Playgroup
What is it?
Playgroup is a weekday, daily adventure for your dog that is run by the top pros in the business. If you want the best for your dog, and you appreciate the value of routine mental and physical stimulation in the safest possible conditions, this is for you!
Playgroup begins with a pick up at your home. A Happy Pants walker will walk your dog with a couple of new dog-pals through the neighborhood before taking them to the AGDT training center on 85th street to play off leash with other dogs under the attentive supervision of the Happy Pants team. Play sessions are moderated using techniques developed by the team at Amanda Gagnon Dog Training to encourage calm socialization and healthy play while reinforcing established manners and trained cues. Following the play sessions, dogs will be walked together through the neighborhood again and returned home.
When and Where is it?
Playgroups are Monday through Friday from 11:45am-2:15pm.
Pick ups will start at 11:45am. ( rough window )
Drop offs will start 2pm. ( rough window )
Each dog is out and about for approximately 2.5 hours rain or shine.
Dogs must reside between W72nd and 92nd between Central Park West and Riverside BLVD. on the Upper West Side and allow outside dogs to enter their building common areas without a fuss.
Playgroups will begin in January 2025!
Why Happy Pants?
We interviewed dozens of dogcare companies before finding a group who we thought would be up to the task. What can we say? We have high standards. We needed a group who cared deeply about the dogs and humans, who took training and safety seriously, who had a playful and attentive approach, and who had a strong administrative team. Happy Pants is trusted by local veterinarians and The Mayor's Alliance for NYC animals, and they have been trusted and recommended by our own clients in the local community for 16 years. Plus, they were enthusiastically interested in receiving safety and handling training, as well as basic manners and play-based training education from the team at AGDT. (Can you believe that most dog walkers don't have any safety and handling training? What the --??!!)
Who will love this new playgroup?
Dogs between 10-months and 10-years of age.
Dogs must be completely friendly and comfortable around other dogs and people!
Dogs must have graduated from an AGDT course, Private training or the equivalent in order to benefit. (Because Happy Pants uses established cues and behavior techniques during the playgroup, and your dog will be a little confused if they don't know those behaviors. It also helps us keep all of the dogs safe by having only well-known dogs participate).
Humans who love to see their dogs thriving with other dogs and people in the community.
Humans who understand the benefits of ongoing socialization.
Humans who like to provide their dogs with routine play-based, carefully supervised, wellness care.
Which dogs and humans would not love playgroup?
Dogs with any amount of anxiety, reactivity, or aggression with strangers, other dogs, or new environments.
Dogs who've never been to AGDT before. (sign up for a class or some day school instead, then you can be transferred when ready)
Dogs who live out of the radius. Some exceptions may be accommodated.
Dogs who are sick or would have pain or discomfort with physical exertion.
Dogs whose building management does not allow outside dogs to enter.
Dogs whose homes are difficult to access, cannot provide keys for entry, or similar problems with pickups and dropoffs.
Humans who don't love it when their dog returns home, tired and sloppy from a romp in the park. (Happy Pants will wipe down in rainy conditions, but if you're very fastidious this may not be a good match).
Humans who don't like to have their dogs walked with other friendly dogs.
Humans who only need care once a week or at random days throughout the month.
What’s the price tag?
$85 ad hoc. (This price is set to discourage ad hoc booking. More info below.)
$150 for 2 days/week (that’s $75/outing, and it’s best for low energy dogs.)
$210 for 3 days/week. (that’s $70/outing, and it’s best for low or moderate energy dogs.)
$270 for 4 days/week (that’s $67.50/outing, and it’s best for moderate to high energy dogs.)
$325 for 5 days a week (that’s $65 per outing, and it’s best for higher energy dogs. This will be too much for low energy dogs).
**5, 4, and 3x per week sign ups include a free fi collar, so you monitor from home how awesome your dog’s day is. While supplies last.
How many days should I sign up for?
Dogs love patterns and routine. The best thing you can do to help your dog feel safe and stable is to establish a regular schedule for their outings and adventures. That’s why we discourage ad hoc booking. Does it always need to be routine? No. But overall, setting up a dog adventure for a few routine days each week will help them to thrive, make lifelong friends (both human and dog), and feel confident and comfortable in their environment. Confidence and comfort is the single greatest predictor of a well-balanced, well-mannered dog. That's what we all want for our dogs, so at AGDT we strongly encourage establishing routines and do what we can to discourage chaotic dog care schedules.