Reliable Mo’tail & Spaw™ Doggy Daycare in Des Moines, IA

Yes, all dogs are required to complete a temperament test before joining group play. During the evaluation, your dog is gradually introduced to other dogs, starting with calmer companions, while staff observe body language, adaptability, and responses to corrections. This process helps the team place your pup in the right play group for a safe and positive experience.

Dogs must be current on Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Bordetella vaccinations before participating in full day dog care. These requirements help protect every dog in the facility and support a healthy group environment for all guests.

Dogs are separated into groups based on size, behavior, and energy level. The Mo’Tail and Spaw features three distinct play areas, so smaller or lower-energy dogs are never placed in the same space as larger, more boisterous ones.

Yes, daycare packages may be purchased in multi-day bundles to suit various schedules. Paws and Pints members also receive 10% off all packages and services, making regular attendance an even better value.

Your dog can enjoy a range of structured and free-play activities throughout the day. A typical full day dog care visit may include:

• Supervised group play in indoor and outdoor turf spaces.
• Field trips offered up to three times per week.
• Bi-weekly enrichment and mental stimulation activities.
• Scheduled nap and rest periods.
• Regular potty breaks throughout the day.

Doggy daycare is similar to daycare for your child.  You will drop your dog off with us so they can play and exercise in a supervised setting while you go to work or simply want your dog to get some socialization.  

Doggy daycare:

• Provides physical and mental exercise
• Increases socialization skills
• Helps with separation anxiety
• Eliminates boredom and mischievous activity 
• Creates an overall happier dog

Remember what it was like to be a kid and you would go meet your best friends at the playground or the swimming pool? That is what doggy daycare is like for your dog, they get to meet and play with other furry friends. We have outfitted our daycare areas with safe, fun things for dogs to jump on and climb under, and our supervisors will interact and play with your dog(s) all day long. Don’t worry, there is also time to relax or even take a quick nap before another round of playtime!

Below is a list of basic requirements for your dog in order for them to enjoy our daycare facility:

• Four (4) months of age or older
• Must be spayed or neutered (if six (6) months old or older)
• Current on all required vaccinations (Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, Bordetella)
• In overall good health; free of any ticks or fleas
• Pass our brief temperament consultation 
• Social enough for group play
• Has no open wounds or stitches

All of our daycare areas have both indoor and outdoor access for the dogs to play. Our indoor areas are climate-controlled and large enough for dogs to have enough room to spread out if they choose. The outdoor areas are outfitted with synthetic turf specifically designed with your dog(s) in mind that is safe for their paws and if accidentally ingested.  Each daycare area has fresh water with plenty of bowls to go around. During times of inclement weather, we can rely on our indoor space and when it is acceptable to be outside, we have your dog(s) covered!

Below is a facility tour of our boarding, daycare, and grooming areas.  

Daycare Video

Lodging Tour

In addition, we can provide tours on weekdays at the top of each hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., if staff are available. We do not do tours on the weekends due to the high number of dogs we typically have lodging with us. If you would like an in-person tour, please call our front desk to schedule one!

Safety is our number one priority at Paws & Pints, safety for your dog(s), and safety for our daycare staff. For that reason, we require each new dog at our daycare facility to simply meet one of our staff members to make sure personality and temperament are acceptable for group play. 

There will be times when our staff may feel an added screening may be needed. If that is the case or in the rare occasion where temperament may not be acceptable for group play, don’t worry, we have a solution. Imperial Obedience Training offers a dog park/daycare readiness course that can help your dog(s) gain the necessary socialization skills needed for a group play environment. Every dog deserves a chance to play, so we will do our best to work with you and your dog for as long as it takes to get them properly socialized. 

Complete a temperament evaluation by scheduling one with our front desk.

We never turn a dog away based on their breed. As previously stated, all dogs are required to pass a temperament screening before being allowed in daycare.

Minor incidents will occur from time to time during daycare. If something happens, we will take the absolute best care of your dog.  Our highly trained staff will assess the situation and, in the event of an emergency, will take the necessary action. You will be notified at the earliest possible moment, and the incident will be documented so you are aware of everything being done to ensure your dog’s health and safety. However if a major incident occurs, Iowa Veterinary Specialties, is one block directly north of our location who can handle any emergency 24 hours a day.  

In addition, all our daycare supervisors are certified to perform pet first aid and CPR.

