A dog that looks friendly in the lobby can be a liability in a play group. A temperament assessment before enrollment is not bureaucracy — it is the safety protocol that protects your staff, your other dog clients, and the new dog itself.
One dog fight in your daycare facility creates: one or more injured dogs, potentially injured staff, an emergency vet bill dispute with the owner, a traumatized client who never comes back, and a social media post that's very bad for business. A proper temperament assessment filters out incompatible dogs before they enter the group.
Step 1 — Intake interview: Ask the owner about the dog's history with other dogs, any known aggression, prey drive, resource guarding, or reactivity. If they say "great with other dogs" — probe deeper. Most owners underestimate their dog's triggers.
Step 2 — Neutral zone introduction: Introduce the new dog to a neutral area with no other dogs present. Observe body language during handling: ear set, tail position, hackle response, eye softness, response to touch.
Step 3 — Controlled meet-and-greet: Introduce one calm, socially confident dog from your facility on leash in a neutral area. Observe greeting behavior: appropriate sniff, play bow, appropriate play initiation, or any stiffening, guarding, or over-arousal.
Step 4 — Small group assessment: If step 3 passes, introduce to a small group of 2-3 calm dogs in a larger space. Observe for 10-15 minutes. Watch for resource guarding around toys or staff attention, mounting/humping as a dominance behavior, over-arousal that doesn't self-regulate.
Don't mix high-energy young dogs with older, low-energy dogs in the same play group. Both groups are miserable. Sort by energy level and play style: High energy/large play: young, athletic, high-drive dogs. Moderate play: adult dogs, moderate energy, appropriate social skills. Calm/senior: older dogs, low energy, prefer calm interaction. A fourth "supervised solo" category for dogs who prefer human interaction over dog interaction.
Record the outcome in the dog's profile: pass, conditional pass (specific triggers noted), or not suitable for group daycare. Include notes on play style, energy level, any observed sensitivities, and recommended group placement. This information should be visible to every staff member who handles that dog going forward.