DIPs (Drop-in-Play)

Here at A Better Pet, LLC. we cannot emphasize enough the importance of safe off-leash, dog-on-dog play. Especially during a pandemic when everyeone who can is getting a dog and options for socialization are more challenging than ever. That’s why we offer the priceless bonus of Drop-in Play session (DIPs) ABSOLUTELY FREE to our clients and their dogs.

Think of Drop-in Play as A Really Cool Dog Park With Lifeguards. Join other dog owners and their dogs (in moderation as local ordinances dictate during Covid-19) in an enriched environment in a safely fenced-in yard with lots of things to do: Sniff, race, play, dig, wade/swim (seasonal), cavort, learn, relax. Your dog needs the opportunity to be with its own kind — they actually learn best from their own species. The dogs who attend DIPs regularly learn appropriate social behavior from Rachel’s dogs and other long-time client dogs, who use species-specific signals like body language and sounds to help puppies and new dogs develop social skills safely. It’s also really cool to watch regardless of your age and is often healing to participants from the stress of busy lives and most especially during the quarantine rules.

Humans aren’t bystanders at DIPs. DIPs provide a unique opportunity to practice what you’ve learned in training, identify your dog’s Calming Signals, ask Rachel questions about The Six Pillars of Dog Training Wisdom, bond with other dog owners, and much more.

Check our calendar for schedules. We update 2-3 x per week depending on weather forecasts.

To participate in DIPs:

You must be a client of A Better Pet, LLC, and have had at least initial part of private training (on zoom in 2020) or be enrolled in zoom group training.
You need to sign our Client Waiver!
You need to RSVP before you come — there’s a limit on the number of dogs, and sometimes changes in the weather affect the DIP schedule at the last minute. Rachel can let you know about changes, but only if she knows you’re planning to attend.

Remember, DIPs are a lifetime perk only for our pet and service dog clients.