National Puppy Day on March 23rd is the perfect time to welcome more puppies into your pet care business. Whether you run a boarding facility or daycare, offering services tailored to puppies can attract new clients while helping young dogs get the best possible start in life.
Bringing puppies into a pet care facility comes with unique challenges, but with the right setup—and the right tools—you can create a safe, enriching experience that keeps pet parents coming back. Here’s how to make your boarding or daycare business puppy-friendly—on National Puppy Day and beyond!
1. Ensure Puppies Are Up-to-Date on Vaccinations
Before welcoming puppies into your facility, it’s essential to verify their vaccination status. Young dogs are more vulnerable to illnesses, and being around other pets increases their risk of exposure.
- Core vaccinations – Require puppies to have age-appropriate vaccinations, including distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella, before attending daycare or boarding.
- Health records – Use a kennel management system to track vaccine records and set reminders for upcoming booster shots.
- Quarantine new arrivals – Consider a short waiting period for first-time puppies to ensure they are healthy before joining group play.
By enforcing vaccine requirements, you help protect not just the puppies but all pets in your care, creating a safer environment for everyone.
2. Set Up a Safe and Comfortable Puppy Area
Puppies require a different environment than adult dogs. Since they’re still learning about the world, they need a space that feels secure and comforting. Consider these adjustments:
- Separate playgroups – Puppies have different energy levels and social skills than adult dogs. Offering a dedicated puppy playgroup prevents rough play with bigger, more experienced dogs.
- Soft flooring – Puppies are still developing their joints, so non-slip, cushioned surfaces (like rubber mats) help protect them.
- Cozy resting spots – Young dogs need plenty of nap breaks. Provide soft bedding in quiet areas where they can relax.
A well-designed puppy area helps prevent injuries and ensures a positive experience for both puppies and their owners.
Learn more about preparing pets for boarding.
3. Use Software to Manage Puppy Care Needs
Since puppies require extra attention, keeping track of their special needs can be challenging. This is where kennel software can help.
- Customized care notes – Track each puppy’s feeding schedule, nap times, and potty breaks to ensure consistent care.
- Health and vaccination records – Puppies often have upcoming vet appointments or vaccinations. Having their records organized in a digital system makes it easy to stay compliant.
- Automated reminders – Set reminders for potty breaks, mealtimes, and medication schedules so no detail is overlooked.
Using a kennel management system ensures that every puppy receives personalized care while making operations smoother for your team.
4. Introduce Supervised Socialization
Puppies need safe socialization to build confidence and learn proper behavior. If your facility welcomes young dogs, offering structured interactions is key.
- Gentle introductions – Introduce puppies to small, friendly groups rather than overwhelming them with too many dogs at once.
- Varied experiences – Expose them to different sounds, textures, and gentle handling to help them adjust to new environments.
- Positive reinforcement – Encourage good behavior with treats and praise to build positive associations with new experiences.
Supervised socialization benefits not just the puppies, but also their owners—who will appreciate knowing their pup is learning valuable life skills.
5. Offer Puppy-Specific Services
Adding puppy-friendly services can help attract new customers. Here are a few ideas:
- Puppy daycare packages – Offer half-day or short-stay options for young dogs who aren’t ready for full-day daycare.
- First-time boarding programs – Create a special package that helps puppies adjust to overnight stays, including extra potty breaks and a quiet sleeping space.
- Puppy training add-ons – If your facility has a trainer, offer basic obedience sessions during daycare or boarding visits.
With kennel software, you can easily create and manage specialized services for puppies. From tracking package redemptions to setting up recurring daycare visits, an efficient system makes it simple to cater to your youngest clients.
6. Make Potty Breaks a Priority
House training is a work in progress for many puppies, so having a solid potty routine in place is essential.
- Frequent potty breaks – Puppies need to go out more often than adult dogs, especially after meals, naps, and playtime.
- Dedicated potty areas – Designate a puppy-only potty space to reinforce good habits.
- Accident-friendly cleaning – Use puppy-safe cleaning products to quickly clean up messes and prevent lingering odors.
With kennel software, you can log potty breaks for each puppy, ensuring that no one is overdue for a trip outside. Keeping track of routines helps prevent accidents and makes stays more comfortable for young pups.
7. Educate Pet Parents on Puppy Care
National Puppy Day is a great time to position your business as a trusted resource for new puppy owners. Consider offering:
- Puppy care consultations – Provide one-on-one advice on socialization, crate training, and early behavior shaping.
- Take-home resources – Send pet parents’ home with tips on feeding, potty training, and what to expect in their puppy’s first year.
- Puppy progress reports – Give updates after daycare or boarding stays so owners know how their pup is adjusting.
Using kennel software, you can send automated puppy progress reports, appointment reminders, and helpful resources via email or SMS—keeping pet parents engaged and informed.
8. Celebrate National Puppy Day with Special Offers
To bring in new customers, consider running a National Puppy Day promotion. Some ideas include:
- Discounted first visits – Offer a reduced rate for first-time puppy daycare or boarding stays.
- Puppy playdates – Host a free or low-cost socialization event for puppies to play and meet new friends.
- Referral incentives – Encourage current customers to refer puppy parents in exchange for a discount on their next booking.
With kennel software, setting up promotions and tracking referrals is effortless. You can create limited-time discounts, apply them to specific services, and monitor customer participation—all from one system.
Final Thoughts
Welcoming puppies into your boarding or daycare facility isn’t just about celebrating National Puppy Day, it’s a smart way to grow your business and build lasting client relationships. With the right environment, structured socialization, and tailored services, you can create a safe, positive space where puppies thrive.
Using kennel software like Kennel Connection helps streamline puppy care, from tracking feeding schedules to automating appointment reminders. With the right tools, you can focus more on caring for your furry guests—and less on paperwork!
