What does a typical daycare day look like?

Your dog's day follows a clear routine: arrival and settling, supervised group play in temperament-matched groups, enrichment activities, structured rest, and afternoon play before collection. Dogs are never left in unmanaged groups, and our trainers are actively engaged throughout.

Yes. Crates are used positively as a calm, safe space for structured rest, not as punishment. Your dog benefits from learning to self-settle, which reduces anxiety, prevents barking, and helps manage overstimulation. Most dogs who are initially uncertain about crates become comfortable within their first few sessions.

What age can my dog start daycare?

Puppies can join from 10 weeks, provided they have had their first vaccinations. We have a dedicated puppy group to ensure younger dogs are socialised appropriately and not overwhelmed by older, larger dogs.

How many dogs are in each group?

Groups are kept small and carefully matched by temperament and energy level. Your dog will not be placed in a large, unstructured group. Every dog attending has been assessed before joining, so the group dynamic is always managed.

What are your drop-off and collection times?

Drop-off is between 7:30am and 9:00am. Collection is between 3:30pm and 6:00pm. Keeping to these windows helps maintain the structure of the day for your dog and every other dog in the group.

Will my dog come home tired?

Yes, but in the right way. Dogs come home calmly tired rather than overstimulated. The structured rest periods throughout the day mean your dog arrives home settled and ready to relax, rather than bouncing off the walls.

Dog Daycare · Oxfordshire

Structured daycare that improves your dog's behaviour

Your dog spends the day learning how to be calm, confident, and well-behaved, not just burning energy, but building habits that carry through into everyday life.

Book an Assessment

Assessment required before first session. Spaces are limited.

Dogs in a structured, supervised daycare environment at Oxford Pet Whisperers

Daycare starts from £60 per day, with reduced rates available for regular attendance through membership. Membership provides the best value and consistency for your dog's development. View full pricing

The problem with standard daycare

Unstructured play does not build better dogs.

Many dog daycare facilities offer supervised group play. Dogs run together in large groups for hours, often with minimal professional oversight. The result is overstimulation, reinforced bad habits, and a dog who comes home more wound up than when they left.

If your dog jumps, barks, or ignores you on the lead, unstructured daycare will not fix that. In many cases, it makes it worse. Your dog needs structure, consistency, and trainers who understand behaviour, not just supervision.

Our approach

Structure is the foundation of everything your dog experiences here.

Your dog is not just supervised, they are guided.

Every part of their day is structured to build confidence, reinforce calm behaviour, and help them develop better social skills.

This is why dogs leave more settled, more focused, and easier to live with at home.

Small, temperament-matched groups

Your dog is placed in a group matched by age, size, and energy level, so they can interact calmly and build real social confidence, not just chaos.

Enrichment and mental stimulation

Mental stimulation that keeps your dog engaged and prevents boredom, so they come home calmer and more settled than if they had simply run around all day.

Structured rest periods

Structured rest periods that prevent overstimulation and help your dog learn how to settle, so they come home calm rather than wired.

Consistent daily routine

A predictable routine reduces anxiety and builds genuine confidence over time, so your dog arrives each day settled and ready to engage.

Qualified trainer engaging with a dog at Oxford Pet Whisperers

A typical day

What your dog's day actually looks like.

7:30 to 9:30am

Arrival and settling

Dogs arrive and are welcomed by our trainers. New arrivals are given time to settle before joining the group.

9:30 to 11:30am

Morning play session

Structured group play in temperament-matched groups. Our trainers are present and actively managing interactions.

11:30am to 1:00pm

Enrichment and training

Sensory enrichment, problem-solving activities, and reinforcement of basic manners. Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise.

1:00pm to 2:00pm

Structured rest

All dogs rest. This is a core part of our approach. It prevents overstimulation and teaches dogs to self-settle.

2:00 to 3:30pm

Afternoon play and training

Afternoon group play, and further enrichment activities for some and 1-2-1 training for those that need it.

3:30 to 6:00pm

Collection window

Dogs are collected calm, settled, and ready for a quiet evening at home.

The outcome

What changes when your dog attends regularly.

Calmer at home

Your dog burns energy in a controlled, structured way, so they come home tired but not overstimulated.

Better on the lead

The focus and impulse control your dog practises at daycare carries over to walks and daily life, so lead pulling and reactivity reduce over time.

More confident

Your dog learns how to interact calmly and appropriately with other dogs, building real confidence, not just excitement.

Improved recall

Mental enrichment reduces boredom and helps prevent unwanted behaviours developing at home, so your dog is easier to live with.

Less separation anxiety

Structured crate rest teaches your dog to settle independently, a skill that directly reduces separation anxiety at home.

Peace of mind for you

You know exactly what your dog is doing, who is with them, and that they are in expert hands throughout the day.

The goal is simple: a dog that is calmer at home, easier to walk, and more enjoyable to live with.

Is this right for your dog?

Who our daycare is designed for.

This service is right for you if...

Friendly, sociable dogs who enjoy the company of other dogs
Puppies from 10 weeks (with first vaccinations)
Dogs whose owners want to see real behavioural improvement
Dogs who need structured socialisation in a managed environment
Owners who want peace of mind during a busy working day

This service is not suitable if...

Reactive or aggressive dogs: our group environment is not suitable
Dogs who have not completed an assessment with us
Dogs who are unwell or showing signs of illness
Dogs who are not up to date with vaccinations

Client feedback

What daycare clients say.

"An exceptional team of caring and dedicated professionals whom I completely trust with our puppy. Amber absolutely loves her time with them and has grown so much more confident since she started attending."

AP, Grove

Google Review

"Hugo has been at Oxford Pet Whisperers since he was 3/4 months old. He goes twice a week. It has been amazing for his socialising and training and he's made lots of little friends. Absolutely outstanding place."

GP, Carterton

Google Review

Daycare questions

Frequently asked questions.

Everything you need to know about daycare before booking your assessment.

Book an Assessment

View daycare pricing and membership plans.

From the blog

Your dog's first day at daycare: what to expect What we look for in your dog's assessment Breed-specific considerations for daycare Vaccination and health requirements explained

Book your dog's assessment

We will confirm your assessment within one working day and guide you through the next steps.

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Assessment spaces fill quickly. Book early to secure your place.