Dog Daycare for Puppies in Austin: Start Them Right

Quick Answer:

Big Little Paws offers dog daycare for puppies in Austin for vaccinated puppies who are planning to be spayed or neutered. Puppies 7 months and older must already be spayed or neutered. All new dogs go through our full intake process: New Dog Inquiry Form, approval, free meet and greet, and a free trial daycare day. We keep groups small and pair puppies by energy and behavior. Daycare ranges from $30-45 per day depending on the package you pick. Fill out the New Dog Inquiry Form below to get started!

Submit New Dog Inquiry Form

Dog Daycare for Puppies in Austin: Why Starting Early Matters

If you have a puppy, you already know they have energy for days. And that energy needs somewhere to go!

Puppies start learning how to read other dogs from the very beginning. The early weeks with their littermates are where that foundation gets built. By the time they come home with you, that learning is already in progress. The more positive social experiences they have with other dogs early on, the better equipped they are for the rest of their life.

We have seen it over and over at Big Little Paws. Puppies who get regular supervised socialization early come out of it with such a good foundation. They are calm, they know how to play nicely, and they genuinely love being around other dogs. It is the best thing for them.

Dog Daycare Is Not a Replacement for Training

Daycare is socialization, not training. We are not dog trainers. You will need a certified trainer to fix your pup's behavioral issues.

We actually prefer dogs who have already been through basic obedience training. Well-trained dogs are easier to manage in a group, more comfortable in new environments, and just have a better time overall. If your puppy has not started training yet, we strongly recommend doing that alongside or before regular daycare.

We are not able to take on puppies with serious behavioral issues or a history of aggression. That would not be fair to our other dogs.

When Can My Puppy Start Dog Daycare for Puppies in Austin?

We accept puppies as long as they are up to date on their vaccines. There is no strict age cutoff as long as their vaccines are complete and you are planning to get them spayed or neutered. Before their vaccines are finished, the risk of illness in a group setting is just too high.

Once your puppy is vaccinated, fill out the New Dog Inquiry Form and let's get the process started!

Submit New Dog Inquiry Form

Do Puppies Need to Be Spayed or Neutered for Daycare?

Puppies under 7 months can join us as long as they are up to date on their vaccines and planning to be spayed or neutered. We just need to know that is in the plan. Once they hit 7 months, they need to be spayed or neutered before they can come back.

Dogs who are never going to be spayed or neutered are not a good fit for Big Little Paws.

Intact dogs are more likely to hump other dogs, mark inside the house, and become reactive or aggressive. In the case of intact females, we simply cannot risk an unwanted pregnancy with another client's dog. We take our responsibility to every dog in our care seriously and this policy protects the whole pack.

If your puppy is not yet fixed but has a scheduled surgery date, let us know when you fill out the New Dog Inquiry Form and we will work with you on timing.

How Does the Process Work for New Puppies?

Every new dog at Big Little Paws goes through the same process. You fill out the New Dog Inquiry Form below. We review it and reach out if we think your pup is a good fit.

Submit New Dog Inquiry Form

From there, we schedule a free meet and greet at our house in University Hills (78723). You come check out our home, get comfortable with us, and see exactly where your dog will be staying. Your pup gets to explore the space, meet some of the dogs, and start getting familiar with the environment. And we get to assess whether it is a good fit for everyone. It is a really important step and we love doing them!

If the meet and greet goes well, we schedule a free trial daycare day. You drop your dog off in the morning, we watch how they do with the group all day, and you pick them up that evening. We send updates, photos, and videos throughout so you can see exactly how they are doing. If everything goes well, your dog is approved and ready to start booking!

How Do We Group Puppies at Daycare?

We group dogs by behavior and energy, not by age or size.

Puppies almost always land in the higher-energy group, which makes total sense. They are fast, mouthy, and still figuring out boundaries. We make sure every dog in that group can keep up and that no one is getting overwhelmed or picked on.

We would never put a timid older dog next to a wild puppy who has not learned manners yet. That is not fair to either of them. We pay attention to the dynamics all day and adjust when we need to.

How Often Should a Puppy Come to Daycare?

Two to three days a week is the sweet spot for most puppies. That gives them enough social time to keep building their skills without burning them out.

Some high-energy puppies do great coming four or five days a week. It really depends on the dog!

What we do not recommend is throwing a puppy into daycare right away. Start with two days a week, see how they recover at home, and go from there. A tired and happy puppy is the goal.

Submit New Dog Inquiry Form