Grand Opening for Puppy Haven

Puppy Haven, the new dog boarding and daycare center in Brookhaven, held it’s grand opening on Monday to a crowd of neighborhood pets as dog owners came in one after another to tour the facility.

Manager Laura Bryant was swamped as she took in pets for free first day temperament tests to determine their eligibility to participate in the center’s programs. 

“For everyone’s first day we do a temperament test where we observe them in the daycare environment,” Bryant said.

Temperament tests last at least four hours.  During this time, employees look for signs of overly aggressive or submissive dogs.  Aggressive dogs are expelled from the center while submissive dogs are asked to leave if their behavior does not improve.

“If they don’t build confidence then it’s probably not worth it,” Bryant said.

Employees monitor all indoor and outdoor dog groups, supervising their play in the same way that children’s day care leaders do.  Web cameras are installed in all of the playrooms so that owners can monitor their pets on the center’s website. 

For dogs that spend the night, apartments offer traditional 4x6 floor to ceiling cages with dog beds.  For an additional $5 per night, pets can stay in suites, which are slightly larger (5x7) rooms, which will eventually be equipped with flat screen TVs.

“So they can watch movies at night,” Bryant says.  “I think that it comforts them.”

Puppy Haven currently offers bathing, boarding and daytime care services.  They also sell organic dog food, snacks and bedding.  Eventually, Bryant says they will provide full-grooming services as well.

Puppy Haven is accepting all breeds at all ages except for pit bulls, akitas and mastifs.