As 2022 comes to a close.

Dear Pet Parents. As I reflect on this last year, I have so many things to be thankful for. COVID has changed the world and challenged us all to rethink so many aspects of our lives. There has been a major shift in the workforce and supply chain issues have affected us all. In 2022, I adjusted my focus, planned ahead, and have ended up with the best team we have ever had at Luckydog.

What does this mean to you? That we have been, and will continue to, execute on our promises, exceed your expectations, and deliver the highest care possible to your beloved dog(s).

I have never been prouder of my team and am looking forward to the exciting things to come in 2023. Scroll down for a recap of the year and a preview into what we have planned for the future!

The Importance Of Enrichment

Our enrichment program has elevated the daycare experience at Luckydog and offers a more well-rounded experience for the dogs in our care.

It provides the opportunity for your dog to work one-on-one with one of our staff members, participating in a variety of activities which include but are not limited to agility, trick training, scent work games, and confidence building exercises.

Dogs who regularly participate in enrichment build better relationships with our staff, are more engaged with and responsive to handlers while in the daycare space & are more relaxed and confident while interacting with other dogs.

The benefits of enrichment are substantial. This year we started requiring all new clients to supplement their dog’s daycare with one of our enrichment club subscription options. If you joined our family before 2022, and are interested and/or have any questions please reach out to our team. You can also read more about our enrichment program here.

As with all of our services, we understand that each dog is an individual and we will work with you to find which services/schedule will best meet their needs.

New Van – Expanded Services!

Say hello to the new and improved Luckydog Limo, aka Big Sexy! I ordered her in Jan 2022 and we just received the build date of Feb 6th, 2023. This baby is loaded with all the things we need to offer a safe and comfortable ride for your fur babies. The upgrades include, but are not limited to:

• All-Wheel Drive to help grip the road
• (Precious) Cargo barrier for safety
• More space allowing us to transport XL dogs
• AC/Heat throughout the vehicle for comfort
• Blind Spot Assist for additional safety & protection & more!

The addition of this van is allowing us to expand one of our most popular services – Adventure Club! Scroll down to read more about our new offerings coming in 2023!

Canine Academy

The Luckydog Canine Academy is more than just learning to sit, stay and walk on a leash.

With extensive knowledge on canine behavior and body language, you’ll learn the “why” behind your dog’s behaviors, helping you to understand your canine companion on a deeper level.

With our private training options, we can customize a training plan that best meets the needs of you and your dog.

The benefits of positive reinforcement training are endless, including, but not limited to, strengthening your dog’s ability to problem solve, higher levels of confidence, and willingness to navigate new environments. It also provides mental stimulation, which in turn can help to prevent boredom-related, attention seeking, or destructive behaviors.

Our certified trainer prioritizes your dog’s well-being throughout the training process, helping you to meet their needs and set them up for success with your lifestyle.

You can read more about our Canine Academy here. If you are ready to speak with our trainer and develop a plan that works best for you, please fill out an intake form. Our certified trainer, Stacey, will reach out to you with 48 hours to get things started.

We look forward to being the source that helps you strengthen the relationship between you and your dog, allowing you to enjoy their companionship to the fullest.

The Luckydog Difference

One of the challenges of the (non-veterinary) pet care industry is that there is no regulation whatsoever. Yes, you read that right. No license is required to run a business and there is no minimum standard overseen by a governing body. As a former client of 5 years, I’ve been in your shoes, and that fact is very concerning.

It was apparent to me early on, that we needed to set our own standards and that bar needed to be set high. It was easy to determine how high as I only had to think of my own dog and the level of care that I expect for him.

With the help of an amazing management team, and some like-minded industry professionals, we have made huge strides over the past few years. In 2022, Stacey and Jocelyn took over day to day operations which allowed me to focus on something that has been on my to do list for far too long. I have been spending most of my time these days developing comprehensive standard operating procedures and documenting them in an electronic format that is available for use on everyone’s phone. Our SOP app is a highly efficient tool, with a wealth of topics and tasks, that is easy to access and interact with. Why does this matter to you? Because it has helped to streamline day to day operations and ensures that we deliver the high level of care that we promise to each of our clients.

Luckydog operates well above the industry norm. Our team is led by certified (and soon to be certified) Fear Free and positive reinforcement trainers. Each team member is required to complete a professional training program that includes animal behavior and medication administration protocols. All employees must complete the training and be authorized by management to medicate animals and also have a clean driving record to operate the van. In addition, continuing education is required for management and offered to our top performers on an annual basis.

We are committed to always improving and will continue to seek out leaders in the industry to help us stay on the cutting edge so we may continue to truly offer the highest level of care possible to your pup(s).

