pet dog daycare sounds like a terrific idea. We humans normally like the idea of our “fur kids” running around in a “play group” all day filled with games, activities and snacks.
We don’t like to picture our dogs bored on the couch. Or, God forbid, locked in a CRATE. (We’re kidding, we’re a fan of crates!)
But … pet dog daycares are all very different and every pet dog is unique. It’s crucial to think about pet dog daycare from your dog’s perspective, and we really indicate YOUR dog.
What might sound like fun for you might actually be exceptionally stressful or scary for your dog.
It’s not so basic as “does he love other dogs?” Or, “Is he high energy?”
IN THIS POST:
What are the different kinds of daycares for dogs?
Who must consider pet dog daycare?
Questions to ask the pet dog daycare owner or staff
Pros and cons of pet dog daycare
Are doggy day camps good for socialization?
What are the different kinds of daycares for dogs?
Most common form of pet dog daycare
A pet dog daycare is a lot of typically an overnight pet dog boarding facility that also uses “day care” where pet dog owners can leave their dogs for a few hours during the day.
There is normally an outdoor fenced area or a large indoor room where groups of dogs can step and play off leash.
The number of dogs in the daycare varies greatly depending on the facility. Some might keep the groups to 5 to 10 dogs. Others might include groups of 20, 30 or even 40+ dogs! Some might have one large playroom while others have multiple play areas for different groups of dogs.
Smaller in-home pet dog daycares
There are smaller pet dog daycares managed by pet dog lovers in their own homes. These are undoubtedly much smaller and the owner might take in 3-4 dogs or even just 1 dog.
Lindsay used to offer this service and would take the dogs on multiple walks throughout the day paired with plenty of time lounging around and a bit of training and play.
The owners would drop their dogs off in the morning and pick them up later in the day after work or running errands. Overall, it seemed to be a good experience for everyone.
See our post: the best pet dog daycares
*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Klikk her
Dog daycares that do off-leash hiking or field trips
Also growing in popularity are off-leash pet dog hiking groups or “field trips” which is a a lot more adventurous form of pet dog walking and gives the dogs a chance to socialize in a small group.
Typically, the dogs are picked up in the morning by the service and then dropped off in the afternoon.
Who must consider pet dog daycare?
If you work long hours and you have a social, active dog, it would make sense that you might want to consider leaving him at a pet dog daycare.
If you’re considering pet dog daycare for your dog, think about it from your dog’s point of view. Make sure it is something that is genuinely in the best interest of your dog.
IN GENERAL, larger pet dog daycare facilities are potentially a good option for:
Medium and high energy dogs with good social skills who take pleasure in other dogs
Dogs that are confident enough to stand up for themselves
Dogs with a high tolerance for disrespectful behavior from other ecstatic dogs
Some dogs will not take pleasure in doggy daycare
If you have a low-key, mellow dog, he might be happier at home lounging around on the couch in a calm environment or even staying in his kennel or crate. All that activity at pet dog daycare is stressful for some dogs!
Dogs take pleasure in a routine, and as long as you’re supplying your pet dog with a long walk each day and some daily training and interaction, you shouldn’t feel guilty about leaving your pet dog at home while you go to work.
We do not get that myth of “if you work long hours, you shouldn’t have a dog.” That’s just not true.
There are lots of different dogs and plenty of them would gladly take up space on your couch all day while you’re at work.
Lindsay’s lab mix Ace is the best example. She adopted him when she worked 10-hour shifts at a newspaper.
She would walk or run with him for an hour every single day before work. They never missed a day. Lindsay had an hour off in the middle of her shift where she would come home, swiftly eat dinner and let Ace out for a 10-min walk.
Some dogs are too wild for pet dog daycare!
On the other hand, some dogs are very hyper, to say the least (Remy!).
While running around all dayplaying at a pet dog daycare might sound like a good idea for your boxer, it might actually be too exciting for some high-energy dogs.
Dogs that are naturally nervous, anxious and intense typically do better in a calm environment. They don’t necessarily need encouragement to be a lot more hyped up.
For example, Lindsay’s weimaraner Remy loves other dogs and he has unrestricted physical energy.
She likes the idea of sending him to a large daycare, but that kind of environment is too overwhelming for him for long periods.
*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Klikk her
Remy enjoys playing with other dogs, but after about a half-hour he starts to get mentally overwhelmed. This happens at the pet dog park too or when he plays with friends’ dogs.
When Remy gets overwhelmed, he tries to step away from other dogs and neglect them. That’s when Lindsay knows it’s time to leave the pet dog park. If dogs continue to push his limits, he will snap to tell them “KNOCK IT OFF.”
This is good pet dog communication, but Lindsay doesn’t depend on the daycare staff to recognize when her pet dog needs a break.
She hates the thought of Remy needing to lash out in buy to defend himself!
The last thing Lindsay wants is for Remy to be labeled “aggressive” for standing up for himself.
TIP: Ask the pet dog daycare about smaller and shorter “playgroups”
Some pet dog daycare facilities are good about catering to your dog’s certain needs.
This is a good option for Remy.
The pet dog boarding and daycare facility Lindsay uses uses shorter play options.
