confidence club
Confidence Club
A specialized, small group, enrichment dog daycare program!
Confidence Club is designed to meet special social, physical, and emotional needs of dogs using mental stimulation, social activities, group training, breed specific activities & more. Like a daycare within a daycare!
Confidence Club is under the direction of Jason and supervised by Metro Dog’s Fear Free certified Daycare Trainers – Beth and Sydney. Operated by Confidence Club Assistants – Caroline, Maura, Matthew, and Dani.
See more details below…
My pup has attended Metro Dogs Confidence Club for a few months now, and he absolutely loves it! He gets so excited every time we pull in the daycare parking lot. During his time there, he gets plenty of physical exercise by playing with other dogs. He also gets plenty of mental stimulation with treat puzzles and trainings.
I love Metro Dogs because they tire my puppy out. When he gets home, he sleeps for hours! It’s fantastic! The staff is kind and knowledgeable. I also love the extra activities your dog can participate in throughout the year. I definitely recommend this place!
Who is Confidence Club for?
If your dog is slow to warm to people and/or dogs, nervous, or fearful this may be the perfect thing. But your dog doesn’t have to be fearful, they can also be socially selective, disinterested or bored in larger group play, overstimulated during the larger playgroups, or even just needing something more to their routine. Some examples of dogs who might benefit from this enrichment dog daycare program are:
- The introverts of the doggy world — ones that want to be social but are easily overwhelmed
- Commercial Breeder (puppy mill) Rescues
- Dogs adopted that came without history of their previous living situations/social experiences
- Dogs that experienced trauma during previous social activities (attacked, ganged up on, etc.)
- Dogs displaying cautious behaviors in familiar situations and are generally nervous/cautious
- Dogs with heavy daycare use who might burn out with too much group play
- Dogs who “outgrew” the general daycare environment
- Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety
- Dogs who are overstimulated by the number of dogs in their playroom
- Dogs that have their cup filled by human interactions versus dog interactions
Features
Variety enrichment activities throughout the day!
In Confidence Club, dogs can enjoy a variety of enriching activities throughout their day. Instinctual activities like digging and tearing appropriate items. Scent engagement with a variety of unique and interesting smells. Brain games, treat puzzles & other mentally stimulating and relaxing activities.
Build up your dog’s confidence!
Confidence building games with a variety of surfaces, noises, & objects. Tunnels, hoops, & teeter totters oh my! Professional trainers will slowly and carefully introduce your dog to new games and equipment building their confidence to play and engage slowly and carefully.
Slow-paced, safe, & soothing environment
Confidence Club is designed to be slow-paced for dogs who are environmentally sensitive with a lower number of dogs in group compared to regular daycare. All dog-on-dog play/socializing is facilitated by staff. Professional trainers specializing in social behavior will slowly introduce dogs and guide them through socializing/playing in a way that is enjoyable to all dogs in the room. Audio stimulation via nature soundtracks is provided throughout the playroom. Confidence Club also provides an opportunity for relationship building with Metro Dog’s Fear Free Certified humans.
Confidence Club is every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday at Metro Dogs!
Mondays and Thursdays are small dogs only.
Dogs must be under 40lbs to attend Confidence Club, this guideline is in place for safety purposes.
Tuesdays and Fridays are medium to large dogs only.
Dogs must be 40lbs and over to attend Confidence Club, this guideline is in place for safety purposes.
Morning Half Day | Full Day | Afternoon Half Day |
| 9am to 1pm | 9am to 6:30pm | 12pm to 6:30pm |
| Drop off 9am – 9:30am | Drop off 9am – 9:30am | Drop off 12pm – 1pm |
| Pick up 12pm – 1pm | Pick up 3:30pm – 6:30pm | Pick up 3:30pm – 6:30pm |
*If your dog is unable to be in a regular daycare playroom and you need to drop off before 9:00am, please notify us in advance. If your dog is eligible to be in a regular daycare playroom, you may drop off during daycare hours (7am-9:30am) without notice.
