Long work hours sometimes mean your puppy is doing the pee dance when you get home. Perhaps your pup starts to get into shenanigans when you’re away for long periods of time. Maybe you’re looking for a way to get your dog more socialized with other dogs. Whatever your reasoning, a doggy daycare is a great option if you’re concerned about your pup staying home alone all day.
However, daycare isn’t the best option for every dog-owning family. It’s important to know the pros and cons before committing. First, let’s consider the benefits of doggy daycare:
- Your puppy isn’t home alone all day, potentially helping with anxiety and loneliness.
- You remove the potential for accidents or destruction in the home.
- Your puppy gets the opportunity for social play with other dogs.
- Your puppy gets more exercise by playing with other dogs rather than being a couch potato at home all day.
- Many daycares offer flexibility, meaning your pup can go on certain days or for partial days rather than you having to commit to full days or five days per week.
Concerns about doggy daycare include:
- You have to rely on someone else to supervise your pup.
- Shy pups may be overwhelmed by a noisy, busy environment.
- Your puppy could potentially get injured while playing with other dogs, particularly if it escalates into fighting.
- Poor experiences with other dogs could contribute to dog aggression or fear.
- Cost of services.
- Exposure to other dogs may mean an increased risk of disease transmission.
So, how do you choose a good doggy daycare for your best friend? Make sure it checks all the boxes below:
[ ] Playgroups for large and small dogs are kept separate to avoid injury to small dogs.
[ ] Dogs are required to be up to date on their vaccinations and parasite preventives.
[ ] The daycare is clean and free of hazards.
[ ] The play yards have secure fencing to minimize escape risk.
[ ] Staff are trained in basic care, pet safety and animal behavior.
[ ] The daycare only uses positive reinforcement instead of punishment for behavioral correction.
[ ] The daycare lets you do a tour, whether in person or virtually.
[ ] The daycare tests a dog’s temperament before accepting them.
[ ] A variety of activities are available for dogs with different preferences.
[ ] The daycare should have a good ratio of staff to dogs—absolutely no more than 15 dogs per person.
[ ] The daycare has a policy in place for what happens if a dog is injured, and you’re comfortable with them taking those steps should your puppy get hurt.
[ ] The daycare is within your budget.
A daycare that checks these boxes and seems transparent and friendly is likely a good option for social puppies.
If your puppy already has aggression toward other dogs or is shy and prefers alone time, doggy daycare is likely not a good choice for them. You may consider alternatives for getting your puppy some socialization and exercise during the day, such as a dog walker.
For daycare suggestions, reach out to your VCA care team.
If daycare isn’t for you, find out more about other social groups for dogs.
