This article originally appeared in the award-winning AKC Family Dog magazine. Subscribe now!
As the owner of a dog training and day care facility, I have lots of experience with creating an environment that’s fun, safe, and educational for dogs. If you’re thinking about day care for your dog, here are some things to consider.
Day Care or Dog Walker?
Let’s say someone has a dog who’s cautious with other dogs, doesn’t enjoy leaving the house, and tends to just chill and sleep while the owner is at work. What’s a better choice: dog walker or day care?
Well, there’s a case to be made for both options. A trusted walker would be able to take the dog out for a walk among familiar surroundings, provide a brief amount of interaction, and when the visit is over, the dog is left alone to chill out. There’s nothing wrong with that. Except …
Sometimes the owner wants the dog to be more social and comfortable with new environments and experiences. They don’t like the idea of the dog being alone and bored most of the day, because when they come home, the dog is overflowing with energy. They want a day care where their dog can safely meet and interact with new dogs, new people, and get more exercise than a walk around the block.
Some dogs have special needs and would do better having supervision all day. Several dogs at our day care have this situation. Some are recovering from surgery, some need hourly potty walks due to age or a medical issue, many are on medications that must be given at specific times (such as seizure medicine or insulin), and some participate in a vet-prescribed exercise program.
There are also dogs with separation anxiety issues, and if left alone, they can do damage to their home and themselves. In most of these situations, the owners work full time out of their home and are unable to provide the specialized care that their dog requires.
Dogs Love Day Care—Unless They Don’t
Some dogs love to be in a group of dogs, playing nonstop. And some dogs prefer to be solo and get their exercise by playing with people. That doesn’t mean that the solo dogs won’t enjoy being at day care, it just means that their day needs to be on a different “track” than the more social dogs.
We have a few dogs who are considered “singles,” and although they don’t care to play with other dogs (for various reasons, such as fear or reactivity) they get the same amount of exercise and social interaction with humans. We’re a training facility as well, so we’re working with those dogs to rehab them, but until they’re ready, we have a way to make their day amazing and exciting.
If your dog falls into this category, be sure that a day care can handle the accommodations your dog needs.
What To Look For in a Facility
Our facility is annually lauded as “setting the standard” in our area. Here’s a list of what sets us apart, and what you should look for in a day care where you live.
- A day care should be extremely clean, neat, and organized in areas that dogs access, as well as areas dogs don’t access. Note the presence of odors—even “dog” odors—and if there are heavy fragrances designed to mask smells. Make sure the facility you’re considering is clean beyond the waiting area.
- We have a high rate of (well-trained) team members to dogs, which is important on the safety side of things. But you may encounter facilities with 10, 20, or as many as 30 dogs with only one attendant in the area, and if a scuffle breaks out, dogs (and the person) are going to be injured. Well-trained team members understand what it looks like when a dog is about to get tense or start a fight, and they know how to diffuse a situation before it escalates.
- All our fences and barriers are secure and checked daily. We believe that anything can and will happen, and the only way to prevent accidents is to be extra cautious. The facility you choose should feel the same way.
- Our day care is for our students only, and because of that, we know every dog personally from the training they’re doing with us. This is not the norm, so please make sure that the day care you’re considering does accurate temperament testing on the dogs they accept.
- We happily communicate with our students about their dogs and their experience with us. The team is hyper vigilant about every dog in our care, and sometimes they notice an issue (such as an ear infection or limping) before the dog’s owner. Great facilities excel in communicating with dogs and their families.
Non-Negotiables
Finding a perfect day care match may be a challenge, but once you do, it’s a huge relief to know your dog is taken care of and loved by their “extended family.”
Beyond an obvious love for dogs and offering enrichment and training programs, there are other non-negotiables that a facility should have:
- High safety standards.
- Enough qualified team members to be able to give the dogs in their care the attention they need—there’s no industry standard on staff per dog, but it’s a good idea to observe a playgroup in action if you’re able.
- Easy-to-access communication channels. Whether the owner is raising a concern, or the facility needs to relay any issues that may arise, the openness and immediacy of the response is critical.
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