Are you considering enrolling your puppy or dog in daycare?
Many Important Benefits
Daycare offers many important benefits to dogs, from preventing boredom and loneliness when their owners are away at work all day, to making sure high-energy dogs (and puppies) get lots of exercise and attention.
Excellent for Socialization
Dog daycare is excellent for socialization. Dogs are social animals and need to learn how to interact with other dogs and daycare is a good way for your dog to learn appropriate socialization with other dogs.
Familiarize Dog Before Overnight Boarding
Daycare is also a great way for your dog to get to know a facility and bond with other dogs and humans before he or she is enrolled in overnight boarding. Most of us need to board our dog at some point; be prepared by giving your dog the opportunity to feel safe and in a familiar environment when you need an overnight boarding experience for him or her.
What to Look for in a Quality Dog Daycare
How do you know if a dog daycare is a good place to leave your pooch? You love your dog and you want him or her to be cared for in a quality manner while you’re away. Here are 10 questions you should ask a potential facility to help you select the best daycare for your dog.
-
What type of training is required for the staff?
Perhaps the most important consideration when selecting a quality dog daycare is the training the staff receives. In a dog daycare setting, the humans provide leadership within the pack, using gentle correction when needed and lots of praise when deserved. Understanding how to lead the pack requires training of the highest caliber.
Minimally, staff should have training in the following:
- Dog body language
- Signs of stress in dogs
- Basic dog care
- Understanding dog behavior and communication
- How to prevent and de-escalate a dogfight
- How to attend to an injured dog
- How to maintain a sanitary environment
Take the time to find out what training is required for staff at the facility you are considering and look for experienced trainers who train and mentor newer staff members.
-
What is the human-to-dog ratio at the facility?
There needs to be enough staff to manage the number of dogs in the pack. In Colorado, there is a 1 to 15 human to dog ratio.
-
Are dogs screened before they are enrolled in daycare?
Screening is an important part of determining if your dog is a good fit for daycare. The daycare staff must be sure your dog will act appropriately in a large playgroup. Screening will weed out any dogs that are at the “too shy” or “too aggressive” ends of the dog temperament spectrum.
-
What precautions are taken to protect the dogs’ health?
- Cleanliness and sanitation. How does the daycare clean and disinfect the facility throughout the day and at the end of the day?
- Safe equipment. Look to see if the play areas and kennels are in good condition, as well as clean and safe for your dog.
- Adequate heating and cooling. What type of heating and cooling are used to maintain the right temperature for the animals?
- Proof of vaccination. All dogs should have proof of current vaccinations before entering the premises.
- What types of illnesses or medical concerns are not allowed?
- Frequency of accidents and illnesses. Accidents and illnesses will occur no matter how diligent the staff; it is unreasonable to expect that a daycare will have zero incidences. However, an unusually high number of incidences over a period of time can be a red flag. To find out about the frequency of accidents and illnesses, ask the daycare who their designated veterinarian is (it should be a vet nearby) and give them a call to ask about the daycare’s accident history.
-
How does the daycare handle emergencies?
Accidents and situations will happen so it’s important that the facility have an emergency plan. Who is the designated vet and what happens if your dog is injured? What is the daycare’s policy when a fight erupts?
-
Is there a daily routine?
Dogs love routine and a daily routine can make the day more relaxed because everyone knows what to expect. Of course there needs to be time for spontaneity and fun, but having a general daily routine can make the day easier and less stressful for all involved.
-
Is open communication with pet parents supported?
It’s important that staff keep pet parents informed on how things went that day for their dog, any scuffles your dog might have been involved in, and other situations that might need attention.
-
What are the facility policies?
- A quality daycare will inform pet parents of their policies, such as:
- What are the operating hours during the week, on weekends and on holidays?
- Is there a penalty for picking up your dog late?
- How are the fees calculated?
- Are there discounts available (i.e. more than one dog per family, full-time vs part-time care, etc.)?
-
Is the facility secure?
Check to make sure there is no way for a dog to escape or be stolen.
10. What extra services are offered?
Extra services aren’t required, of course, but some amenities are nice to have. Here are some that are offered by Canine Campus:
- Lots of affection, especially for dogs who are missing their family
- Lunch and break time from the pack if requested
- Dog grooming and spa services
- Toys and balls to romp and play with in the pack
- Outside dog run
- Swimming pools in hot weather
- Soothing music provided for overnight boarding dogs
- Online K-9 Connect live webcams for your viewing pleasure
Choosing the right daycare for your puppy or dog can be as stressful – and important – as picking the best school for your children. Take the time and energy to do it right; you – and your dog – will be happier with your choice in the long run.
My husband and I are about to start new jobs, so we are looking for the perfect dog daycare that we can leave our new puppy at. So I like your advice to make sure the temperature is kept perfectly for animals and all of the pets have some kind of proof of vaccination. Since we want our puppy to stay healthy, we’ll be sure to find a dog daycare that has all of their animals show proof of vaccination.
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for your interest in dog daycare at Canine Campus!
We absolutely require all dogs on Campus to be current on Rabies, Distemper & Bordetella. We are required under our state license to keep said vaccination records on file as well. That being said, please remember if you choose to bring your pup into a social situation, your pooch may be exposed to certain illnesses and injuries, much like 2-legged kids who attend daycare and school. We do our absolute best to make sure every dog in our building is healthy and happy. If we notice any signs of illness, that animal is pulled out of the pack and placed in isolation with a prompt call to the owners. Please ask your vet about incubation periods when it comes to illness such as kennel cough, canine flu, etc. Most animals, like people, do not show any symptoms at the beginning of their illness while they are contagious thus can spread germs without anyone noticing.
We would love to have your pup come and play with us at daycare. Please give us a ring anytime for more information and to schedule your dog’s Admissions Test.