Every careful Dallas daycare gates entry on two things: current core vaccines and a temperament check. Here is exactly what we require, why each rule exists, and what happens if your dog is not the right fit for group play.
We require the core canine vaccines, the same baseline most reputable facilities use. Before any dog joins open group play, we confirm current records from your veterinarian. The non-negotiables are rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella. These protect the entire group, because daycare puts social dogs together in shared air and space all day.
| Vaccine | What it covers | Why daycare requires it |
|---|---|---|
| Rabies | Rabies virus | Required by law for dogs in Texas and a baseline for any group setting. |
| DHPP | Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza | Guards against serious, contagious illnesses that spread between dogs. |
| Bordetella | A common cause of kennel cough | Kennel cough spreads fast wherever dogs share space, so it protects the whole room. |
| Canine influenza (optional) | Dog flu strains | Not always required, but worth asking your vet about based on local exposure. |
One note we take seriously: we are a daycare, not a veterinary office. We tell you what we require to keep group play safe, but we do not give medical advice. Your veterinarian decides the right vaccine schedule, the right form of a vaccine, and any timing for your specific dog. When in doubt, ask them first.
Bordetella protects against a leading cause of kennel cough, and kennel cough is the single most common reason a daycare locks down vaccine rules. It is highly contagious, airborne, and spreads quickly among dogs sharing a room, which is the exact environment daycare creates. One unprotected dog can put a whole group at risk.
That is why we will not waive it. A dog that arrives current on Bordetella is protecting every other dog in the playroom, not just themselves. Your vet can advise whether the injectable or intranasal form suits your dog, and how often to booster, since Bordetella is usually given more frequently than the multi-year core vaccines. The point of the requirement is simple: keep one dog’s exposure from becoming everyone’s problem.
Vaccines protect against illness. The temperament evaluation protects against mismatched play. Before a new dog joins a full group, a staff member runs a short, supervised introduction to a small, calm group and watches how your dog greets other dogs, shares space, and handles normal play and a pause in the action.
This is how we group dogs by size and temperament, which is the backbone of safe daycare. A confident, bouncy young dog and a cautious senior belong in different groups, and the evaluation is how we sort that out before anyone gets overwhelmed. It usually takes one visit. We are not grading your dog. We are reading play style so we can place them where they will actually have a good time. To see how this connects to overall safety, our guide on supervision and ratios goes deeper.
Not every dog is a group dog, and a facility worth trusting will tell you so honestly. Some dogs are guarded around strangers, some get overstimulated in a busy room, and some simply prefer their own space. None of that makes them a bad dog. It means open group play may not be the right product for them.
When that happens, we look at alternatives instead of forcing a poor fit. Options can include a smaller, lower-energy group, a different time of day when the room is quieter, a half day to build tolerance gradually, or boarding with private rest space rather than open play. For shy or reactive dogs, we go slow and may revisit the evaluation later as the dog gains confidence. If group play genuinely is not for your dog, we would rather say so than collect a fee for a stressful day. The next step is to figure out the right facility fit, which our guide on how to choose a dog daycare in Dallas walks through, and puppies have their own timeline covered in when a puppy can start daycare. You can also see our full intake on the daycare page.
Your dog needs to be current on the core vaccines: rabies, DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza), and Bordetella, the kennel cough vaccine. We confirm records from your vet at intake before any group play. Some owners also choose canine influenza coverage, which your vet can advise on based on local risk and exposure.
Bordetella protects against a common cause of kennel cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads fast anywhere dogs share air and space. Because daycare puts social dogs together all day, we require current Bordetella to protect the whole group, not just one dog. Your vet can tell you whether the injectable or intranasal form fits your dog best.
Each vaccine has its own schedule, so rabies and DHPP often run on multi-year cycles while Bordetella is usually given every six to twelve months. We ask for documentation from your veterinarian showing your dog is current under that schedule. If a vaccine lapses, you will need a booster and, for some vaccines, a short wait before group play. Your vet sets the exact timing.
The evaluation is a short, supervised introduction to a small group so we can see how your dog plays and shares space. It is not pass or fail in a harsh sense. Some dogs simply do better in smaller groups, on a different schedule, or in boarding with private rest rather than open play. We are honest about fit instead of forcing a dog into a group that stresses them.
A puppy needs to complete the core vaccine series before joining open group play, since young immune systems are more vulnerable. The timing depends on your puppy’s vaccine schedule, so your vet is the right source for the exact date. Once records are current and confirmed, puppies join a gentler, smaller group built for their age and energy.
Send your dog’s vaccination records and we will confirm requirements and schedule the temperament evaluation. Climate-controlled rooms, cage-free play, and staff trained in pet first aid.
Last updated: May 28, 2026.
