What to Expect During a Meet & Greet
On a typical day, our dog evaluator spends about two to four hours evaluating dogs during their Meet & Greet. This is time spent meeting with dog owners and their dogs, answering questions, learning the background information on their dogs, and tailoring our innovative daycare program to meet their particular needs. This article explores the ins and outs of what you can expect during your Meet & Greet.
WHO will be conducting the evaluation during our Meet & Greet?
Our team has been trained by local dog behaviorist, Jan Gordon of Beach Dogs Training in Coos Bay. Jan spent a year on our team as our On-site Trainer. This hands-on approach did wonders for our team.
They know how to read dog body language well and operate at the highest levels of safety for our canine guests. Our clients rave about the professional level of service, the incredible amount of care demonstrated toward their animals, and the keen skill our team operates at.
WHEN is the best time to schedule a Meet & Greet?
We schedule all Meet & Greets for 1:30 pm on Monday through Thursday and Saturday.
WHERE does the Meet & Greet occur at our facility?
The appointment happens in four phases at the Riverview Kennels facility.
Phase One begins in the lobby at Riverview Kennels. It is best for dog owners to leave their dogs in their cars for this part of the Meet & Greet. This will provide us with time to gather your vaccination records, complete our contract, ask a few initial questions, and allow other dog owners to check in and check out without interference.
In Phase Two our evaluator will ask you to bring your dog into the lobby. We will ask you to keep the dog leashed, but to drop the leash after closing the door. We observe the dog for a few minutes as it settles in. We won't ask for its attention or demand anything from the dog at this point. We will allow it to approach us at its own pace. Give careful attention to the directions the evaluator provides so you can aid the process best.
The Third Phase will begin when you leave your dog at the facility with us. We will take the dog and settle them into their own kennel run. We will practice basic steps like getting them in and out of the kennel run safely. We will also take them into one of our play yards where we will practice entering and exiting through our gates. Depending upon your dog's temperament we will introduce him or her to other calm dogs in order to build a small playgroup. We will always let the safety of all animals involved guide this process. The goal is for us to gain an accurate understanding of your dog's habits and limitations.
The final, Fourth Phase will be when you come to pick up your dog at the scheduled time. This is usually a minimum of two hours after you leave them, but could be until the end of our work day. When you arrive we will unpack the experience with you and tell you how we have graded your dog. You will learn whether your dog is GREEN, YELLOW, or RED.
WHAT do the different colors mean?
GREEN dogs are a good fit for daycare and boarding. They exhibit very few, if any, behaviors that will prevent them from succeeding in a social play group. We might identify a few target areas or behaviors to develop together moving forward.
YELLOW dogs will be allowed in daycare and boarding, but we will have identified a few key hurdles that need to be overcome before we feel confident with them in playgroups. We will likely have some recommendations for training practices you can incorporate into your routine that will help your dog succeed in becoming a GREEN dog in the near future. There are cases when a YELLOW dog may not be able to overcome the problems it is exhibiting even after extensive work. At this point, we will communicate with you about your dog and what we have observed. In a situation like this, a YELLOW dog may then be labeled a RED dog and would not be allowed to attend daycare (and possibly boarding).
RED dogs are not a good fit for daycare or boarding at the moment. There may be a few major behaviors or inclinations that prevent them from being able to settle into a social playgroup safely. We may have a recommendation for a local trainer with whom you could work in order to address those issues. Unfortunately, RED dogs will not be able to join our daycare program without addressing the problem directly and then being re-evaluated. If you are looking for boarding services, we can discuss whether those same traits will prohibit boarding with us.
WHAT should you bring for the Meet & Greet?
When you arrive at your scheduled appointment, please make sure to bring your dog's vaccination records (unless you have already emailed those to us and have received a confirmation), your dog's collar and leash, and your dog.
You will also want to bring $25 with you for the Meet & Greet. We accept cash, check, or card for all of our services.
WHY is the Meet & Greet important for your dog's care?
At this point, it may be clear, but let us explain more fully. The Meet & Greet gives us a thorough process that allows us to learn about your dog through your verbal history of the dog and through observation of your dog with humans and other dogs at our facility. All of this information gives us the best insight to ensure your dog is safe and enjoys his or her time at our facility. It also empowers us to keep the other dogs and our team safe. It's the first step toward the dog transformation that we love to celebrate.
Schedule A Meet & Greet Today
As you can see, there are many reasons why a Meet & Greet is an important gateway to your dog's success at Riverview Kennels. It is an opportunity for us to learn about your dog and what makes him or her special to you. It allows us to begin to build a bond with your dog, as well as determine the best placement for your dog in our daycare and boarding programs. It allows us to answer questions that you may have about our services and how we operate. Most importantly, it allows us to customize care that is best suited for your dog's needs, allowing them to wake up every morning eager for an exciting day of socialization and play!
If you would like to schedule your Meet & Greet you can always reach out to us at 541.347.4689 or you can email us at office@riverviewkennels.com.