**If you pick up after 5:00pm and your dog is NOT eligible to join a regular daycare playroom, they will be kenneled until pick up.
Requirements
❑ Veterinary information
↓↓ Current on all the following Veterinary information ↓↓
| Age | under 16 weeks | 16 weeks – 6 months | 6 months & older |
| Vaccines required | DHPP | DHPP | DHPP |
| Bordetella | Bordetella | Bordetella | |
| Fecal exam (Neg.) | Fecal exam (Neg.) | Fecal exam (Neg.) | |
| Rabies | Rabies | |
| Canine Influenza (Bi-valent pref.) | |||
| Leptospirosis |
I highly recommend Metro Dog! Roxy has been going to Metro for 2 years. The staff is knowledgeable, kind, and easy to communicate with. Roxy attends regular daycare and Confidence Club. A typical day may include nose work games, puzzles, special treats, free-play inside and outside, and nap time. They also offer training, grooming options, and overnight care. 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Brenda, Roxy’s paw-rent
Confidence Club has helped my dog Sterling become much more comfortable around people he doesn’t know and has given him more confidence being in new environments. The staff is really caring. Sterling has also taken advantage of training with Sydney during his 1/2 day CC experience and he really likes her as well. – Holly, Sterling’s paw-rent
My dog loves Confidence Club! She was a pandemic puppy, so not socialized as well as she would have been in non-pandemic times, and she’s a little nervous around other dogs. I work remotely, so she’s been around me 24/7 for most of the last three years, so she has a little separation anxiety as well – and the girl is an attention hog.
Confidence Club is exactly her speed. She gets to play with fewer dog frens in a smaller space than regular daycare, with lots of interesting enrichment options, and she gets the extra love and pets and attention that she craves from staff. There are crates she can go into to self-regulate when she needs to calm down, and if it comes to it, can also wear her Thundershirt.
I love the webcam options, and the “report cards” I get after her visit. Couldn’t ask for more!
-Bree D, Banjo’s paw-rent
We love Metro Dogs! I’ve now had the pleasure of having two dogs attend their daycare and I trust them 100% to give my dog the best care. My youngest pup Dobby can be reactive due to fear, yet he’s so excited to go every time and has many “girlfriends” now. The Confidence Club option has been a winner for him. The play rooms are not over crowded, they separate the dogs based on age, size, and temperament, and the staff are top notch. – Kim, Dobby’s paw-rent
Meet our Confidence Club Staff!
Jason (he/him)
– Confidence Club Manager
Jason is a Fear Free certified professional.
Zephyr (they/them)
Zephyr joined the Metro Dogs team in 2019! They came to us with experience from other doggy daycares, but stuck with Metro Dogs due to the level of care provided to the dogs and the staff. Zephyr feels that Metro Dogs staff take extra effort to ensure dogs have a happy, healthy time at Metro Dogs. Zephyr strongly relates to the Golden Retriever personality, but as a favorite breed, chose the French Bulldog. They don’t own any dogs, but do have two cats, Masaru and Mystic Max.
While Zephyr finds the dog care industry something fulfilling and plans to continue down the path, they also enjoy arts and performing! They said “Music and dance as well as most forms of artistic expression absolutely thrill me.” You can find Zephyr out in nature, dancing like a fool to their favorite tunes, or performing in a Duluth based burlesque troupe!
Zephyr is a Fear Free certified professional.
Matthew (he/him)
Matthew was feeling burnt out working at a mall job and felt the need to reconnect with animals, which he always felt passionate about. Matthew found Metro Dogs and fit right in! Matthew has two rats, Ducky and Mouse. In his spare time, he draws and paints, as he went to school for studio art at UW Stout. He mainly works in ink and gouache. He loves drawing animals and people with a surrealist approach. He also loves traveling with his boyfriend and his favorite local restaurant is Vegan East!
