Once a dog has found their daycare groove, the next question is almost always about money. “She loves it. How do I do this more often without it adding up?” That is exactly what daycare packages are for, but a package only saves you money if it fits the way you actually use daycare.
This post walks through how doggy daycare cost works at Hobnob, how single days compare to packages, and a simple way to choose. Current prices for both locations are always on our doggy daycare and daycare packages pages, so you can follow along with the real numbers.
What a day of daycare includes
The price of a daycare day pays for the day your dog has, and most of that is people. At Hobnob your dog spends the day in a play group matched to their size and temperament, moving between indoor play areas and outdoor yard time, with beds and sofas for breaks and an optional nap from noon to two. Play groups are supervised at no more than fifteen dogs to one person, and you can watch along on the webcams.
That is the same whether you book one day or thirty. A package does not change what your dog gets. It only changes what each day costs you.
The choices that set the price
A few choices decide what a daycare day costs, single day or package.
Full day or half day comes first. A half day is up to five hours, any time we are open, and it costs less than a full day. Half days suit puppies, seniors, dogs who tire quickly, and anyone who just needs the middle of the day covered.
Next is whether to add a swim. Every daycare option comes in a version with a recreational swim included, which is a nice way to make swimming a habit, especially in winter.
Then location. Full day rates differ between our Lakewood and Denver Tech Center buildings, so the right price depends on where you will actually drop off.
Finally, how many dogs. The first dog pays the full rate and a second dog costs less, both on single days and in our two-dog packages.
Single days
Single days are the most flexible way to use daycare. You can book online from the daycare page and choose to pay online by card or pay in store when you drop off, or you can call your location and book with a person. They are perfect for occasional days: the long meeting day, the day the contractors are at the house, the day after a long weekend of travel.
If you use daycare a few times a month or less, single days are usually the right answer. There is nothing to keep track of and nothing to use up.
Packages
Packages bundle daycare days together at a lower price per day. At Hobnob they come in 5, 10, 20 and 30 day sizes, and each size is available as full day or half day, with or without a swim, for one dog or two. The bigger the package, the lower the price of each day.
A package works a little differently from a single day. You choose your location, package and size on the packages page and pay online by card, including tax. Then you book your days as you need them: book each visit on the daycare page and choose Pay in store, since the day is already paid for, or call your Hobnob location and our staff will put it on the calendar with you.
How to pick the right plan
Start with a realistic count of how often your dog actually goes, not how often you hope they will. Look at the last couple of months if you can.
If your dog goes once or twice a month, stick with single days. The savings on a package will not matter if days sit unused.
If your dog goes about once a week, a 5 or 10 day package is the natural fit. You will use it up at a comfortable pace and still save on every day.
If your dog goes two or three times a week, the 20 day package is where the math starts to work hard in your favor. That is roughly a month to a month and a half of a steady routine.
If daycare is part of every workday, the 30 day package gives you the lowest price per day we offer.
A couple of tips from the front desk. Match the package to the building you really use, because prices differ by location. If you have two dogs, the two-dog packages cover both at once and cost less than two separate packages. And if you are torn between two sizes, pick the one you are sure you will use; the best deal is the one that does not leave days on the shelf.
Questions people ask about packages
People often ask whether they can mix full days and half days in one package. Each package is one type, so choose the one that matches your usual day. If your routine is mixed, a package for the common day plus single days for the exceptions usually works best.
Can I share a package between two dogs? Our two-dog packages are built for exactly that, covering both dogs on each day.
What about a dog who has never been to Hobnob? Every new dog completes a first-time registration and a FREE trial day of daycare before buying a package. That way you know your dog loves it before you commit to twenty days.
For anything else about how packages work, call either location. We would rather spend five minutes on the phone helping you pick than have you buy the wrong one.
Not sure daycare is right yet?
If you are still deciding whether daycare suits your dog at all, start with our post on whether doggy daycare is good for dogs, then book the FREE trial day. Once your dog is coming home happy and tired, come back and pick a package. Call Lakewood at 303-233-8990 or the Denver Tech Center at 303-945-4449 with questions.