How it Works!
Doggy daycare can be a great option for energetic dogs and their busy owners. It can also be a perfect setting for socializing puppies and keeping adult dog’s social skills polished. We often field questions about how doggy daycare works, and what kinds of dogs would be good candidates for it, as well as what options there are for dogs who are not suitable for a daycare setting. As such, we’d like to share some helpful insights and information to help answer these questions.
How to Choose a Daycare
Not all doggy daycares are the same in the way that they are designed and operated. Some have free-play all day, some divide dogs into smaller groups, some do intermittent crating, etc. The trick is finding what you think would be the best fit for your dog. Any daycare you look into should be very open to discussing your questions and concerns with you, and allow you to come in to tour the facility and see things for yourself. They should be interested in making sure your dog is a good fit for their particular program, just as much as you are, because each and every dog contributes in their own way to the cohesiveness of the group.
How Our Daycare Works
Our daycare is in a 3,000+ sq ft. room, with an all-day accessible outdoor play area. We offer the dogs coming in for walk-in daycare all day free-play with other dogs, so no crating or kenneling during their time with us. That being said, we do encourage dogs to take breaks throughout the day by letting them lay down on the available beds or by putting them in a smaller area off to the side of the main play-area.
The reason we do this is to keep the dogs fresh and ready to play, instead of letting them exhaust themselves to the point of crankiness. Even with breaks, they still go home and fall right asleep, we’re told!
Part of what we do here is require a behavioral evaluation as part of the enrollment process. This helps keep our daycare a safe, fun place to play. The way we conduct the evaluation is by slowly introducing the dog into the playgroup, one-by-one. Our daycare staff are experienced and knowledgeable about dog behavior and body-language, and help acclimate the dog to the situation while also observing his or her reactions and comfort level with the other dogs. Then, throughout the span of at least four hours, they assess how the “new guy” is doing in the big group setting. Our priority is safety above all else, so if at any point we see any “red flags,” we’ll call it a day and help the owner find more suitable options for their dog.
Deciding If Doggy Daycare Would Work for Your Dog
It’s pretty simple: does your dog enjoy the company of other dogs? If he does, daycare can be a great outlet for his or her extra energy, either to enrich his usual exercise routine, or to take care of it for you if your work schedule leaves little time to squeeze in the exercise your dog needs during the day.
If your dog seems uncomfortable around other dogs, then day-boarding might be a better fit. Day-boarding is a more individualized option. The way it works is much like our overnight boarding setup. Your dog would have his own spacious indoor kennel run and dog house, and you would be able to choose one-on-one activities for your dog to do with a person. We offer walks, plays, cuddletimes and numerous food treats to spice things up.
We understand that you wouldn’t leave your dog with just anyone. The best thing you can do, in the end, is to thoroughly research your options and to drop in for a tour of any place you consider. We welcome tours anytime during business hours and would be happy to show you around and discuss the possibility of your dog becoming a part of our daycare family.
