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Register for STEPP
We are currently accepting new clients for STEPP! To register please begin by completing our registration form and scheduling a standard training consultation.
If you are a current daycare and/or training client and interested in STEPP, please email training@theboardhound.com to check your pup’s eligibility.
For current STEPP clients, you may schedule your sessions via the STEPP scheduling portal.
Socialization, Training, Enrichment, & Play Program (STEPP)
STEPP is great for adolescents that need safe outlets for socialization or to practice their social skills in a more structured environment. STEPP is not daycare, but a customized day of enrichment and social outlets for your rambunctious pup. STEPP provides custom social outlet sessions with other pups match by temperament, and includes additional enrichment activities throughout the day. Our staff can customize social outlets and enrichment based on each dog’s energy level and social tolerance.
STEPP can optionally be combined with Play School sessions as well (see Enrichment Services for details on Play School).
Example of a Typical Day in STEPP
7am-9am: Drop-off – Breakfast (optional owner provided)
9am-10am: Social Outlet Session 1
10am-10:30am: One-on-One Games with Staff Member
10:30-12pm: Independent Enrichment (Frozen Kong & Rest Time)
12pm-1pm: Social Outlet Session 2
1pm-1:30pm Brain Games or Leash Manners
1:30-3pm: Independent Enrichment (Digestible Chew & Rest Time)
3pm-4pm: Social Outlet Session 3
4pm-4:30pm: Exploration Walk
4:30-5pm: One-on-One Games with Staff Member
5pm-7pm: Pick up – Dinner (optional owner provided)
Price & Requirements
Full-Day: $95
Offered Monday-Thursday at our Old Town location.
STEPP is most appropriate for dogs 6-24 months old, with appropriate social behavior with people and other dogs.
Drop-off is between 7am and 9am and pick up is between 5pm and 7pm. We prefer that drop off and pick up do not occur between 9am and 5pm to avoid disruption of STEPP, but if you need to drop off later than 9am and/or pick up earlier than 5pm, we will accommodate special requests if planned in advance.
All dogs participating in STEPP must be comfortable being isolated to a suite. All our suites have a dog bed and are appropriately sized for your dog. If your dog has separation anxiety, please discuss that with our training department. Dogs participating in STEPP are not required to be altered.
At The Board Hound, our daycare was established to enrich the lives of the dogs in our community through healthy outlets for play and socialization. Our smaller play groups come with individual care and attention, while providing a low-stress, safe, daycare environment at our locations in Arlington and Alexandria. Since safety is our first priority, we start with providing a high staff to dog ratio of about 1 to 10. This personalization ensures that your dog is always closely monitored.