Since starting at Metro Dogs, Pomeranians have stolen Matthew’s heart. But not just that, Matthew said “My favorite thing about working with dogs is working with the anxious ones! Seeing a dog go from anxious to goofing around makes my heart so full and is the reason I work with dogs. I love to be a part of that transformation.”
Maura (she/they)
Maura joined the Metro Dogs team in February 2023. You might catch her walking around Minnehaha Falls or Lake of the Isles, snagging a coffee from Bob’s Java Hut or some pho from Quang, or maybe even enjoying the NE cidery, Sociable. More likely, you know her for the one who gives every dog a good brush and pampering during their play day.
Maura loves forming bonds with each of the dogs here and enjoys knowing they feel safe with us. In fact, Fear Free methodology is something that Maura finds important and unique about Metro Dogs. While she graduated from St Catherine University for Political Science and International Relations, Maura has always felt a calling for the dog care industry.
Her favorite breed is the Golden Retriever (she grew up with two!) but since her roommate’s dog, Theo, isn’t a social guy, you might consider all the dog’s at Metro Dogs her favorite.
Maura is a Fear Free certified professional.
FAQ
How much does Confidence Club cost?
A single full day of Confidence Club is $72.00.
Packages are available to reduce the per day cost for the program:
A package of 5 full days of Confidence Club are $335.00.
A package of 10 full days of Confidence Club is $620.00.
A single half day of Confidence Club is $42.00.
A package of 5 half days of Confidence Club are $200.00.
A package of 10 half days of Confidence Club are $380.00.
Confidence Club packages expire 6 months from purchase date.
What if my dog attends regular daycare but I want them to try Confidence Club, too?
We are happy to give it a try! Confidence Club is a unique setting, so not all dogs that attend regular daycare will fit in or enjoy it. If you want to give your pup a taste of enrichment dog daycare, but don’t want them to spend all day in Confidence Club, we have an enrichment add on service available on the days we host Confidence Club. Your dog would spend the majority of their day in their regular playroom, during the day the Confidence Club team will pull them out of their playroom and have them join in on the enrichment dog daycare play and enrichment items. Send Jason an email if you’d like to discuss the idea of your dog trying Confidence Club or Confidence Club Enrichment add on!
What if my dog has never attended doggy daycare before?
Previous daycare experience is NOT required! In fact, Confidence Club is designed as a program to help ease your dog into the daycare environment! However, there are going to be some limitations. Dogs that have never interacted with other dogs and show extreme fear or reactivity towards dogs they see should first be evaluated by a certified professional dog trainer. Additionally, dogs must be able to be handled safely by our staff members and cannot be aggressive towards people. We’re always happy to discuss individual situations!
My dog has some behavior quirks, could they still be in Confidence Club?
Don’t we all have some quirks?! Jokes aside, yes of course. All dogs have some sort of behavior quirk, however, there are going to be things that aren’t suitable for the social environment. Excessive mounting, barking, and resource guarding are all behaviors that can be problematic in the social environment. These behaviors can sour other dog’s experiences. If your dog displays these behaviors, we recommend speaking with a certified professional dog trainer first. If your dog has other quirks, we’re happy to discuss these with you before you register.
My dog has never been to Metro Dogs, how do I get started in Confidence Club?
Your first step will be to register in our software, here is the direct URL: https://metrodogs.portal.gingrapp.com/#/public/login .
After you have completed the registration, you’ll need to gather your dog’s veterinary information. We will need your dog to be current on Rabies, DHPP (or equivalent), Bordetella vaccines and a negative fecal exam. You can upload this information electronically to your Gingr account, or you can send it to us through email at [email protected] .
Once we verify this veterinary information, we’ll reach out to you to get your dogs first day scheduled with us! As our groups are curated to fit different sizes, play styles, and personalities, we will plan for your dog to attend on a day that will best suit them based on the profile information you submitted.
Is Confidence Club similar to day training programs?
