PRICING UPDATE 2022
After 11 years in business we have finally had to concede that we must put up our daycare
prices. Please see the new rates below.
WELCOME TO

Pet Dog School believes every dog deserves a great owner and every owner gets the dog they deserve.
About
Based 6 minutes from the centre of the River City is Whanganui’s only purpose-built facility providing dog owners with the highest level of doggy daycare, behaviour advice and modification training, obedience training and grooming. Long and short term over-night homestays at staff members homes is also offered to Pet Dog School doggy clients.
Driven by a love of dogs and the desire to see owners enjoy the very best relationship they can with their canine companions Pet Dog School dogs are cared for by experienced, knowledgeable and loving staff. Working tirelessly for ‘their’ dogs, staff are supported by owner, Sarah Hesketh, a behavioural trainer with over 35 years experience teaching owners and their dogs in the UK and here in NZ.
If you love your dog, want the very best relationship, want to provide it with a super fun social life, need a home- away-from-home place for a sleepover, want to understand each other better or simply want to give it a super cool haircut…
Contact Pet Dog School today and Experience the Difference!
Services
Daycare
Operates Monday – Friday 7:30am – 6:00pm, Closed Public Holidays.
Give your dog a break from being home alone. Constantly supervised dogs play, explore and chill out in our, beautiful paddocks, wilderness hill, Hobbiton, swimming pool and sandy beach. Inside our climate-controlled building is the lounge, personal sleeping places, sofas and loads of cosy dog beds – if it’s fun, social or experiencing new stuff – we do it.
Drop Off and Pick Up Times
Time | Type | Further Info |
---|---|---|
7:45am - 9:00am | Drop Off | Early bird option drop off from 7:30am (pay $5 extra). |
12:00pm – 2:00pm | Drop Off / Pick Up | Lunch Drop Off / Pick Up |
4:00pm – 6:00pm | Pick Up | All evening pick ups. |
Registration
Your dog needs to be:
- Friendly with other dogs and new people.
- Fully vaccinated within the 12 months preceding their first visit. Vaccinations must include;
- Canine (kennel) Cough
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis (only required if you travel north of Taupo with your dog).
- Healthy and free of contagious illness.
- De-sexed if older than 9 months in the case of males and after their first season for females.
Dogs coming for the first time under 9 months old or females still waiting for their first season, or due to be de-sexed, are warmly welcomed before they are de-sexed as this period in their life is the most important time to practice and learn social skills. So the younger your puppy is when starting daycare the better.
If you would like to register your dog for Daycare download the form below. Please save it to your computer, fill it out and email it to training@petdogschool.co.nz. We will print the form and have you sign it next time you are in. Otherwise, just print it and fill it out yourself and bring it with you next time you visit Pet Dog School.
Meet & Greet
A Meet and Greet usually lasts about 15 minutes but there is no rush. We proudly show you and your dog around and you both get to meet some of our wonderful daycare dogs. We collect your completed Owner Information form and check and take a copy of your dog’s vaccination booklet.
If your dog passes the Meet and Greet it gets to stay for the rest of the day at no extra cost.
Payment
Clients pay by Direct Banking and will be given a unique Client Number if they do not already have one. Cash and EFTPOS will still be accepted for those unable to pay by direct banking however.
Speed Limit
Please drive down our driveway with your foot on the break in 2nd gear keeping your speed to walking pace. We are finding it is offending people when we ask for the 4th and 5th time to respect our speed limit (5kmh) and the safety of other carpark users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog have to come on the same day each week?
Do I have to call when I want to bring my dog?
Will my dog get to rest during the day?
Will you tell me what my dog does during the day?
Will you tell me if my dog is unhappy?
Do you have a taxi service?
Is 7:45am the earliest I can drop off my dog?
What if I can’t get back by 6:00pm?
Can you administer medication or give my dog his own food during the day?
What do I do when my bitch comes into season?
Can I get my dog groomed while it is at daycare?
For our daycare dogs we trim nails, empty anal glands, trim bottoms and eyes and fringes for FREE – you only have to ask.
I’ve lost my dogs vaccination book what can I do?
Services
Training
Pet Dog School offers private sessions, training notes, email support and occasionally runs workshops and seminars on different aspects of understanding and communicating with pet dogs successfully. If you need help with any part of your relationship with your dog we offer training notes, email support and home visits as well as you visiting us.
Daycare
Daycare teaches dogs vital social skills and how to interact and play appropriately with many different breeds, characters, sexes, sizes and energy levels. Spending time with happy, balanced dogs and experience, caring dog trainers helps build confidence and facilitates personal growth in dogs who find life a little stressful and hard.
Pre-school Sessions
Pre-school sessions are provided for owners and puppies under 6 months old as personal, one-on-one sessions. You get the best results If arranged with puppies as young as possible. If pup hasn’t had 2 vaccinations including Canine (kennel) Cough then we can visit your home.
To prepare you and your excited family and to ensure life is fun and training is effective right from the start – you can even arrange a pre-school session BEFORE you get your puppy. Comprehensive training notes support these sessions so you have them to refer to over the first month or two of living with your puppy.
If living with a puppy isn’t fun – you’re doing it wrong.
Adult Dog Training and Behaviour Modification
There is always room for improvement so whether your dog has suddenly contracted a bad or annoying habit or you simply want to improve their obedience and your control, understanding and relationship with it – call or email your details and we can design the best training plan for you, your family and your dog.
Registration for Training
If you would like to register your dog for training download the form below. Please save it to your computer, fill it out and email it to training@petdogschool.co.nz. We will print the form and have you sign it next time you are in. Otherwise, just print it and fill it out yourself and bring it with you next time you visit Pet Dog School.
