ABOUT GOOD DOG SOCIETY

  • Good Dog Society is a boutique, small-group dog daycare designed around a simple idea: a good dog day is about balance.

    We combine socialisation, structured play, enrichment and rest in a calm, thoughtfully managed environment.

    We're not trying to be the biggest daycare. We're creating a place where dogs can have fun, feel comfortable and genuinely be cared for.

    Small groups. Calm play. Genuine care.

  • Good Dog Society is coming to Cardiff, Lake Macquarie.

    We're currently working through the final details of our new home and will share the exact location as soon as everything is official.

    Paws crossed for October 2026.

  • We're currently working towards an October 2026 opening.

    We'll confirm our official opening date as soon as everything is ready to go.

    Want to be one of the first to know? JOIN THE FOUNDING PACK

  • We believe daycare should be about more than simply keeping dogs busy.

    GDS is intentionally designed around small groups, thoughtful supervision, structured play, enrichment and genuine downtime.

    We take the time to understand each dog and create an environment where they can socialise, play, explore and - importantly - switch off.

    Less chaos. More good dog.

THE DOGS

  • GDS is designed for dogs who are comfortable being part of a small-group daycare environment.

    Every dog will complete an assessment before joining the pack. We'll consider things like temperament, confidence, age, energy levels, play style and ability to settle.

    Our priority is making sure GDS is the right fit for your dog - and that your dog is the right fit for the group.

  • Yes, puppies may be welcome at GDS, provided they're developmentally and socially ready for the daycare environment and meet our health and vaccination requirements.

    We'll consider each puppy individually, including their age, confidence, socialisation experience and ability to cope with the daycare environment.

    Puppies don't need to be thrown into the deep end.

    We'd much rather help them build positive experiences at their own pace.

    Final puppy age and vaccination requirements will be confirmed before opening.

  • All dogs attending GDS will need to be appropriately vaccinated and up to date with their required vaccinations.

    We'll provide our full vaccination requirements before your dog's first visit.

    We'd rather be boring about vaccinations than sorry.

  • We consider each dog individually and will have clear requirements around age, health, behaviour and suitability. Our full desexing policy is available here. (link to final GDS policy)

  • Potentially, yes - depending on the individual dog.

    Being nervous doesn't automatically mean a dog isn't suited to GDS.

    Our assessment process helps us understand how a dog responds to new people, dogs and environments and whether we can provide the right level of support.

    Some dogs simply need time and a thoughtful introduction.

    However, GDS may not be suitable for dogs who find group environments highly stressful or who cannot safely participate in a small-group setting.

    The goal isn't to make every dog fit GDS. It's to find the right dogs for GDS.

  • We don't simply put dogs together based on size.

    When creating groups, we'll consider factors including:

    • Age 

    • Size 

    • Energy level 

    • Confidence 

    • Play style 

    • Temperament 

    • Social experience 

    • Individual personality 

    Groups may change throughout the day depending on the dogs and what they need.

    The right dog. The right group. The right day.

  • We intentionally keep GDS small, with a lower dog-to-staff ratio than traditional daycare environments. 

    This allows our team to provide closer supervision and more individual attention.

    Small by design. 

THE DAY

  • Every day will be a little different, but the general rhythm will include:

    Arrive & settle: A calm transition into the day.

    Play & socialise: Thoughtfully managed interaction with other dogs.

    Explore & enrich: Activities designed to engage both body and brain.

    Rest & reset: Dedicated downtime to decompress and recharge.

    More play & enrichment: Depending on the individual dog and group.

    Head home: Happy, settled and ready to tell you all about it.

  • Absolutely.

    Rest is deliberately built into the GDS day.

    Dogs don't need to play constantly to have a good day. Downtime allows them to decompress, recharge and practise settling in a stimulating environment.

    We want dogs going home happy and fulfilled - not completely fried.

  • Activities will vary depending on the dogs, their needs and the day.

    These may include:

    • Structured social play 

    • Scent and sniffing activities 

    • Exploration 

    • Interactive games 

    • Puzzle-based enrichment 

    • Individual activities 

    • Calm sensory experiences 

    • Supervised downtime 

    The aim isn't to constantly entertain dogs.

    It's to give them interesting things to do - and permission to do nothing for a while too.

PRACTICAL

  • GDS will operate Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, with specific drop-off and collection windows to help keep arrivals and departures calm and organised.

  • Daycare is $70 per day, with discounted 10-day and 20-day passes available.
    See our full pricing & packages →

  • We'll have a simple booking process designed around regular, manageable group sizes.

    Before booking daycare, your dog will need to:

    1. Complete an enquiry/application 

    2. Provide required health and vaccination information 

    3. Complete an assessment 

    4. Be approved for the GDS environment 

    5. Set up their booking profile 

  • For regular daycare, we'll keep the list simple.

    Your dog should arrive:

    • Wearing a secure collar or harness 

    • With identification 

    • On a lead at drop-off and collection 

    • Ready for a good day 

    We'll provide the rest of the GDS environment.

    If your dog has specific dietary, medication or care requirements, we'll discuss these with you before their first day.

    And yes, please label anything you send in. Dogs aren't renowned for their organisational skills.

  • The health and safety of the whole pack comes first.

    If your dog becomes unwell during the day, we'll assess the situation, contact you and arrange collection where appropriate.

    Dogs displaying signs of contagious illness should remain at home until they're well and meet our return-to-daycare requirements.

    We'll provide our full illness and exclusion policy before your dog's first visit.

  • We'll never expect a dog to simply "get over it."

    If a dog is struggling to settle, our team will assess what's happening and adjust their environment, activity or interactions where appropriate.

    Sometimes a dog needs more time. Sometimes they need a quieter space or some downtime. And sometimes we may decide that daycare isn't the right environment for them.

    Our priority will always be the dog's wellbeing - not forcing them to fit the program.

Still have a question?

No problem - we know there’s a lot to know when it comes to your dog.

Send us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

We’re all ears. 🐾