A woman is sitting on the grass in a backyard, surrounded by multiple small dogs. She is holding a treat and smiling while dogs gather around her, some sitting and some standing, eager for the treat. There is playground equipment and a white picket fence in the background.

SMALL DOG DAYCARE IN TOWNSVILLE

Where Little Dogs Have Big Days (and Great Naps)

Daycare at Fur Mum is a bit like kindy for small dogs.

There is fun play time, learning, rest, and lots of gentle guidance from our teachers. Our Fur Mum Kids build confidence, make friends, and head home happy-tired at the end of the day.

New here? Start with a Meet & Greet

A circular logo with a turquoise background that reads 'Est. 2015' in the center.
Cartoon illustration of a dog inside a circular border
Heart-shaped outline with a paw print inside and small stars around it, symbolizing love for animals.

Cage-free care

Limited Number

Structured Rest & Play

Small dogs only

Est. 2015

THE REAL ADVANTAGE OF BEING SMALL DOG SPECIALISTS

We get to tailor each pup’s experience to suit their individual needs. 

Most daycares separate dogs by size, which often means all small dogs end up lumped together. By focusing only on small dogs, we can optimise your pup’s experience to suit their personality, confidence, and play style.

We know that a senior dog who needs company on his own terms requires a completely different experience than a rambunctious puppy who doesn’t know when to stop.

How it works:

We split dogs into 3-5 groups each day. Pups aren’t locked into one space forever:

  • A nervous pup might start somewhere calm and graduate to a more playful group as confidence grows

  • A usually playful dog might spend a quieter day in a calmer group if they need extra rest.

A TYPICAL DAY IN FURMUM

6:30am - 9:00am

Drop-offs & Introductions

Mornings are all about welcoming arrivals, gently introducing them to the pack, and letting them get those first bursts of excitement out of their systems.

9:00am - 3:00PM

PLAY, LEARN, REST (REPEAT)

Activities rotate in short bursts with plenty of chill time in between. They fall into four categories:

  • Physical Play

  • Brain Games

  • Daycare Manners

  • Nurture Time

3:00pm - 6:00pm

Our Fur Mum Kids are happily worn out, relaxing with some Free Play, while our team begins end-of-day cleaning and welcomes paw-rents at the gate. We’re always happy to have a quick chat about your pup’s day.

wind down & pick-ups

Our Daycare Groups

HAPPY HAVEN

The Happy Haven is our gentlest space.

It’s perfect for nervous dogs, young puppies, seniors, or anyone who prefers company on their own terms.

We can also split the Happy Haven into two groups when needed. One side might be home to new or nervous puppies getting ready to move out to the Pup Hub, while the other suits seniors or quieter dogs who enjoy being around others without any of the in-your-face type of interaction. 

Best suited for:

  • Nervous or shy dogs

  • Puppies still finding their feet

  • Senior dogs who enjoy calm companionship

  • Dogs who like gentle interaction and lots of reassurance

PUP HUB

This group is for dogs who love action.

These dogs enjoy playing with friends, exploring activities, and being part of a lively but well-managed group.  We can split across 2 sheds when we’ve got enough dogs.    

Many dogs move into Pup Hub after building confidence in Happy Haven.  

Best suited for:

  • Confident, social dogs

  • Dogs who enjoy play but still benefit from structure

  • Dogs who are learning how to play politely

BARK YARD

The Bark Yard suits dogs who enjoy a mix of play, exploration and downtime.

It’s a great space for dogs who like variety and can switch between activity and rest.  This yard is also home to most of our water play activities, as well as the sand box and garden if they need to scratch that digging itch! 

Best suited for:

  • Dogs with moderate to high energy

  • Dogs who enjoy variety throughout the day

  • Dogs who are comfortable in dynamic environments

No matter which group a dog starts in, we’re always watching, adjusting, and making changes as needed. Our goal is for every Fur Mum Kid to feel comfortable, happy and confident every single day.

ATTENDANCE, ROUTINE & FLEXIBILITY

Dogs love routine!  It helps them to settle in and build relationships with their daycare besties.  Best practice is to attend on the same day or days each week.  

That said, we know life isn’t always predictable. Many of our families are shift workers, and we’re experienced at adapting changing schedules while keeping key elements consistent for the dogs.

Occasional daycare is fine for confident, social dogs. It can be an ideal solution for travellers or when your dog just can’t be at home for any reason.  These dogs do need to be comfortable around other dogs and new environments though.  We can’t work miracles in a single day, and we don’t have the facilities to keep dogs comfortably isolated.

IS DAYCARE RIGHT FOR YOUR DOG?

Daycare can be great for dogs who:

✅ Enjoy the company of other dogs

✅ Are building confidence or social skills

✅ Lots of energy and need an outlet

✅ Struggle being home alone

Daycare may not be the right fit for dogs who:

❌ Show dog or human aggression

❌ Are extremely distressed in group environments

We can work with exuberance and anxiety.  These exist on a spectrum, and the levels of care and commitment from both our team and you as a paw-rent depend on how extreme the case.

If you’re unsure if your dog is suitable for daycare, we recommend booking a Meet & Greet with Jen, our behaviour expert, so we can talk through the best solution for you even if that turns out to be a referral to somewhere better suited.

WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE DAYCARE?

Families choose daycare for lots of reasons, and most of them come from a place of love.

Daycare:

  • Helps dogs develop social skills they’ll use for life

  • Provides exercise and stimulation on busy days when you just don’t have time to be the best paw-rent. 

  • Eases the guilt of leaving pups home alone

  • Reduces boredom, destructive behaviour, and neighbour complaints

  • Means you come home to a happy-tired pup who is ready for cuddles, rather than making demands.

HOW TO GET STARTED?

Confident your dog will love daycare?

Start with a Meet & Greet so we can get to know your dog and plan the best course of action.

Not sure, or have concerns?

You’re welcome to register online and book their first day. We’ll treat it as a trial day and give you honest feedback about how they settle in.

DAYCARE PRICING

Full Day: $45

HALF Day: $38

Discounts: Save $5 off per spot if you fill 3 or more spots per week.

We also offer pensioner discounts.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

Supervised play and enrichment

Rest periods with human company

Access to all daycare activities

Updates on your pup’s day

FREQUENTLY ASKED Questions

  • Puppies can start once they've completed their vaccination schedule (usually around 18 weeks). We recommend starting with a Meet & Greet so we can plan a gentle introduction.

  • A Meet & Greet helps us understand your dog’s comfort level.

    Some dogs who seem antisocial are actually just nervous and do brilliantly once they find the right group.

    Others may not be suited to group daycare, and we’ll be honest about that.

  • We assess each dog individually based on their personality, confidence, and play style.

    Dogs may move between groups as they grow or as their needs change.

  • We have a relationship with a local vet and will seek treatment immediately if needed.

    You’ll be contacted as soon as possible.