Services
Grooming
Bookings Essential
The Grooming Room at Pet Dog School is a busy, busy place. From a quick bath and nail trim to a full breed or personality specific groom – your dog will come out feeling, cleaner and more comfortable as well as beautiful or cute as a button.
Appointments
We will make your next appointment while your dog is being groomed and provide a detailed appointment card at pick up time. We then remind you of your appointment and request confirmation the day before. Because our grooming room is so popular, we appreciate you cancelling an unwanted appointment as soon as you can. A charge will be made for missed appointments that have not been previously cancelled by phone, email or text.
Personal Style
We know your dog’s own personal style is very important, so we make sure we ask at every appointment what is to be done today. This gives you the opportunity to ask for a little more off or a little more left on or whatever new style you fancy. We carry an array of special shampoos and conditioners so sensitive or itchy skin or annoying fleas can be addressed. We are happy to use shampoo you supply and prescription shampoo too – no extra charge!
Health Check
All dogs are given a health check while being groomed. Lumps, warts, hair loss, anal glands, sore feet, dirty ears and much more will all be looked at and dealt with, where possible. Any concerns will be discussed with you at pick up time.
Vaccinations
Your dog will be in the grooming room with other dogs and we are also happy to allow them to play with the daycare dogs while they wait to be picked up if they would like to. Because of this we do need all grooming clients to be fully vaccinated including the highly contagious Canine (kennel) Cough.
Pricing
All dogs are charged individually depending on their size, style required, coat condition and frequency of their appointments. You will be given a price at drop off and this will not change.
Prices range from $35.00 – $95 but most dogs average around $70.00 – $85.00.
Services
Homestay
Available 7 days a week. Only available to Pet Dog School daycare and grooming clients. Dogs come home and stay with our own dogs, sleeping in their crate, in their own cosy bed in the dining room or sometimes even in the bedroom ON THE BED!
Homestay is available for long term holidays or just for the night. Pick up and drop off times are by arrangement and to suit your needs. If staying over ‘school nights’ homestay dogs come to daycare during the day for free.
If you would like to book a Homestay please download the form below. Please save it to your computer, fill it out and email it to training@petdogschool.co.nz. We will print the form and have you sign it next time you are in. Otherwise, just print it and fill it out yourself and bring it with you next time you visit Pet Dog School.
Pricing
Pet Dog School Price List
Daycare Pricing
Service | Description | Cost |
---|---|---|
Meet & Greet | Includes leaving your dog for its first play session afterwards if you’d like to. If you have 2 dogs the fee covers both for the Meet & Greet and you pay normal session fee for 1 dog if you leave them both to play. | $38.00 |
Half Day | Individual visit morning or afternoon. | $28.00 |
Full Day | Individual visit for entire day. | $38.00 |
5 x Half Days | Concession card. Save $15.00 on full price. | $125.00 |
5 x Full Days | Concession card. Save $15.00 on full price. | $175.00 |
11 x Half Days | Concession card. Save $28.00 on full price. | $280.00 |
11 x Full Days | Concession card. Save $38.00 on full price. | $380.00 |
Taxi (1-Way) | Pick Up / Drop Off Service. | $10.00 |
Early Drop Off | From 7:30am. | $5.00 |
Really Early Drop Off | At staff member's home. | $10.00 |
Late Pick Up | From staff member's home. | $10.00 |
*Concession cards must be paid for in advance. 2 dog concession cards are for dogs always visiting together.
Training Pricing
Service | Description | Cost |
---|---|---|
Pre-school | Pups under 6 months. Your place or ours. Sessions usually last an hour and a half. | $45.00 |
Private Session Behaviour or Obedience | Over 6 months. Your place or ours. Sessions usually last an hour and a half. | $75.00 |
Group Classes | Adult dog training, workshops, seminars and puppy classes are run occasionally throughout the year. Information will be released on our Facebook and in local press. Contact us for more info. | Varies Contact us |
Aggressive Behaviour | Any age. Training programme designed individually. Further training sessions and training equipment may cost extra. | $150.00 |
Grooming Pricing
Grooming | Description | Cost |
---|---|---|
Based on Size | Average grooming charge is around $75.00 - $90.00. All dogs are charged individually. | Contact us |
Homestay Pricing
Duration | Description | Cost |
---|---|---|
1 - 6 Nights | You provide dog's own food, preferred treats and soft bedding. We provide the rest. Daycare sessions during homestay are FREE. | $40.00 / night |
7 Nights & Over | You provide dog's own food, preferred treats and soft bedding. We provide the rest. Daycare sessions during homestay are FREE. | $38.00 / night |
2 Dogs Staying Together | You provide dog's own food, preferred treats and soft bedding. We provide the rest. Daycare sessions during homestay are FREE. | $70.00 / night |
Crate Hire
Great for rearing the perfect puppy.
- Directly help prevent future annoying, inappropriate or dangerous behaviour.
- Keep your puppy or dog and your home safe from harm and damage.
- Help rehabilitating pets remain calm and safe – our training crates have provided safety and support for cats, kittens, hedgehogs, pigeons, chickens, piglets, lambs and, of course, thousands of dogs.
Payment Type | Description | Cost |
---|---|---|
Deposit | Your deposit pays for 10 days hire. | $25.00 |
Hire Fee | Your deposit followed by per day fee until returned. Specially designed water buckets are provided free for hire period. | $2.50 / day |
Hire to Buy | If you choose to buy a new crate from us once you have hired one, we subtract the hire money already paid from the cost of a new crate. | Varies |
Contact Us
Pet Dog School
5 Caversham Rd
Springvale
Whanganui 4501
Ph: 06 345 2553
Email: training@petdogschool.co.nz
Open: Monday – Friday 7:30am to 6:00pm
Closed: Public Holidays