If you’ve heard us talk about Educational Daycare and wondered what makes it different from regular dog daycare, you’re not alone. It’s one of our most popular programs — and also one of the most misunderstood. So let’s break it down.
It’s not just babysitting
Most daycare facilities are designed to keep your dog busy and out of your hair while you’re at work. That’s not a bad thing — but it’s not what we do.
At I Said Sit!, Educational Daycare is a full training program. Your dog comes to us during the day, and instead of spending eight hours playing with a pack of other dogs in a loud open room, they follow a structured routine of individual training sessions, enrichment activities, rest time, and socialization. Every single day.
By the time you pick them up, they’ve actually learned something.
What does a typical day look like?
Dogs in our Educational Daycare program aren’t just supervised — they’re busy in the best possible way. Here’s how a typical day flows:
Each dog gets their own private space with bedding, toys, and fresh water — a calm “home base” they can relax in between activities. From there, the day alternates between:
- Individual training sessions — one-on-one time with a trainer working on their specific goals (sit, stay, leash manners, recall, you name it)
- Mini training moments — short, frequent reinforcements woven throughout the day so the learning sticks
- Socialization and play — carefully selected small play groups, not a free-for-all
- Enrichment activities — stuffed Kongs, scent game, mazes, puzzles, and more
- Scheduled rest — because dogs need downtime, and learning to settle is a skill too
We also do scheduled potty breaks with designated areas, so your dog isn’t picking up bad bathroom habits. We have a have raised, drained turf — meaning we get to keep it clean, and we do so three times a day, also your dog is not spending their day standing in a soiled space.
Why does structure matter so much?
Here’s something we see all the time: dogs who go to a typical cage-free daycare five days a week can get progressively harder to live with at home. More barking. More jumping. More leash reactivity on weekend walks.
It makes sense when you think about it. If a dog spends 40+ hours a week in a high-stimulation environment where they can bark freely, greet every dog they see, go to the bathroom wherever, and never have to wait for anything — that’s what they practice. And dogs get very good at what they practice.
Our program is intentionally different. We keep groups small. We prioritize calm. We build in rest. And we train, every day, with positive reinforcement methods you and your dog will both enjoy.
The part that makes it really work: you’re included
This is the piece most people don’t expect — and the piece that makes the biggest difference.
Every week, new clients sit down for a one-hour private session with your dog’s trainer. We show you what your dog is learning, teach you how to reinforce it at home, and give you the tools to keep the progress going after the program ends.
Because here’s the truth: if your dog learns “sit” beautifully at daycare but you don’t know how to cue it at home, the training only goes so far. We want you to feel just as confident as your dog does.
Who is it best for?
Educational Daycare tends to be the perfect fit for people who:
- Work long days and can’t be home to train consistently
- Have kids at home that make maintaining routines tough
- Are on Zoom calls all day and their dog is… not helping
- Want real, lasting results — not just a tired dog at the end of the day
- Have a puppy and want to get started on the right foot from day one
One thing we hear from clients all the time after completing the program: their dog is so much calmer and more settled at home that they don’t even need daycare anymore. That’s the goal — a well-trained dog who is happy and confident whether they’re with us or with you.
How do you get started?
All new students begin with a one-hour consultation ($200) where you’ll meet your trainer, tour our facility, talk through your goals, and start building a personalized training plan. It’s a great way to get a feel for the program before committing.
From there, we’ll get your dog enrolled and on their way.
Ready to learn more? Click here to get in touch or give us a call at 310-558-9037. We’d love to meet your dog.
