☀️ Heat Days and Daycare: Why We’re Hitting Pause (and What It Means for You)

We wanted to share a new policy we're implementing this summer—and more importantly, the why behind it.

Starting in June and continuing through September, we’ll be pausing all play-only daycare bookings on days when the forecasted high is 25°C or higher.

We know this may be disappointing to some, especially those who love sending their dogs to us for social time and yard fun. But after years of watching dogs during hot spells—monitoring everything from hydration to panting rates to post-visit recovery—we’ve come to a clear conclusion:

Just because we can make it work in the heat doesn’t mean we should.

🐾 Why 25°C?

That number may not raise alarm bells for humans, but for dogs, it can be a tipping point—especially when you factor in:

• breed-specific sensitivities (think Frenchies, Bostons, and Pugs)

• thick-coated breeds who don’t shed easily in summer

• high arousal and excitement levels during social play

• full sun exposure, even in short bursts

  
  

Add those up, and the result is unnecessary risk. Even with our shaded yards, cool-down protocols, and constantly refreshed water stations, there are limits to what’s safe—especially when the dogs are too busy having fun to self-regulate. Overheating can happen fast, and we don’t believe in rolling the dice with anyone’s dog.

🌡️ How We Decide: Our Forecast Sources

We’ve chosen two reliable sources for forecasting and heat-day planning:

1. Environment Canada – weather.gc.ca This is the most accurate public forecasting model for our region, with up-to-date alerts and trends.

2. The Weather Network – theweathernetwork.com Their 14-day outlook helps us plan further in advance, and they provide detailed hourly breakdowns for trend tracking.

   
   

We monitor both daily, and if either reports a forecasted high of 25°C or higher, we mark that day as a “heat day.”

This gives us the clarity we need to make consistent, safety-first decisions—not just last-minute calls.

📅 What If I Already Booked?

If you’ve booked a daycare date in advance and it later falls on a heat day, don’t worry—we’ll reach out with as much notice as possible. We’ll discuss options together, including rescheduling, credits, or alternative care plans if daycare is essential for you that day (e.g. work, medical appointments, etc.).

This change only applies to play-only/social visits.If your dog is coming for boarding, or if you’re in a bind and truly need care, reach out. We’ll always try to help in a safe and manageable way.

💛 We Know This Might Be Inconvenient…

…but it’s a policy built on respect—for the dogs, for our staff, and for the environment we’re creating here. We believe in care that goes beyond checkboxes. And when the temperature climbs, that means saying no to yard parties, even when they’re fun, because safety has to win.

Thanks for rolling with us.We’ll continue to monitor and communicate updates, and if you ever have questions—please just ask.

We’re always here, doing our best to keep your pups happy, safe, and thriving.