Social Saturdays
Evidence-based socialization with a critical first step: all dogs complete behavioral evaluation before placement in either direct group sessions or C-SIP stay-and-train program.
Our Three-Step Process
- Step 1 – Evaluation Day (11 AM – 5 PM): Every new dog completes a 6-hour behavioral analysis with our certified canine behavior consultant. This determines if your dog is ready for direct group enrollment or needs preparatory stay-and-train work.
- Step 2 – Placement: After evaluation, we recommend either:
- Direct to Social Saturdays: For socially appropriate dogs ready for group dynamics
- C-SIP Program: For dogs needing foundational skill building (most puppies can go direct)
- Step 3 – Program Participation: C-SIP is a stay-and-train. Social Saturdays are group sessions (owner attends at least first session, demo dogs present, professionally supervised).
This evaluation-first model ensures we never place a dog in a group setting before they’re ready. Whether your dog is socially appropriate, reactive, or a blank-slate puppy, the evaluation tells us exactly where to start.
Step 1: Behavioral Evaluation Day (Mandatory for All Dogs)
Duration: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (6 hours)
Owner Presence: NOT present—this is drop-off evaluation
Conducted by: Certified Canine Behavior Consultant
This is NOT casual daycare. Your dog undergoes systematic behavioral analysis including: play style assessment, threshold testing, reactivity screening, and social signal evaluation. Every interaction is documented to determine appropriate program placement.
- Price: $175 (professional consultation rate for 6-hour behavioral analysis)
- Outcome: Placement recommendation delivered same day via phone/email
- Direct to Social Saturdays: For dogs showing appropriate social skills, self-regulation, and confidence (most puppies and well-socialized adults)
- C-SIP Referral: For dogs showing reactivity, lack of social skills, or confidence deficits (detailed on C-SIP page)
After Evaluation: Two Paths
The evaluation tells us which program fits your dog’s current needs
Reactive, Anxious, or Socially Unskilled
Evaluation identifies reactivity, low confidence, or inappropriate play. Phase 1 is a stay-and-train boarding program (owner absent) using demo dogs to build foundational skills before group exposure.
Lacks Self-Regulation
Evaluation shows your dog gets over-aroused or doesn’t read other dogs’ signals. Phase 1 teaches threshold management and consent-based interactions with demo dogs before group dynamics.
Socially Appropriate Adult
Evaluation confirms appropriate play, good self-regulation, and confidence. Your dog can enroll directly in Saturday group sessions (you attend first session, then may be approved for drop-off).
Healthy Puppies (4-12 months)
Most friendly puppies can go direct after evaluation. We confirm play style is appropriate and match them with suitable partners. You’ll learn to foster healthy development while they play.
Key Principle: Dogs cannot “graduate” to Social Saturdays without being socially trained. If your dog needs C-SIP, we require completion before group placement. That’s non-negotiable for safety.
Stay-&-Train with Demo Dogs (Owner Absent)
Your dog boards at our facility for consecutive days (duration: 1 day to 1+ months, customized to need). Our certified behaviorist conducts multiple daily training sessions using highly trained demo dogs as teaching tools. Behavior is documented extensively. You receive video updates at each phase graduation.
Environment: One-on-one training, controlled demo dog interactions, documented progress, video updates. Owner NOT present. Dog cannot “graduate” to group without demonstrated social skill acquisition.
Important: Some dogs complete C-SIP and never attend Social Saturdays—that’s appropriate for some individuals. The goal is your dog’s welfare, not forcing group participation.
About Our Demo Dogs
Our demo dogs are resident dogs trained specifically for C-SIP work. They are NOT random “friendly dogs”—they are canine teachers trained to:
- Model calm greeting behavior
- Give appropriate play invitations
- Respect other dogs’ boundaries (consent-based)
- Demonstrate healthy self-regulation
- Remain neutral during conflict (don’t escalate)
They are used in both Phase 1 (one-on-one teaching) and Phase 2 (group role models). This accelerates learning through appropriate modeling—a core principle of the C-SIP methodology.
Next Step: Schedule Evaluation
All dogs begin with the 6-hour behavioral evaluation. That’s non-negotiable.
Puppy families: Most friendly puppies go directly to Social Saturdays after evaluation. But we still need that evaluation to ensure proper placement and match-making.
