About Urban Dogs
As dog owners, we all know the struggle of leaving our dogs at home all day and then trying to make time to attend to their play and exercise needs at night.
Urban Dogs Dog Daycare provides a fun, safe, all weather environment where you can drop your dog off and we will fill their days with activities, naps, hugs, treats and plenty of dog social time - so that at the end of the day, you pick up a happy, pooped pup!
We are more than happy to show you around so you can see what your pup is getting up to, plus we post photos every day on Facebook so you can check in with your dog and their friends!
We are proud to not only offer a quality daycare facility for dogs, but a community of like-minded, dog-loving people.
Dog Squad
We reckon we have the best Squad in the world! If you check the camera roll on any of our phones you will find dog photos .... thousands & thousands of dog photos. At parties we are the ones in the corner talking to the dog and showing everyone else pictures of our dogs. Once at a staff dinner we saw one of our UD Fam walking past the restaurant and everyone ran out on to the street to say hi - to the dog - which can be very disconcerting to a dog mum who wasn't expecting it, and concerning to the manager of the eatery who thought we were dodging the bill.
Once you are a part of this family you are a part of a crazy team of dog lovers who dedicate their day to taking care of your pups and making sure they have the best day possible!
Leanne Andersen
CCO - Chief Cuddle Officer
Leanne has always had her dog in daycare since he was a tiny puppy. As a big believer that socialisation and daily love, leads to a happier, healthier pup, when Leanne got the opportunity to swap her management role with running a daycare business, she jumped at the chance.
When Leanne is not hanging with all your fur-babies, you can find her mowing the lawns at her farm, on the ride on mower named Bruce... which she is very fond of... even if she has broken it a million times.
Kerry Johnstone
ACO - Associate Cuddle Officer
Kerry has no formal dog training, other than what she considers a certificate in dog loving, which she passed with an A++. Kerry has a background in marketing, sales and admin, where she has spent the last few years in senior management.
Most of Kerry’s spare time is spent hanging with her rescue pup Poppy. Their favourite hobbies are having a good walk and sniff around the neighbourhood and naps in the afternoon.
Beka
Dog Squad
Beka has a Degree in Costume Design, but when she not off on a film set or on the latest Netflix series, you can find her in her happy place with the UD pups. Beka is mum to Felix, an adorable black spoodle who she adopted in 2021.
Beka is one of the most genuinely enthusiastic people you will ever meet. She is our self appointed UD Cheerleading squad of one. So if anyone needs encouragement, dog or human, Beka is your girl.
Cassidy
Dog Squad
Cassidy started with us as a teenager, doing work experience while studying Canine Behaviour. It very quickly became apparent that UD would be a better place with her in it on a regular basis so we asked her to join our Dog Squad permanently. Cassidy has an amazing calm nature with the dogs (and Squad) and she can be relied upon to bring a smile to the teams faces in any situation.We think she will excel at anything she wants to do, and the dogs and us are lucky to have her.
Imogen
Dog Squad
Immy began her career in tourism, but quickly realised the pull to work with dogs was too great to resist. Immy then went on to complete a diploma in Canine Behaviour training and join our Dog Squad.
Immy is mum to two pups, Marley and Luna, with Luna meeting her brother and litter mate here at Urban Dogs after she started. Some might say it was kismet, and we are so glad it was. Immy is a truly pawsome human, who cares for pups and humans alike.
Jenny
Dog Squad
Jenny immigrated to New Zealand from the UK and we are so glad she did as her love and skill with dogs is truly pawsome. Jen enjoys not only working with all of your dogs, but also singing to them and dancing with them... we are pretty sure they enjoy it too. Jen is mum to squad dog Zara and also two of those non-furry babies, Josh & Christopher.
We like to say Jenny is 50% human and 50% Disney - if there was a Disney princess who lived in a shoe and owned 100 dogs, that would be our Jen.
Kerry-Lee
Dog Squad
Kerry is the smiling face at Urban Dogs morning reception and is a dog cuddle expert in the afternoon. She is mum to Bearded Collie cross and rescue wonder dog Jess and is that rock solid Auntie to all the other dogs in her life.
Her skills with dogs, human's and organisation are pawsome, and she is a serious asset to the UD team.
Liv
Dog Squad
Liv is passionate about dogs and takes the role of looking after your babies very seriously. She also has a black belt in cleaning and you can be sure the facility is spotless when Liv is on the case! Liv loves golden retrievers and is mum to two of her own - Bailey AKA Noodle AKA Very Good Boy who can be spotted among the daycare crew helping Mum with her dog love duties, and Freya who is learning the ropes and hoping to gain the official title of "Goodest Girl".
Meg
Dog Squad
Farm girl Megan says working with animals is in her blood. She grew up on a farm surrounded by every kind of animal and as many dogs as she could surround herself with. Meg realised as she has got older that dogs are her true passion and she particularly enjoys understanding their behaviour and what makes them tick. Meg is currently completing a NZ Certificate in Animal Care and is using her days with us to watch and learn from both the dogs and our pawsome dog squad. Meg’s softly spoken sweet nature makes her a favourite of all the pups and she is sometimes hard to spot in the park as she is surrounded by all of our pooches.
