Daycare Games
A competition for dog daycare and pet care facilities built around safety, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Competition Guidelines
What Are the Daycare Games?
Raising the Bar for Pet Care Facilities
The Daycare Games is a competition created by The Dog Gurus to help dog daycare and pet care facilities measure and celebrate their commitment to safe off-leash play. Participating facilities follow published competition guidelines that emphasize fair play, safety protocols, and staff teamwork.
Rooted in the mission of Robin Bennett and Susan Briggs, the Daycare Games reflect a core belief: that off-leash dog play should be both fun and safe, and that facilities willing to hold themselves to a higher standard deserve recognition.
Whether you're a seasoned daycare operator or exploring ways to strengthen your team's skills, the Daycare Games offer a structured, engaging way to benchmark your practices against industry-leading safety standards.
Competition Guidelines
Fair, Safe, and Transparent
Published competition guidelines govern every aspect of the Daycare Games. These guidelines ensure that all participating facilities compete on a level playing field and that safety remains the top priority throughout the event.
- Clear rules for participation and scoring
- Safety-first protocols for all off-leash activities
- Team-based challenges that reflect real-world daycare operations
- Transparent judging criteria aligned with industry best practices
The guidelines are available to all participants and reflect The Dog Gurus' commitment to raising safety standards across the pet care industry.
Why Participate?
Strengthen Your Team, Showcase Your Standards
Participating in the Daycare Games signals to clients, staff, and the broader pet care community that your facility takes off-leash safety seriously. It's an opportunity to:
- Build staff confidence and teamwork through structured challenges
- Demonstrate your facility's commitment to ongoing education and safety
- Connect with a community of like-minded pet care professionals
- Earn recognition for excellence in off-leash dog play management
The Daycare Games are part of a broader suite of resources from The Dog Gurus — including courses, the Safety Pledge, and member-exclusive content — all designed to help pet care professionals excel.
Ready to Join the Competition?
Learn more about the Daycare Games and how your facility can get involved.
Meet the Founders