(Courtesy ASPCA, 2021)
Chart from the ASPCA says that 90% of dogs acquired in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic were not returned to shelters.
A new type of dog day care is available in Queensbury. Led by owner Caitlin Stedman, with a certificate in dog trainer foundations, and a membership in the International Association of Canine Professionals, Adirondack Sniffari picks the dog up from home and brings it into the woods for a few hours of off-leash training and socialization. A typical day at Adirondack Sniffari consists of exploration, and pack walking. The company began operations in April of 2020, just as the pandemic started.
Stedman said she provides a combination of exercise, daycare, and basic obedience training during her time with the dogs.
This business model is taking advantage of the rise in dog ownership since the start of the pandemic.
A poll from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last May said that close to one in five households, about 23 million American households, acquired a cat or dog between March 2020 and May 2021.
"The vast majority of these households still have that pet in the home — 90 percent for dogs and 85 percent for cats,” the ASPCA press release said.
Nationally at the time, ownership surrenders of pets to shelters had returned to pre-pandemic levels, meaning that people were not returning pets that they had gotten during that first year of the pandemic at any higher level than in a normal year, the ASPCA said.
Adirondack Sniffari offers a different sort of training , Stedman told FoothillsBusinessDaily.com. The focus of the training is on pack obedience skills with a high level of distractions, both on long lines and off the leash. She said she keeps the packs small and selects eligible dogs, and that keeps the dogs happier and more comfortable. People must apply for their dogs to be enrolled.
The company website says that the dog must be familiar with the rudimentary commands such as “sit” before they come to Adirondack Sniffari.
Presently the walks take place on public land and in the local preserves and trails. Adirondack Sniffari is seeking to expand this service by finding and accessing at least a twenty-acre lot with a mix of field, forest, and water.
Adirondack Sniffari is great for adventurous dogs as well as dogs that find traditional daycare settings overwhelming, Stedman said.
There are two classes offered. The Woof Pack focuses on dogs aged 18 months and above. Badges of completion are awarded to the dogs as they master the various training points. Stedman runs this class Monday through Thursday.
The second class — the Backpack Buddies class — focuses on dogs aged 6 months and older. The class may serve as an introductory course for pups before moving into the Woof pack. This class is scheduled for Fridays.
Editor's note: We made a correction to Caitlin Stedman's certifications in the first paragraph of this story. It has been corrected.