While we work with each dog towards specific goals, we are not a suitable replacement for a day training program. The goal of Confidence Club is balancing physical, mental, and social wellness for each dog. This means that there is less focus on training each dog and more focus on the whole wellbeing for the dog.
If you are looking for Day Training, we recommend you check out our webpage: https://metrodogsmn.com/day-training/
Confidence Club :
(noun)
a specialized small group enrichment dog daycare program, or daycare within a daycare. It’s designed to meet special social, physical, and emotional needs of dogs using mental stimulation, social activities, group training, breed specific activities & more.
Confidence Club is under the direction of Jason and supervised by Metro Dog’s Fear Free certified Daycare Trainers – Beth and Sydney. Operated by Confidence Club Assistants – Caroline, Maura, Matthew, and Dani.
See more details below…
Who is Confidence Club for?
If your dog is slow to warm to people and/or dogs, nervous, or fearful this may be the perfect thing. But your dog doesn’t have to be fearful, they can also be socially selective, disinterested or bored in larger group play, overstimulated during the larger playgroups, or even just needing something more to their routine. Some examples of dogs who might benefit from this enrichment dog daycare program are:
The introverts of the doggy world — ones that want to be social but are easily overwhelmed
Commercial Breeder (puppy mill) Rescues
Dogs adopted that came without history of their previous living situations/social experiences
Dogs that experienced trauma during previous social activities (attacked, ganged up on, etc.)
Dogs displaying cautious behaviors in familiar situations and are generally nervous/cautious
Dogs with heavy daycare use who might burn out with too much group play
Dogs who “outgrew” the general daycare environment
Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety
Dogs who are overstimulated by the number of dogs in their playroom
Dogs that have their cup filled by human interactions versus dog interactions
My dog loves Confidence Club! She was a pandemic puppy, so not socialized as well as she would have been in non-pandemic times, and she’s a little nervous around other dogs. I work remotely, so she’s been around me 24/7 for most of the last three years, so she has a little separation anxiety as well – and the girl is an attention hog.
Confidence Club is exactly her speed. She gets to play with fewer dog frens in a smaller space than regular daycare, with lots of interesting enrichment options, and she gets the extra love and pets and attention that she craves from staff. There are crates she can go into to self-regulate when she needs to calm down, and if it comes to it, can also wear her Thundershirt.
I love the webcam options, and the “report cards” I get after her visit. Couldn’t ask for more!
-Bree D, Banjo’s paw-rent
My pup has attended Metro Dogs Confidence Club for a few months now, and he absolutely loves it! He gets so excited every time we pull in the daycare parking lot. During his time there, he gets plenty of physical exercise by playing with other dogs. He also gets plenty of mental stimulation with treat puzzles and trainings.
I love Metro Dogs because they tire my puppy out. When he gets home, he sleeps for hours! It’s fantastic! The staff is kind and knowledgeable. I also love the extra activities your dog can participate in throughout the year. I definitely recommend this place!
-Dayna, Breezy’s paw-rent
When :
Confidence Club is every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday.
Mondays and Thursdays are small dogs only. Dogs must be under 40lbs pounds to attend Confidence Club, this guideline is in place for safety purposes.
Tuesdays and Fridays are medium to large dogs only. Dogs must be 40lbs and over to attend Confidence Club, this guideline is in place for safety purposes.
Morning Half Day | Full Day | Afternoon Half Day |
| 9am to 1pm | 9am to 6:30pm | 12pm to 6:30pm |
| Drop off 9 to 9:30am | Drop off 9 to 9:30am | Drop off 12 to 1pm |
| Pick up 12 to 1pm | Pick up 3:30 to 6:30pm | Pick up 3:30 to 6:30pm |
*If your dog is unable to be in a regular daycare playroom and you need to drop off before 9:00am, please notify us in advance. If your dog is eligible to be in a regular daycare playroom, you may drop off during daycare hours (7am-9:30am) without notice.
