Doggy Daycare – Right for a Furry Friend?
A Guide to the Basics of the Dog Daycare Model
Nov 12, 2009
Many people are keeping longer working hours than ever before, but still want to enjoy the companionship and comfort which comes with owning a dog.
Dogs, however, thrive on both exercise and companionship, which can sometimes be limited if their owner has to work for an extended period of time. This, combined with the fact that many people now consider dogs to be members of the family, led to the development of the concept of "Doggy Daycare".
Doggy Daycare - What is it?Put simply, Doggy Daycare is an all-day location for dogs to stay, usually under the supervision of one or two employees. The typical Daycare will have a large open indoor space, often covered in rubber mats for the dogs to play. There will also be an outdoor area, mostly used for the dogs to relieve themselves, but which may also contain a pool or other outside toys for the summer months. Most Daycares charge between $18 and $20 for services on a day-to-day basis, but will offer cheaper rates for purchasing days in bulk.
The dogs are usually given the ability to freely roam the area under the watchful eyes of the Daycare employees, who are mostly on hand to break up any fights that may occur or stop any behaviour that would damage the property.
Most Daycares will also have a "nap" area with various sizes of kennels, and will put the dogs away in the kennels of a period of time each day to give them a break from each other. The dogs will have free access to water but are not usually fed during the day, due to the possibility of food aggression and the fact that not all dogs would be amenable to the same food.
Different Types of Kids - Who can go?Most Doggy Daycares attempt to be as broad-minded as possible as to what kind of dogs they allow into their facilities, but some will restrict their customers by breed or temperament. Often Daycares will require that owners fill out an application form which will contain information about the dog's breed, history, temperament and any other behavioural issues that the dog may have. Daycares reserve the right to remove or reject a dog from their care at any time, so as to protect themselves from liability if a dog were to be injured by another dog.
Who's Running this Thing, Anyway?A reputable Dog Daycare should be relatively clean – no space that contains animals will ever be completely spotless, but it should not smell heavily of either feces or urine. As well, the Daycare should have no problem giving tours of the entire facility. If there are areas that people are not permitted to go, this can be a sign that the Daycare is not all it seems to be.
It is a good idea to watch how the employees interact with the dogs that are there. Depending on the size, some Daycares can take upwards of fifty dogs in a day. While this means a great deal of socialization for the dogs, controlling such a large pack can be difficult even for experienced employees.
It can be worthwhile to stick around for a few minutes, especially on the first day a dog is brought to the Daycare, just to see how things are run and the general temperament of the pack.
The Homecoming - What to Expect After School
The goal of Doggie Daycare is to both to socialize and tire out dogs so that when their owners bring them home, they can be assured that their beloved pooch will not be up all night, pacing in the house or yard because they have too much pent-up energy.
Most of the energy burned at a Daycare comes from the dog running and playing in a pack with other dogs. Make no mistake, however – this is unstructured play. The dogs are not learning any discipline, and are likely not even playing fetch – they are playing with other dogs, which can be excellent for socialization, but is a "mindless" exercise as it requires very little effort on the dog's part.
For this reason, the dog will often be very excited when picked up from Daycare, but will settle down as they head toward home. When the dog gets home, they will typically seek their bed and doze off, but it is important to remember that the dog still needs discipline and structure. The dog has just had a day of play and fun, and while they may be tired, doing some basic discipline with the dog or taking it for a short walk can do a great deal to help the dog in the long run.
Doggie Daycare can be an excellent socialization tool for dogs, and can also help to limit destructive behaviours at home. As well, it gives owners piece of mind while they are at work that their furry friend is being well cared for. The key is to make sure that Daycare is properly staffed and supervised, and to be aware that the Daycare is not a cure-all for all dog ills, but will only help the owner achieve their goals in training and socializing their dog.
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