles the dog's routine rather than reassuring anyone.
At a Glance
- Owner and friend visits during a stay tend to leave the dog more stressed once the visitor leaves.
- The dog reads seeing its owner at the school as a sign that it's going home; when the owner leaves again, that creates confusion and stress.
- Start any conversation about a visit by explaining this effect to the owner.
- Depending on the program, the owner already gets report cards with updates, and may see the dog in person for a lesson during the stay.
Steps
When an Owner Asks to Visit
- Start by explaining the negative effect a visit can have on the dog: seeing the owner, then having the owner leave again, tends to leave the dog more unsettled than before the visit.
- Point the owner toward the updates already built into their program: report cards, and, for certain programs, an in-person lesson during the stay.
When an Owner Asks a Friend to Check In
- Explain the same underlying concern: an unfamiliar visit and departure can be disruptive for the dog, even when it comes from someone other than the owner.
Edge Cases
What is the standard for responding when an owner has a specific reason for wanting to visit, like construction at home?
The reasoning behind the request doesn't change the effect on the dog. Explain the same stress concern, and offer the report cards and in-person lesson option the program already includes.
Does every program include an in-person lesson during the stay?
Only certain programs do. Check what the dog is enrolled in before offering it as an option.
What if the owner still wants to visit after hearing the explanation?
This SOP is about explaining the negative effect on the dog; it doesn't lay out a further step beyond that conversation.
How do report cards fit into this?
They're the alternative we point owners toward: a way to see updates on their dog without an in-person visit that risks unsettling the dog's routine.
Who to Ask
Report Cards covers what goes into that update and how often one goes out. Client Updates During Stay covers a phone check-in from an owner during the stay.