Every dog is unique, from their personality to how they interact with the world around them. At Room for Paws, we not only celebrate this, but include temperament as one of the many factors we useto determine playgroups. Understanding your dog's temperament is key to ensuring they're happy, comfortable, and thriving in every environment, whether at home, the park, or boarding and daycare.
What Is Dog Temperament?
A dog's temperament is their natural disposition—the way they react to people, other dogs, and new experiences. While training and socialization shape behavior, temperament is more ingrained, much like personality traits in humans. For example, some pups are social butterflies, whereas others are more independent or reserved. Neither is "better" than the other—it's all about understanding and providing for their needs.
The Different Types of Dog Temperaments
While every dog is an individual, most temperaments fall into a few broad categories:
- Social: These dogs thrive in groups, love to play, and get along with everyone. Whether they’re bonding with friends in our classic daycare or getting extra enrichment from one of our training and enrichment programs, they enjoy every opportunity to connect, play, and learn alongside others.
- Reserved: Some pups need a little extra time to warm up. While our classic daycare is small-group, these pups might prefer micro playgroups where they can socialize on an even smaller scale, such as in our Clever Canine Small Group Program.
- People-Oriented: Some dogs are more selective about their canine companions and prefer human interaction. For these pups, our Clever Canine Solo Program—which offers private play with staff—can be a perfect fit.
- High-Energy: These dogs love adventure and thrive with extra enrichment. In addition to romping with friends and burning off energy on the agility equipment in our classic small-group daycare, these pups can also benefit from our curated add-ons—such as interactive puzzles or additional programs during their stay.
No matter what your pup’s temperament is, we have curated, enriching programs to enhance their experience during their daycare or boarding stay. For example, dogs of all temperaments benefit from our Hike for Paws program, where they can enjoy sensory-rich, stimulating, private leashed nature hikes.
Why Temperament Matters in a Group Setting
When dogs are placed in environments that suit their temperament, they thrive. That's why we at Room for Paws have our Daycare Discovery Day—a free session where experienced staff assess a dog's temperament, playstyle, and social skills before their first daycare or boarding stay. This helps us curate our playgroups to ensure every pup is placed in an environment where they feel confident and comfortable.
Give Your Pup Their Perfect Playgroup Match
At Room for Paws, we believe that dog care shouldn't be a "one size fits all" approach. In addition to having the smallest playgroups in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we are always refining groups to ensure every pup has the best time with their newfound best friends.
Our family business takes the time to thoroughly customize your pup's experience because we believe your dog's health, safety, and fun are paramount. Whether your dog thrives in an energetic group, prefers small social settings, or enjoys one-on-one private time with humans, there's a perfect playgroup waiting for them at our facility.
To take advantage of our free Discovery Day, please fill out a reservation form, and don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions. We can't wait to welcome your pup into the Room for Paws family!
