Our Training Standards

16 years of hands-on experience shapes every person on our team. At PAWS, real-world competency is the credential that matters.

16+ Years — Hands-On Experience

Pet First Aid — All Staff Certified

4.8★ — 160+ Google Reviews

Calgary's Most Respected — Dog Daycare

Our Philosophy

Field Experience Is the Real Credential

Why 16 years of daily pack management matters more than any certification.

There is a difference between book-smart and field-experienced. Dogs display a wide range of quirks, triggers, and social dynamics that no textbook can fully prepare you for. You learn to read a dog — its posture, its breath, its micro-expressions — by working with dogs every single day over years and years.

At PAWS, we have been doing exactly that since 2010. Every staff member on our team is trained through direct, hands-on experience under the guidance of people who have managed Calgary dog daycares for over a decade and a half. We are Calgary's most respected dog daycare for a reason — and that reason is the quality of our people and the rigour of how we develop them.

We are not dismissive of formal training — our founder Eric Yeung has studied under experts including Cesar Millan and Ian Dunbar. But a certificate on a wall does not tell you whether someone can calmly de-escalate tension between a nervous rescue and a boisterous adolescent Lab in a shared play space. Daily experience does.

"Book smart and field experience are two different things. Dogs display a wide range of quirks that books cannot teach. We are Calgary's most respected dog daycare for a reason."
— Eric Yeung, Owner & Head Trainer, PAWS Dog Daycare

Staff Development

How We Train Our Team

The same careful, graduated approach we use for dogs — applied to people.

When we introduce a new dog to PAWS, we do it slowly and deliberately — one step at a time, building trust and confidence at every stage. We train our staff the exact same way. No one gets thrown into managing a full pack on day one. Competence and confidence are built together, gradually.

Small Pack Walks — 2 to 3 Dogs

Every new team member starts here. Walking 2–3 dogs builds the foundational skills: reading body language, maintaining calm, managing leash tension, and learning each dog's individual personality. You cannot skip this step. This is where real pack instincts begin to develop.

Expanded Responsibility — Up to 8 Dogs

As confidence grows, staff members take on a larger group. Managing 8 dogs simultaneously requires pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and the ability to read and respond to group dynamics in real time. This is where leadership skills are forged — not in a classroom, but in the field.

Lunch Service & Potty Breaks

Staff progress to managing mealtimes and the three daily outdoor potty breaks. These tasks require precision and attentiveness — every dog has a specific routine, dietary requirement, or medication schedule. Attention to detail at this stage becomes a habit for life.

Full Room Supervision

The final stage: owning the room. A fully trained PAWS pack leader can monitor the entire group simultaneously, anticipate conflicts before they start, facilitate healthy play, and maintain a calm, structured environment for 15–20 dogs of all sizes and temperaments. This is the PAWS standard — and it is earned, not assumed.

The PAWS Method

Structured Socialization — The Methodology That Sets Us Apart

One new dog per day. All sizes together. Here's why that works.

Our most distinctive operating principle is simple: we introduce one new dog per day, maximum. When a new dog joins the PAWS pack for the first time, the existing group is already calm, settled, and familiar with each other. The new dog is integrated gradually — not thrown into a chaotic room of strangers.

This deliberate pacing is why our dogs are calm, controlled, and do not incessantly bark and try to escape like dogs at other facilities. The pack has a stable social structure. New members are absorbed into that structure — not the other way around.

We also do not separate dogs by size, temperament, or energy level — and we believe this is a critical differentiator. Every dog needs to learn how to co-exist safely with other dogs — regardless of their size or breed. A Chihuahua that only ever plays with other Chihuahuas has not truly learned dog social skills.

When a facility separates dogs strictly by size or energy, it often signals that the facility does not have the competency to safely manage a mixed pack. At PAWS, mixed-pack management is our core skill — refined over 16 years of daily practice.

The PAWS Difference

One new dog per day — structured integration, never chaos

All sizes, breeds, and temperaments coexist in one managed pack

Dogs develop genuine social skills — not just group-specific tolerance

Calm, controlled environment — no excessive barking or stress

Kennel-free at all times — no dog is ever crated during the day

Daily Routine

Our Daily Standard of Care

What every dog at PAWS receives, every single day — without exception.

3 Outdoor Potty Breaks

Three structured outdoor potty breaks per day — guaranteed. Every dog gets outside regularly, not just when it's convenient. Consistent outdoor time supports physical and mental wellbeing and ensures no dog is left uncomfortable indoors.

45-Minute Supervised Pack Walk

Every dog walks — every single day. Our 45-minute supervised pack walks are the cornerstone of the PAWS experience. Walking together as a pack reinforces social bonds, provides meaningful physical exercise, and satisfies the natural instinct to move and explore as a group.

Structured Play & Rest Periods

Play is structured, not free-for-all. Unmanaged play escalates — managed play builds confidence. Between active periods, dogs have designated rest time in a calm environment. A full, balanced day means a tired, happy, well-adjusted dog going home.