**If you pick up after 5:00pm and your dog is NOT eligible to join a regular daycare playroom, they will be kenneled until pick up.
Where :
Metro Dogs Daycare is conveniently located on the edge of North Loop in downtown Minneapolis with plenty of free and easy parking! We are less than a mile from these major freeway exits:
- Washington Ave & W. Broadway, off the 94 exit ramp
- Olson Memorial Highway exit from 94
- Washington / 3rd Ave. N exit from 394
I highly recommend Metro Dog! Roxy has been going to Metro for 2 years. The staff is knowledgeable, kind, and easy to communicate with. Roxy attends regular daycare and Confidence Club. A typical day may include nose work games, puzzles, special treats, free-play inside and outside, and nap time. They also offer training, grooming options, and overnight care. 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Brenda, Roxy’s paw-rent
We love Metro Dogs! I’ve now had the pleasure of having two dogs attend their daycare and I trust them 100% to give my dog the best care. My youngest pup Dobby can be reactive due to fear, yet he’s so excited to go every time and has many “girlfriends” now. The Confidence Club option has been a winner for him. The play rooms are not over crowded, they separate the dogs based on age, size, and temperament, and the staff are top notch. – Kim, Dobby’s paw-rent
Confidence Club has helped my dog Sterling become much more comfortable around people he doesn’t know and has given him more confidence being in new environments. The staff is really caring. Sterling has also taken advantage of training with Sydney during his 1/2 day CC experience and he really likes her as well. – Holly, Sterling’s paw-rent
What happens during Confidence Club?
Activities Include:
Small group, facilitated play/socializing.
Professional trainers specializing in social behavior will slowly introduce dogs and guide them through socializing/playing in a way that is enjoyable to all dogs in the room.
Confidence building games with a variety of surfaces, noises, & objects.
Scent engagement with a variety of unique and interesting smells.
Audio stimulation via nature soundtracks.
Instinctual activities like digging and tearing appropriate items.
Tunnels, hoops, & teeter totters oh my! Professional trainers will slowly and carefully introduce your dog to new games and equipment building their confidence to play and engage slowly and carefully.
Brain games, treat puzzles & other mentally stimulating and relaxing activities.
Relationship building with safe, trained, Fear Free Certified humans.
Meet our Confidence Club Staff!
Jason (he/him)
Jason is a Fear Free certified professional.
Zephyr (they/them)
Zephyr joined the Metro Dogs team in 2019! They came to us with experience from other doggy daycares, but stuck with Metro Dogs due to the level of care provided to the dogs and the staff. Zephyr feels that Metro Dogs staff take extra effort to ensure dogs have a happy, healthy time at Metro Dogs. Zephyr strongly relates to the Golden Retriever personality, but as a favorite breed, chose the French Bulldog. They don’t own any dogs, but do have two cats, Masaru and Mystic Max.
While Zephyr finds the dog care industry something fulfilling and plans to continue down the path, they also enjoy arts and performing! They said “Music and dance as well as most forms of artistic expression absolutely thrill me.” You can find Zephyr out in nature, dancing like a fool to their favorite tunes, or performing in a Duluth based burlesque troupe!
Zephyr is a Fear Free certified professional.
Matthew (he/him)
Matthew was feeling burnt out working at a mall job and felt the need to reconnect with animals, which he always felt passionate about. Matthew found Metro Dogs and fit right in! Matthew has two rats, Ducky and Mouse. In his spare time, he draws and paints, as he went to school for studio art at UW Stout. He mainly works in ink and gouache. He loves drawing animals and people with a surrealist approach. He also loves traveling with his boyfriend and his favorite local restaurant is Vegan East!
Since starting at Metro Dogs, Pomeranians have stolen Matthew’s heart. But not just that, Matthew said “My favorite thing about working with dogs is working with the anxious ones! Seeing a dog go from anxious to goofing around makes my heart so full and is the reason I work with dogs. I love to be a part of that transformation.”
