Dog daycare is one of the fastest-growing segments in pet care, but most software treats it as an afterthought bolted onto grooming tools. Animal Friends OS has a dedicated daycare module with attendance tracking, capacity management, play group assignments, and package passes built in from the ground up.
Daycare is high-volume. You might have 30, 50, or 80 dogs in your facility on a busy day. Without proper capacity management, you end up over-ratio, understaffed, and one incident away from losing your license. Without play group tracking, you mix a reactive 90-pound dog with a timid 15-pound puppy.
The right software does not just organize your business. It protects it. Capacity limits prevent overbooking. Temperament grouping keeps dogs safe. Pickup authorization prevents the wrong person from walking out with someone else's pet. Animal Friends OS handles all of this.
| Expense | Traditional Route | With Animal Friends OS |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare management software (12 months) | $1,140 - $3,000/yr ($95-250/mo) | $540/yr ($45/mo) |
| Professional website | $5,000 - $8,000 | $175 (one-time) |
| Branded mobile app | $9,000 - $15,000 | $299 (one-time) |
| Client portal with activity updates | $2,000 - $5,000 | Included |
| SMS notifications & reminders | $600 - $1,200/yr | Included |
| Package/pass management system | $500 - $1,500/yr | Included |
| First-year total | $18,240 - $33,700 | $1,014 |
Real-time headcount by play group. See your staff-to-dog ratio at all times. Know exactly how many dogs are in your facility and where they are.
Set maximum capacity per play group and per facility. The system prevents overbooking automatically so you never exceed your ratio or your license limits.
Assign dogs by size, energy level, and temperament. Behavioral notes carry forward from visit to visit so new staff always know each dog's personality and needs.
Automatic pricing based on check-in and check-out times. No manual calculations, no disputes. Package credits auto-deducted at check-in.
Sell 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day passes. Track remaining credits per client. The system auto-suggests renewal when credits run low, securing your recurring revenue.
Record authorized pickup people during registration. Staff verify identity at checkout. Unauthorized individuals cannot pick up without direct owner confirmation.
Check-in confirmations, check-out alerts, and activity updates sent automatically via SMS. Parents know their dog is safe without calling you.
Generate daily report cards with activities, play group assignments, feeding notes, and photos. Clients love the transparency and it drives rebooking.
Professional website ($175) and branded mobile app ($299) as one-time builds. Parents book daycare, buy passes, and check their dog's status from anywhere.
A dog daycare needs daily attendance tracking, capacity management, temperament-based play group assignments, half-day and full-day pricing, package pass tracking, pickup authorization, and automated check-in/out notifications. Animal Friends OS includes all of this at $45/mo flat with no per-dog or per-staff fees.
Traditional daycare software costs $95-$250/mo, often with per-staff surcharges and SMS add-on fees. Animal Friends OS is $45/mo flat with everything included. Combined with the website builder ($175 one-time) and app builder ($299 one-time), you save $15,000-$30,000 in first-year technology costs.
Yes. You set maximum capacity per play group and per facility. The system prevents overbooking automatically. Dogs are assigned by size, energy level, and temperament, with behavioral notes carrying forward to every visit so your staff always knows each dog.
Yes. You can sell 5-day, 10-day, and 20-day passes. Credits auto-deduct at check-in, and the system suggests renewal when credits run low. Package pricing helps with cash flow by securing recurring revenue upfront.
Yes. Automated notifications go out at check-in and check-out. If you add iDogCam live cameras, parents can also watch their dog in the play groups in real time from their phone or computer.
You record who is authorized to pick up each dog during registration. At checkout, staff verify the person against the authorized list. Unauthorized individuals cannot pick up without owner confirmation, keeping every dog safe.
14-day free trial. No credit card required. Set up in under an hour.