Small Dog Daycare
A new daycare option for Airdrie’s smallest Puppy Pals
Airdrie Puppy Pals is exploring a new daycare option for our smallest Puppy Pals. We’re planning a Small Dog Daycare Program for dogs who are most comfortable playing with friends their own size.
Our current Dog Daycare Program is carefully planned in advance around what we know about each Puppy Pal — their personality, energy, and playstyle. Dogs of all sizes play together, but groups are balanced based on compatibility, not size. This new program will be a little different. The Small Dog Daycare Program will be based solely on size, bringing together small dogs of all play styles who weigh about 25 pounds or less when fully grown.
Who it’s for
The Small Dog Daycare Program is for Puppy Pals who, when fully grown, weigh around 25 pounds or less. It’s a great fit for breeds such as Shih Tzu, Bichon Frise, Maltese, Havanese, Miniature Dachshund, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, Boston Terrier, Toy or Miniature Poodle, Yorkie, and similar mixes.
We’ll continue to offer our regular mixed-size Dog Daycare Program as always. We know many families have dogs of different sizes who enjoy learning and playing together. If your Puppy Pal is 25 pounds or less, you’re still welcome to join our all-sizes daycare program. This new option simply provides another choice for families who prefer a playroom designed for smaller dogs.
How the program works
The Small Dog Daycare Program (to start!) will be structured as a once-a-week membership. Each participant attends on the same day each week, allowing us to plan staff, groups, and activities with consistency. This structure helps dogs build confidence with familiar friends while ensuring reliable care for each family.
The commitment is four days per month, at a rate of $40 plus GST per day. The monthly membership holds your Puppy Pal’s space, much like reserving a spot in a class, and allows us to plan ahead while keeping group sizes small and well balanced.
Requirements
Puppy Pals can join daycare once they’re at least 16 weeks old and have received their DHPP, Rabies, and Bordetella vaccinations.
To keep playgroups safe and positive, we ask that Puppy Pals be spayed or neutered by eight months of age to continue attending daycare.
If your Puppy Pal is six months or older and not yet neutered, we recommend waiting to join until after their procedure.
These steps help us maintain a safe, healthy environment for every dog in our care. During your Meet and Greet, our team will review your Puppy Pal’s vaccination records and help confirm when they’re ready to start.
Join the Small Dog Daycare List
If you’re interested in the Small Dog Daycare Program, please complete our 2026 Small Dog Daycare Interest Form. Once we have enough small dogs registered, we’ll reach out to confirm details, schedule a meet and greet, and finalize your monthly membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the Small Dog Daycare Program start?
A: We’re planning to begin in January 2026, depending on interest. Once enough families sign up through our interest form, we’ll reach out to confirm start dates and group details.
Q: What are your hours and price?
A: Daycare runs during our regular business hours, weekdays from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm, and weekends from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm. The rate for the Small Dog Daycare Program is $40 plus GST per day, billed monthly for a commitment of four days per month.
Q: How is this program different from your regular Dog Daycare?
A: Our regular daycare is planned around what we know about each Puppy Pal their personality, energy, and how they learn best — and includes dogs of all sizes. The Small Dog Daycare Program is the same thoughtful approach, but based solely on size, for dogs who weigh around 25 pounds or less when fully grown.
Q: Can I still join the regular Dog Daycare instead?
A: Absolutely. We’ll continue to offer our mixed-size Dog Daycare Program, which many small and large dogs enjoy together. If you have multiple dogs of different sizes or your smaller dog loves bigger playmates, our regular daycare remains a great fit.
Q: How does the membership work?
A: The program is a once-a-week membership, with your dog attending on the same day each week. This helps us plan staff and groups with consistency, and helps dogs feel comfortable with familiar friends. The monthly membership fee holds your space for four days of daycare each month. Memberships are billed at the start of each month and can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice.
Q: What if my dog misses a day?
A: The membership holds your spot in the program, so missed days are still charged. This allows us to plan staffing and keep group sizes small and predictable for the dogs attending that day.
Q: How do I join?
A: The first step is to fill out our Small Dog Daycare 2026 Interest Form. Once we have enough small dogs enrolled, we’ll contact you to schedule finalize your membership.
Q: Do you offer boarding for small dogs?
A: Boarding isn’t part of the Small Dog Daycare Program, but it’s available for Puppy Pals in our All Sizes Dog Daycare Program. Once your dog is settled and attending daycare regularly, we can help arrange overnight stays.
Want to explore other options?
Looking for a group class instead?
Check out our Puppy Class, Jr Puppy Class, or Minding Our Manners course. Group classes are a great fit for social dogs who learn well alongside others.