Bailey loves everyone, both human and canine, and is always up for a cuddle or belly rub.
Louie AKA The Sheriff, has one mission in life.. and that is to make sure all the Urban Doggos are doing the right thing! There are rules people, rules!!
Poppy is a rescue pup from Australia, who has almost completely lost the accent, but still struggles with the colder days.
Koda is a loveable and happy goofball - he will play with any pup and is generally just the best pooch to have around. He loves his sister Cassidy the absolute most.
Diesel is a part time Squad member, when he is not at UD he can be found hanging out on building sites with his Dad in the role of Chief Safety Officer.
Wanna hear a cool story? Luna met her brother at UD for the first time since they were adopted! Luna is a crazy pup who loves to run at the farm.
Freya is Noodle's little sister and she loves swimming with her friends, running at the UD Farm and her big brother - in no particular order.
Felix is the baby of the family, he is an SPCA rescue - it is virtually impossible to get a photo of Felix that isn't blurry 'cause he is always on the move!
Jess absolutely loves swimming and spends her mornings convincing the Squad she should go on all the trips.
Whiskey has been part of the UD Family since he was a baby, but just recently was adopted by Meg so now he is part of the Squad!
Zara was adopted from Aran Rescue, is a huge fan of swimming and tennis balls, and currently holds the record for holding the most tennis balls in her mouth.
Manaia loves a farm trip to the UD Farm, and can often be found chilling on a sofa wondering why her brother likes to talk so much!
And this is Kahu, Manaia's brother. Kahu likes to let his Mum know where he is at all times. But those eyes, just look at those eyes!
Hank comes from a family of 5 kids, 3 dogs, and 27 horses. He mainly comes to daycare for a lie-down.
Gorgeous boy Samson crossed the rainbow bridge in 2019.
Sam loved sharing lunches with the Dog Squad, snoozing and watching over the little ones at nap time.
Supporting dogs out in the Community
Here at Urban Dogs we believe in supporting those who are doing great things for dogs in our community.
“You don’t need super powers to save a life – just a compassionate heart and a willing spirit” - unknown
Country Retreat Animal Rescue
Country Retreat Animal Rescue is registered non-profit charity based in Puhoi whose main focus is taking care of rescued dogs and their puppies, and finding their forever homes. Urban Dogs is proud to support the work that County Retreat does, and their amazing staff and volunteers.
FAQs
Feel free to contact us to ask if your question isn't covered here...
Are large dogs separated from small dogs?
Dogs are grouped in order of size and temperament. It is important for small dogs to interact with big dogs and vice versa as when their owners take them out and about they can’t control who they run into. However, at Urban Dogs mixing is done very carefully by our qualified team who know dog body language and the groups are ALWAYS supervised. We would absolutely not mix a large high energy dog with a small low energy dog.
Will my dog learn to bark more?
There’s three main reasons dogs bark - over excited, bored or under stress – for the comfort of all our dogs, our team and our neighbours, we don’t allow excessive barking. A little barking while playing is accepted and a bit of excited barking on drop off (dogs just love coming to daycare) and when seeing their owners on pick up (dogs just love their owners) but that’s it. Our team will work with the parents of any excessive barkers.
Are the dogs constantly supervised?
Yes – dogs are supervised AT ALL TIMES by our trained team. Click here to find out more about our team.
Will my dog get on with the other dogs?
All dogs must pass the pre-play assessment before being accepted into Urban Dogs. The squad are constantly reading the dogs body language and moving the groups around so that all dogs are comfortable and having fun. For example, the puppies will be with other puppies to burn off their energy.
Is there an area designated for dogs to lie down?
Yes, there is plenty of bedding, we also have “Mat time” in the middle of the day. For relaxing we have the following areas: Relaxing Seniors Area (RSA), the movies and two chill out areas. Our team are constantly reading the dog body language and grouping dogs so that are dogs are happy. If a rowdy puppy is annoying the older ones they will be separated. We have eight different areas for this as well as separate day beds so your puppy will get regulated rest time (as they don’t know how to regulate their own play) and your older dog will get to relax without being annoyed.
Can you offer training for specific problems with my dog?
Yes, we have loads of great options for dog training. Click here for more training info.
What is the policy on food and snacks?
We do offer our doggos treats during the day if they are allowed, so please let us know if your dog has any special requirements - we are happy to accommodate.
Dogs are usually fed at home before and after daycare, however if you have a young puppy or older dog that requires an extra meal in the day, you can drop the food off with your pup - we feed all dogs separately. Dogs should rest for 15 minutes after being fed to prevent bloat, and stomach issues, so we ensure this is done at daycare too.
If you are bringing your dog’s lunch or snacks with them please clearly mark with their name (just like children’s lunches).
Where do they poop?
Without an outdoor area, all toileting is done inside - but don't worry, dogs know the difference between daycare and home so they rarely continue this behaviour outside of daycare. The Squad pick up and mop up as soon as the pups toilet.