Continuous Staff Supervision

No dog is ever left unsupervised during the day. Our pack leaders maintain constant visual supervision of the group. Staff are trained to recognize early signs of stress, fatigue, or tension — and to intervene proactively, before any situation escalates.

Individual Attention & Mealtimes

Every dog's routine is known and followed. Dogs with medications, special dietary requirements, or specific feeding schedules receive precisely what they need. Individual attention is not a luxury here — it is a baseline expectation for every dog in our care.

Kennel-Free, Always

No dog at PAWS is ever crated or kennelled during daycare hours. Dogs are social animals. Isolating them in a kennel during the day is contrary to their nature. From drop-off to pickup, your dog is part of the pack — moving freely, socialising genuinely, and living well.

See What a Full Day Looks Like

Safety & Qualifications

Safety Is Never an Afterthought

The formal training and protocols that back our experience.

Pet First Aid — All Staff Certified. Every PAWS team member holds current pet first aid certification. If a dog is injured or unwell, our staff are trained to respond immediately and correctly — not to panic and wait.

Dog Body Language Expertise. Reading canine body language is a professional skill developed through years of daily observation. Our team can identify stress signals, discomfort, and escalating tension at early stages — long before a situation becomes a problem.

Emergency Protocols & Vet Partnerships. PAWS maintains established relationships with Downtown Animal Clinic (primary) and Western Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre (emergency). All staff know exactly what to do and who to call in any medical situation.

Health & Vaccination Requirements. Every dog in our care must meet current vaccination standards. This is not negotiable — it protects every dog in the pack, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Incident Reporting & Owner Communication. Any incident — no matter how minor — is documented and communicated to the owner on the same day. Transparency is a core part of how we operate.

Ongoing Training Culture. Our team's learning does not stop after onboarding. Eric and our senior staff continually share knowledge, discuss behaviours they're observing, and hold each other to a high standard every day.

Before any dog joins PAWS, they go through a structured assessment day — free of charge. This protects the existing pack and ensures every new member is a good fit. Learn how to register your dog.

The Proof

The Results Speak for Themselves

16 years of outcomes over certifications.

16 Years of Continuous Operation

PAWS has been operating since 2010 — without a single year off. Sixteen years of daily pack management, thousands of dogs, and hundreds of families served. That kind of sustained trust is earned through consistent, excellent outcomes — not marketing.

4.8★ Average — 160+ Google Reviews

A 4.8-star rating across 160+ verified reviews is a real signal. These are Calgary dog owners who trust us with their animals every week. The reviews consistently cite our calm, knowledgeable staff and the positive changes in their dogs' behaviour and confidence.

Calmer, Better-Socialised Dogs

Dogs that attend PAWS regularly become calmer, less anxious, and better behaved overall. The structured pack environment, daily walks, and genuine socialisation with dogs of all types produces real behavioural improvements. Our clients notice it. Their dogs show it.

A Pack That Doesn't Incessantly Bark

Visit PAWS and you will immediately notice the difference. Our pack is calm and settled — not a frenzied mass of anxious dogs bouncing off the walls. That calm is not accidental. It is the direct result of our structured integration method and the quality of our daily management.

Want to see the PAWS methodology in action? Come in for a free first day. No commitment. Just bring your dog and watch what happens.

Book Your Free First Day

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do PAWS staff have formal dog training certifications?

All PAWS staff hold pet first aid certification and are trained extensively in dog body language and pack behaviour. Our approach prioritizes 16 years of daily hands-on experience over paper credentials. We have found that real-world pack management — working with dozens of dogs every day across every temperament and size — builds a level of competency that classroom training cannot replicate.

What is the staff-to-dog ratio at PAWS Dog Daycare?

PAWS maintains a ratio of 15–20 dogs per staff member, depending on size and temperament. However, because of our one-new-dog-per-day introduction policy and our structured socialization methodology, our packs are genuinely calm and controlled — not chaotic. The industry-standard ratio concern does not apply the same way when the dogs themselves are well-integrated and well-managed.

Why doesn't PAWS separate dogs by size or energy level?

PAWS intentionally integrates dogs of all sizes, breeds, and energy levels together. Every dog needs to learn how to co-exist safely with other dogs — separating by size or temperament is a sign that a facility lacks the competency to manage a mixed pack safely. At PAWS, dogs learn real social skills alongside each other, which makes them better behaved and less anxious in all environments.

How does PAWS train new staff members?

New staff follow a graduated responsibility model — the same careful, trust-building approach we use to introduce new dogs. They start by walking 2–3 dogs, then build up to managing 8, then take on dog lunches, potty breaks, and eventually full room supervision. No one is thrown into the deep end. Competence and confidence are built together, gradually.

What does a typical day look like for a dog at PAWS?

Every dog at PAWS gets three outdoor potty breaks throughout the day and a 45-minute supervised pack walk daily. The day also includes structured play, rest periods, and continuous staff supervision. It is a full, structured day — not a dog sitting in a kennel waiting to go home. See a full breakdown of what to expect.

Learn More