Reader’s Choice Best of 2022

Nothing is more rewarding than having my team recognized for their hard work and dedication. We are grateful to everyone who voted for us. This is the fourth year in a row that we have received this award and it means a lot. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Featured Employee – Jocelyn Ruf

Jocelyn started her career at Luckydog in 2016 and has become one of the most valuable members of our team. Her passion for the dogs, dedication to our mission, great mind for business, and extensive knowledge of Luckydog, earned her a promotion to Operations Manager in 2022. She works closely with our awesome daycare manager, Stacey, to manage the day to day tasks to ensure that the dogs receive a high level of care and operations run smoothly.

Jocelyn has been enrolled in business management courses since 2021 and was recently awarded our Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner scholarship. Upon completion of this program, Jocelyn will have a more thorough understanding of canine behavior and how dogs learn & process the world in which they live. This new skill set will increase her ability to make recommendations in regards to which services will best suit the needs of each individual dog and allow them to have a wholesome, positive experience while in our care.

Her eagerness to learn and substantial contributions to Luckydog over the years have been a huge asset to the team. It has been truly rewarding to watch her blossom and grow and I am looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for her. Feel free to tell her how awesome she is when you see her at weekday pickups! We are lucky to have her on our team!

Lucky Spa – A Cut Above

Veterinarians consider regular grooming to be an essential part of preventative care for pets, to maintain healthy skin and coat. Luckily we have a very skilled groomer in house to take care of your dog’s specific needs. Laurel is in high demand and is currently booked out for much of 2023. She still has some availability for new standing appointments. If you would like to ensure a spot with her please email Laurel today.

Daycare clients, please note that Laurel should still be able to accommodate add-on a la carte services (nail trims, etc) on most days.

We look forward to helping your pup look and feel their best!

Employee Benefits – A Banner Year!

Do you remember when I said the last round of price adjustments would be benefiting my team? Well, I am a woman of my word and in 2022 we hit two major milestones:

• Health insurance, vision, & dental
• 401k with a company match

It has always been important to me to be a good employer and a main goal of mine from day one was to obtain these benefits for my team. Finding and retaining high quality employees is one of my most important jobs and offering these benefits has made that job easier. I am also now able to impress upon my team the importance of investing in themselves now and the significant positive impact it can have on their future.

I would like to give a huge shout out to our clients. It is with your continued support that this has been able to happen and my entire team is extremely grateful!

Expanding Services!

As many of you are aware, Adventure Club is one of our most popular services. It is understandable, with pups being able to fly free, in small groups, off-leash, in the Oregon wilderness. We have had a waitlist for sometime and took steps last year to help solve that problem.

Our new van should be up and running in mid-Feb barring any further delays. We will be reaching out to those on the waitlist and also to pet parents that may have thought their pup wasn’t eligible due to the reliable recall requirement. This has changed as we now have access to fenced private land in addition to the 400 acres that we having been using to date.

It is exciting times at Luckydog and we are so proud to be able to expand our services and help improve the Luckydog experience! Please reach out if you have any questions as we would love to discuss getting your dog signed up!

Luckydog App

If you aren’t using our app on a regular basis you are missing out on the good stuff! From the app you can:

• View your pup(s) playing on one of our 5 live cameras
• Book reservations
• Upgrade and add-on to existing reservations
• Submit vaccinations & more

Please make sure to have push notifications turned on so that you can receive important, and sometimes fun, messages from us. Trust me when I tell you that no one is more annoyed by unwanted notifications on my phone than me. Because of this we make sure that we do not send out messages too frequently and try to make them count when we do.You can download the app from the Apple Store or Google Play

Premium Food & More

It is important to me that everything associated with Luckydog is high quality. That is why I partnered with a board certified veterinary nutritionist to help me choose a nutrition line for your dog. Open Farm’s high standards include:

• Ethical Sourcing – They audit all of their farms, plants, and facilities for the most stringent animal welfare standards.
• Sustainability – They are on a 10 year journey to minimize their carbon footprint and minimize emissions
• Transparency – You can instantly trace every single ingredient in every Open Farm product back to its origin.

You can read Dr. Bullen’s full review of Open Farm here. We also carry a multitude of enrichment games hand picked by our trainer Stacey and fun toys to keep your pups entertained. By purchasing these items through Luckydog, you help support our team and make a difference in securing our future. Did you also know that we have a rewards program? Come inside and ask us about it!

Dog Of The Month

In 2023, we are starting a new tradition at Luckydog – Dog of the Month! We will be highlighting a new pup every month and sharing their special personality quirks and what makes them such an amazing member of our family. We are also working on some other fun ideas, like a calendar, for 2024. If you have any suggestions please email us and share your ideas. We would love to hear from you!

Happy New Year!

We are fortunate to have such awesome clients and are very lucky to be able to care for their amazing dogs.

We wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2023!

Happy New Year we love you all!