My dog hasn't been to dog daycare before - I'm nervous but want to give it a go?
It’s fine to feel nervous when trusting your furbaby into the care of others. Our qualified team
will look after your furbaby and let you know how they settle in. We want you and your dog to feel comfortable when using our services, so we offer your dog’s pre-assessment and first day free so you and your dog can try us out with no cost or obligation.
We will send you updates and photos so you can see how your pup is doing on their first day.
You are more than welcome to come and drop by as many times as you like before your first day. If you’d like to only do a half day that’s also fine.
Will they make friends?
Most dogs make friends easily, they are grouped with other dogs who have the same interests and temperament so they all get on.
Do you have a desexing policy?
It is part of our terms and conditions that all pups need to be desexed at 6 months to attend daycare - there are differing opinions on what age is best for your dog to perform the desexing operation and we advise that you research what works best for you and your pup. Daycares have the 6 month policy purely because of behaviour and safety issues, and we are happy to go through these reasons if needed.
Is fresh drinking water available?
Absolutely, water is available at all times, however your dog may still be thirsty after daycare. Please be aware of their water intake as excessive amounts may cause an upset stomach or other problems.
Are vaccination records required before enrolment?
Yes – for the health and safety of all our team and dogs we have some pre-play requirements, please see the rules and regulations page for more info. We have a vaccination management system so you can be assured of the ongoing safety of your dog.
How are dogs disciplined for bad behaviour?
Dogs come to daycare to have fun, but in order to maintain a safe environment they also need to play by the rules we set for them. We believe that it is important for dogs to have structure in their play time. Through the use of basic command practice and positive reinforcement methods, the dogs learn that good behaviour brings rewards (play, treats, verbal and physical praise). We have found that by using positive reinforcement methods, the dogs actually want to learn and are eager to please. While appropriate behaviours are reinforced, inappropriate behaviours are disciplined, through the use of time outs or loss of play.
Our team are constantly reading the dog’s behaviour and are trained to catch problems before they arise as we want to ensure all dogs have a fun and safe experience while at doggy daycare. If a dog is acting up we look into why – there are many different reasons so we tailor our response to the problem. i.e. if a dog is tired and grumpy we will let them chill out in the RSA or behind reception away from the other dogs for a little while. Just like with children when a dog gets too excited or tired they can play up. We always offer training if there are any issues. To ensure the safety off all dogs and our team naughty behaviour can lead to suspension or being expelled.
Please keep in mind not all dogs are candidates for dog daycare. Some dogs do not do well in this environment. Please do not take this personally as this by no means states that you have a “bad dog”. Our primary concern is for the wellbeing of all our guests by providing a fun, safe environment.
Do I bring toys?
We have loads of dog toys in every shape and size. All toys in the dog play area must remain neutral to avoid possessiveness. We also don’t allow external toys into daycare for hygiene reasons.
Do I get a discount for multiple visits or more than one dog?
Yes, we have discounted rates depending on how often you use us and we offer same family discounts – see our rates page for more info.
What happens if there is an emergency with the dogs?
Our squad are pet first aid certified including dog CPR. We have relationships with local vets should the need arise. We have procedures in place in case of emergency, these are all detailed in our application form.
What does your pre-play assessment involve?
The Urban Dogs team perform all our pre-play assessments, designed so we can provide the safest daycare experience possible. We test for dog aggression, separation anxiety, confidence levels and toy possessiveness. Your pup will stay for their trial day – this could be a couple of hours if your dog is a bit nervous or if the environment is new to him/her. It is important to us that your dog has a positive introduction to daycare, if your dog is overwhelmed, stressed or unhappy the staff will be able to give you advice on if they can overcome this. A gradual introduction to the facility may be suggested, this may not be that convenient for you at first, however sets your dog up to succeed within the environment.
What if my dog fails the pre-play assessment?
If your dog is quieter by nature and didn’t enjoy the group environment or if your dog fails the pre-play assessment, it doesn’t mean your dog is bad. This unique group environment may just be too overwhelming for them. Some dogs just need a little extra training and socialisation before coming to daycare – our in-house trainer can help with this. If you dog is older we recommend that they take advantage of our RSA (Relaxing Seniors Area).
What if my dog is injured or gets sick?
Remember that even normal dog play may result in some type of injury. It is not a common occurrence but it can happen. Just like a child can fall or trip at school. All injuries and illnesses are prevented to the BEST of our ability. If this occurs, you will be notified when you pick up your dog if it is minor, you will be notified immediately if the problem is severe. If there is an emergency and vet care is needed, we will transport your dog to our local vet – all medical costs are the owner’s responsibility.
Find Us
Urban Dogs Dog Daycare Albany
6D Piermark Drive, Rosedale, Albany, Auckland
Phone: 09 415 4920
Email: albany@urbandogs.co.nz
Urban Dogs Dog Daycare Silverdale
8 Titan Place, Silverdale, Auckland
Phone: 09 421 0995
Email: silverdale@urbandogs.co.nz
Hours
We are open 6.30 am - 6.30 pm, Monday to Friday for your convenience.
