Exercise & Supervised Play Groups: the full procedure

Group dogs by size, temperament, and play style; supervise every group actively and constantly; provide water and rest breaks; and separate dogs at the first sign of trouble.

• Applies to: Play-group / floor handler.
• Frequency: Every play session.
• Scope: Process only — safe grouping, supervision, and breaks. Any bite, injury, or concerning behavior defers to a veterinarian and/or a qualified behavior professional; staff manage the environment, not the medical or behavioral diagnosis.

What you need

• Group roster by size/temperament
• Fresh-water stations
• Separation gate / leashes
• Incident log
• Staff-to-dog ratio guide

The procedure, step by step

1. Group by compatibility — Sort dogs into groups by size, energy level, and play style; keep incompatible or unassessed dogs separated.
2. Set the right ratio — Staff each group within the facility’s staff-to-dog ratio (smaller ratios for high-energy or large groups) before play starts.
3. Never leave unattended — Keep a trained handler physically in the group with eyes on the dogs at all times — a group is never left alone.
4. Supervise actively — Read body language, interrupt over-arousal early, and rotate toys/space to keep play balanced.
5. Water & rest breaks — Provide fresh water and scheduled rest/down-time to prevent overheating and over-tiredness.
6. Separate at first sign — Calmly separate dogs at any sign of conflict, fear, or rough play and reassess group placement.
7. Document incidents — Log any scuffle, injury, or behavior change and refer injuries/concerns to a veterinarian and the owner.
8. Reassess placement — Move a dog to a calmer group or individual time if it isn’t thriving; placement is reviewed, not fixed.

Quality check before you finish

• Dogs grouped by size/temperament/play style.
• Staff-to-dog ratio met for each group.
• Handler present and watching at all times.
• Fresh water available during play.
• Rest breaks provided.
• Trouble signs acted on immediately.
• Incidents logged and vet/owner-referred.

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Pet Boarding & Daycare business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• The Dog Gurus — Group Play & Active Supervision (thedoggurus.com)
• IBPSA — Supervised Play & Staff Training (ibpsa.com)
• Merck Animal Health — Boarding & Group-Play Safety (merck-animal-health-usa.com)