Kennel Cough, also known as Canine Cough, is, unfortunately, something that occasionally hotel and daycare facilities have to battle. At Paws & Pints, we go above and beyond to make sure your dog(s) daycare environment is clean and sanitary, but the reality is viruses and bacteria can be spread by direct contact with one another or even through the air.  

We require each dog entering our facility for daycare, a hotel stay, or for a dog park visit to be current on their Bordetella vaccination. What is important to remember, like a human flu shot, is that Bordetella only prevents certain strands of the virus, and therefore, depending on what is spreading, a dog could still get sick.  

It is vitally important that if your dog is showing signs of Canine Cough, please refrain from visiting the facility and consult your veterinarian. 

Signs of Canine Cough are:

• A persistent, forceful cough
• Watery nasal discharge 
• Coughing in dogs throughout the night that keeps them awake
• Dry heaving 
• In severe cases, symptoms can include fever, pneumonia, and more

We like to say it truly just depends on your dog(s)!  A good way to gauge if your dog(s) is suitable for group play is to take them to the dog park!  If they enjoy the dog park, they will enjoy doggy daycare!  Some dogs are better suited for a half-day of daycare versus a full day of daycare.  If you have any doubts, speak to one of our check-in staff or daycare supervisors.

Our trained and knowledgeable staff will make sure dogs of similar size and dogs that will play well together are grouped together. All playtime will be under constant supervision for safety.  

If your dog has some special needs, our staff is happy to help. If anything above and beyond our high-level care is needed for your dog, make sure to notify our staff upon check-in so we can ensure your dog’s stay is as close to perfect as possible.  

We love our senior dogs at Paws & Pints. Any extra care or added privacy they may need, we can accommodate.

Undesired dog behavior can be described as the following excessive actions: jumping, mounting, barking in other dogs faces, showing teeth and rough play. To combat unwanted behavior, we use different methods such as well-mannered verbal commands, redirecting, timeouts, separation and in some cases, we may have to remove a dog from daycare altogether. By no means are any of these actions considered punishments, we simply want to keep daycare safe and fun for all!

We do not allow anything from home to accompany your dog during daycare. Treats and toys in a daycare environment can make it unsafe. 

Please go to the Mo’Tail & Spaw check-in desk for pick-up and drop-off. Your dog(s) is to remain leashed at all times within our lobby area; please use a quick snap collar. 

Yes, as long as you have given us advance notice of the name of the person(s) approved. 

You are more than welcome to bring a lunch for your pup that is spending the day with us! If a lunch is brought from home, your dog will be temporarily removed from daycare in order to eat and rest afterward.

For health reasons, we highly suggest not feeding your dog within 60 minutes of doggy daycare. Studies have shown that playing on a full stomach can be harmful to a dog.

Yes, reservations are required.  The doggy daycare calendar is as busy as our dogs’ owners are.  Peak times are Holidays, Summertime and when there are events being held locally.  As we always say, the sooner you can make a reservation the better. 

We highly suggest making doggy daycare a routine. Dogs are creatures of habit so making regular reservations will make your dog(s) happier as they exercise and socialize more frequently.  

We will only be allowing walk-ins if we have availability.  Pay attention to social media for announcements when openings occur. 

To make a reservation, download the Paws & Pints mobile app and create a profile to request an appointment. You can also call our front desk at 515-969-2275 for assistance.

Daycare Pick-Up Policy: A $15 late pick-up fee applies to daycare dogs picked up after 6 PM. This fee is waived for members. After 7 PM, all daycare dogs, regardless of membership status, will be charged for one full night of basic lodging accommodations.Dogs attending a half-day of daycare who remain in our care after 12 PM will automatically be charged for a full day of daycare. Mo’Tail & Spaw currently does not charge a no-show or last-minute cancellation fee for daycare.

After a day of daycare, your dog may be thirstier or more tired than usual. Especially for first-time daycare guests, it’s normal for your pup to come home mentally and physically tired after a full day of play and socialization.

Be sure to check out our Mo’Tail & Spaw Facebook Group to see photos of your pup enjoying their day at daycare and stay connected with what’s happening at the spa.

If you ever have questions or concerns about your dog’s daycare experience, our team is happy to help and provide feedback to make their time with us as comfortable, safe, and enjoyable as possible.