This is a good setup for Remy because the daycare staff knows he does better with frequent breaks. Remy goes into a kennel area by himself, sort of like a “timeout” to turn it down a notch! then he goes back to play with the group again once he’s had some time to wind down.
Which brings us to …
Questions to ask the pet dog daycare owner or staff
Here are some sample questions to ask the staff to help you decide if pet dog daycare is a good idea for your dog. We don’t indicate to go crazy and ask every single question but to consider your special pet dog and get the information you need to make the best decision.
Also make sure to excursion the area where your pet dog will be. Observe the behavior of the dogs and the staff, the noise, the cleanliness, etc.
Questions to ask a pet dog daycare:
There are not necessarily “right” or “wrong” answers to these. it all depends on your pet dog and your comfort level.
1. how lots of dogs are in each group?
2. What is the normal staff to pet dog ratio?
3. how are dogs evaluated?
4. What kind of training does your staff go through?
5. Do you combine large dogs with small dogs?
6. how long are the play periods? are there breaks? how long are the breaks?
7. are there toys out in the group play?
8. What is your process for disciplining a dog?
9. What is your process if there is a pet dog fight?
10. What happens if the pet dog is not a good fit for group play?
11. What kind of feedback will you be able to give me about my dog’s behavior?
*Enjoying this article? get sensible pet dog training ideas emailed once a week. Klikk her
Pros and cons of doggy daycare
What are the benefits of doggy daycare?
Provides your pet dog with physical exercise and mental activity during the day
Helpful option if your pet dog does not like to be home alone
Decreases destructive behavior in your home
Decreases barking
Your pet dog will likely come home mentally exhausted and sleep
Your pet dog can learn social skills
You won’t need to let your pet dog out mid-day
Helpful if you don’t have time to walk your pet dog that day
Helps supply your pet dog with exercise and activities if you have a busy schedule (but nothing can replace a long walk with you!)
Good option for some puppies who need extra potty breaks and socialization
Is pet dog daycare bad for dogs?
Too exciting and overwhelming for some dogs
Some dogs will be mentally exhausted due to anxiety or concern and not because they had “fun”
Cost adds up (on average $25+ per day)
Your pet dog could learn bad behaviors such as jumping on people, being bothersome to other dogs, growling at other dogs if he regularly has to defend himself, etc.
He could be bullied or injured
Your pet dog could start a fight with another dog
You can’t control the behavior of your dog, other dogs or the staff
Some people will use it to replace walking their pet dog but walks are still very important
Your pet dog could pick up fleas from other dogs or an health problem like kennel cough
Are doggy day camps good for socialization?
Thank you for those who posted feedback earlier on som Mutts Facebook -side da jeg ba om fordeler og ulemper med barnehage for kjæledyrhund. (Det er ikke noe ideelt svar.)
Noen tilbakemeldinger fra Pet Dog Daycare fra de Mutt -leserne på Facebook:
“Jeg tar Sasha til doggy barnehage heller når det har vært for grovt å gå utenfor i mange dager, eller jeg må jobbe lenger enn normalt. Jeg liker det fordi det sliter henne ut og hun får sosialisere seg med andre hunder. Jeg har ikke hatt en dårlig opplevelse med barnehagen vår, alle hundene går gjennom en evaluering før de får lov til å delta. ” – Michelle K.
”Jeg tror det er et introvert vs ekstrovert kjæledyrhundsspørsmål. Noen elsker det, noen ville ikke. Må selvfølgelig være et bra sted. ” – Jana R. Fra bloggen Dawg -virksomheten
”Vi tok kjæledyrhunden vår til en doggy barnehage-sted- det ble kalt tog og lek, så hundene ble vist før de ble akseptert for å sikre at det var godt. De ville sosialisere seg i tillegg til gruppe og individuell trening. Han kan være reaktiv, så for ham leverte det sosialisering, trening og selvtillitsbygging. ” – Teri L. P.
Liste over flere ideer i kommentarene, så legger jeg dem til denne listen.
GENERELT:
Jeg ser verdien i barnehagen for kjæledyrhund for mange mennesker og hunder.
Det kommer virkelig ned til å kjenne din spesielle kjæledyrhund og finne det ideelle barnehageanlegget som tilfredsstiller hundens behov.
Hva tror resten av dere, er barnehunden barnehage en god idé?
Del dette innlegget med enhver person som vurderer barnehundskare.
-Lindsay & Barbara
*Koser du deg med denne artikkelen? Få fornuftige ideer om kjæledyrhund trening en e -post en gang i uken. Klikk her
Ytterligere ressurser:
Når skal du gripe inn i Pet Dog Park – den mutt
Er Pet Dog Parks en god idé?
Lindsay Stordahl er grunnleggeren av den Mutt. Hun skriver om trening av kjæledyrhund, trening av kjæledyrhund og mater et sunt rå kosthold.
Barbara Rivers skriver ofte for den mutten. Hun er sertifisert i Raw Pet Dog Food Nutrition fra Dogs Naturally Magazine og forfatteren av tre e -bøker om balansert rå kjæledyrhundemat. Hun er blogger på K9s over kaffe.