Western Mass
Dog Training
Do you have a friendly pup that enjoys other dogs and could benefit
from our day school environment? Send them to day school!
At Day School, we offer a safe space for socialization, skills training, confidence building, and more! Plus, for added convenience, if your pup falls within our pickup route, we’ll take care of transportation—saving you valuable time.
As the pack leader, Laurie ensures constant support for every dog, ensuring their comfort and success. We coach your pup on respecting other dogs’ space, understanding social cues, and relaxing when needed. Day School isn't just a treat for your pup; it's an invaluable gift for both of you. Besides making new pals, your dog will return home equipped with fresh life skills applicable to daily activities beyond school.
Ready to enrich your pup’s life? Join us at Day School and watch your furry friend flourish! Learn more from our FAQs and application/onboarding process below.
Day school versus doggy day care
Day school offers a distinct experience from traditional daycare.
First, attending school allows dogs to forge lasting connections with consistent classmates, guided by a professional trainer to ensure healthy interactions. Unlike daycare's changing groups and handlers, our consistent pack and attentive supervision foster meaningful relationships.
Second, our tailored environment suits dogs who find traditional daycare overwhelming. Here, your dog won't face constant adjustments to new faces or overly exuberant playmates. We create a supportive space where dogs can socialize comfortably at their own pace, receiving personalized attention to learn crucial skills like reading body language, calm approaches, respectful play, and impulse control.
Lastly, beyond socialization, Day School covers a range of essential skills. Whether it's leash walking, coming when called, preparing for vet visits, or boosting confidence in new situations, our approach is customized to your dog's unique needs for a tailored learning experience. We can practice body handling, fit paws, recall, calm greetings, and more! We tailor your dog's learning experience to work on what they need help with the most at school!
FAQs
Where is Day School located?
Day School is situated at 1 River St, Erving MA.
When does Day School operate?
Currently, Day School sessions are available weekly on Wednesday afternoons. Pickup for local residents is scheduled between 11:45-12:45 pm. School runs from 1:00-3:00 pm, and drop-offs occur between 3:00-4:00 pm. You do not need to be present for pickups or drop-offs.
How does my dog get to Day School?
For dogs comfortable in cars and small spaces with other dogs, we provide home pickup and drop-off after school within our designated zone covering Shelburne Falls, Greenfield, Turners Falls, and Millers Falls. If your dog doesn't qualify for this service, alternate drop-off and pick-up arrangements can be made for the start and end of class.
What is the cost?
We operate on a 12-week semester basis, with attendance once a week. The cost for each semester, which includes 12 class days, is $900 ($75 per class day). Payment plans are available, and we require a weekly attendance commitment for pack stability and effective learning.
Is there a waitlist?
Yes, space is limited. We maintain a deliberate integration process by adding one dog at a time to the pack. To start the process, submit a service inquiry, and review the application and onboarding process below if interested.
How do I enroll my dog in Day School?
Please refer to the application and onboarding process outlined below.
What happens if a class session is canceled?
In case of an emergency closure, any missed day will be credited to the next semester.
What if my dog misses a Day School session? Can I get a refund?
One emergency cancellation per semester is granted. This missed day can be applied to the following semester if continued enrollment occurs or used as an additional attendance day.
Application Process and On-boarding
Evaluation and on-boarding: We have an evaluation and on-boarding process put into place to make sure your dog is ready for school, and that allows us to ensure potential pack members will not be a danger to others or themselves. It is crucial to the safety of our pack that all dogs do not present any form of aggression. The trial period enables us to slowly integrate your dog into our pack and give him or her the best possible opportunity to succeed and have an amazing experience at school.
Step 1: Fill out a service inquiry form.
Step 2: We'll call you to learn more about your goals and dog.
Step 3: If it seems your dog might benefit from school, we will have a trial day with one or two other dogs at school to see how your dog responds to the pack leader, the day school environment, and other dogs in an enclosed space.
Step 4: If your dog is a good fit, it can begin a 3 day trial period! Trial days consists of your dog coming to day school with the full pack to see how your dog does at school. The cost is $75/day.
Step 5: If your dog does well in the trial period, and gives a clear indication that he or she will be a good fit with the pack, they're officially a member of our pack and can enroll for a semester!