Maura (she/they)
Maura joined the Metro Dogs team in February 2023. You might catch her walking around Minnehaha Falls or Lake of the Isles, snagging a coffee from Bob’s Java Hut or some pho from Quang, or maybe even enjoying the NE cidery, Sociable. More likely, you know her for the one who gives every dog a good brush and pampering during their play day.
Maura loves forming bonds with each of the dogs here and enjoys knowing they feel safe with us. In fact, Fear Free methodology is something that Maura finds important and unique about Metro Dogs. While she graduated from St Catherine University for Political Science and International Relations, Maura has always felt a calling for the dog care industry.
Her favorite breed is the Golden Retriever (she grew up with two!) but since her roommate’s dog, Theo, isn’t a social guy, you might consider all the dog’s at Metro Dogs her favorite.
Maura is a Fear Free certified professional.
FAQ
How much does Confidence Club cost?
A single full day of Confidence Club is $72.00.
Packages are available to reduce the per day cost for the program:
A package of 5 full days of Confidence Club are $335.00.
A package of 10 full days of Confidence Club is $620.00.
A single half day of Confidence Club is $42.00.
A package of 5 half days of Confidence Club are $200.00.
A package of 10 half days of Confidence Club are $380.00.
Confidence Club packages expire 6 months from purchase date.
What if my dog attends regular daycare but I want them to try Confidence Club, too?
We are happy to give it a try! Confidence Club is a unique setting, so not all dogs that attend regular daycare will fit in or enjoy it. If you want to give your pup a taste of enrichment dog daycare, but don’t want them to spend all day in Confidence Club, we have an enrichment add on service available on the days we host Confidence Club. Your dog would spend the majority of their day in their regular playroom, during the day the Confidence Club team will pull them out of their playroom and have them join in on the enrichment dog daycare play and enrichment items. Send Jason an email if you’d like to discuss the idea of your dog trying Confidence Club or Confidence Club Enrichment add on!
What if my dog has never attended doggy daycare before?
Previous daycare experience is NOT required! In fact, Confidence Club is designed as a program to help ease your dog into the daycare environment! However, there are going to be some limitations. Dogs that have never interacted with other dogs and show extreme fear or reactivity towards dogs they see should first be evaluated by a certified professional dog trainer. Additionally, dogs must be able to be handled safely by our staff members and cannot be aggressive towards people. We’re always happy to discuss individual situations!
My dog has some behavior quirks, could they still be in Confidence Club?
Don’t we all have some quirks?! Jokes aside, yes of course. All dogs have some sort of behavior quirk, however, there are going to be things that aren’t suitable for the social environment. Excessive mounting, barking, and resource guarding are all behaviors that can be problematic in the social environment. These behaviors can sour other dog’s experiences. If your dog displays these behaviors, we recommend speaking with a certified professional dog trainer first. If your dog has other quirks, we’re happy to discuss these with you before you register.
My dog has never been to Metro Dogs, how do I get started in Confidence Club?
Your first step will be to register in our software, here is the direct URL: https://metrodogs.portal.gingrapp.com/#/public/login .
After you have completed the registration, you’ll need to gather your dog’s veterinary information. We will need your dog to be current on Rabies, DHPP (or equivalent), Bordetella vaccines and a negative fecal exam. You can upload this information electronically to your Gingr account, or you can send it to us through email at [email protected] .
Once we verify this veterinary information, we’ll reach out to you to get your dogs first day scheduled with us! As our groups are curated to fit different sizes, play styles, and personalities, we will plan for your dog to attend on a day that will best suit them based on the profile information you submitted.
Is Confidence Club similar to day training programs?
While we work with each dog towards specific goals, we are not a suitable replacement for a day training program. The goal of Confidence Club is balancing physical, mental, and social wellness for each dog. This means that there is less focus on training each dog and more focus on the whole wellbeing for the dog.
If you are looking for Day Training, we recommend you check out our webpage: https://metrodogsmn.com/day-training/