How to find the right dog daycare
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When I got my first Shiba Inu in year 2000, there weren’t a lot of doggie daycare options available. I was also completely new to being a doggie parent at that time, so I had no clue that dogs needed ‘socialization.’ My sweet Shiba Inu puppy that loved everyone and every dog became afraid of other dogs as she got older and lashed out at them if they came too close.
My Shiba puppy wasn’t around other dogs often at all. But when she was exposed to other dogs, it was because of the irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs loose around the neighborhood unsupervised (and there were larger dogs that had become territorial) and she’s been attacked multiple times. No blood drawn, but she would be utterly freaked out. And I eventually became afraid of any interactions she would have with other dogs, too. I felt hopeless and always felt terrible that my Shiba didn’t have doggie friends that she can run around with. Over the course of her life, she only had 2 docile male dog friends that did not counteract with any aggression and she was totally enamored with them! I’d imagine had she been properly socialized early on, she could have had a much more fulfilling life.
Fast forward 18 years (yes, my first Shiba Inu lived to be over 17 years old!) with my second Shiba Inu puppy, I was determined to make sure that he gets the “right” socialization he needs as early and as often as possible. Now, I don’t live in the neighborhood where dogs are being let loose either and doggie daycares are available everywhere.
Why dog daycares are essential for your dogs
There are so many benefits of doggie daycares, both to the dogs and the humans. For us, it’s a peace of mind that your dog isn’t at home all alone, confined in a small space, depressed, anxious or tearing things up on his or her own. For the dogs, there are so many benefits:
Exercise
Daycares are great for both the physical and mental exercise for the dogs. They will run around all day with other dogs and staff members but many daycares will also offer enrichment and simple training during the daycare session to keep the dogs mentally stimulated.
Socialization
This is especially important for some breeds and dogs that have the tendency to be very cautious of other dogs, people and new experiences. Knowing how to interact with various types of dogs and people are important so that your dog can be part of your life as much as possible. You can go for a walk, go hiking, go to friends’ houses, go shopping where dogs are allowed – all without the stress for you or for your dog. There is no happier canine companion than the ones that can just hang out and explore the world with you as often as they can!
Socialization isn’t just for puppies either. While the critical learning period begins at just weeks old, dogs are continuously learning about the world. A one year old that has not been socialized or exposed continuously to new environments can become afraid and reactive. Constant exposure and positive experiences ensure your pup will live a happier and healthier life.
Controlled and monitored environment
My dog and I both love dog parks. But I personally prefer doggie daycare over dog parks mainly because I have no control over what type of dogs or dog owners are going to be at the dog park. If a dog fight breaks out at a dog park, whose responsibility is it, or has the expertise, to properly manage the situation? There are owners who come to these parks and completely disregard the rules and they don’t even monitor their own dogs. At the doggie daycares, the staff should be constantly monitoring the dogs and they will equipped and trained to properly deal with any scuffles.
Pictures like these of Rocket (left) chillin’ with other dogs make me so happy…
What to look for to find the right dog daycare
Your dog is your baby. You want what’s best for your dog. But I get that it has to be convenient and affordable for you, too. Visit the facility you are considering or multiple facilities to compare. Ask or observe some of the things that are important to you from the list below to find the dog daycare that best meets you and your dog’s needs:
Cost
- Is it a flat amount per day or do they also have half-day rates?
- Do they offer package deals?
- What is the extra charge if you do not pick up your dog before their closing time?
- Do they also offer boarding? If so, is the daycare included in the overnight stay cost?
- What are other additional services they offer and what are the cost?
Facility
- What are their hours? Are they open on weekends?
- Does the facility seem clean? How often do they clean?
- What do they use to clean? Is it pet safe? Take notes on what your dog may be able to get into as many daycares leave mop buckets and other cleaning items within the dog’s reach.
- Is there a webcam that you can check-in remotely?
- Do they have an outdoor area that the dogs can run around? Does it look secure with no easy escape routes for the dogs?
- What do others say about the facility? You can tell a lot about a place through their online reviews.
Playgroups
- How many dogs are in a playgroup?
- Are the dogs divided into different playgroups? If so, how are they grouped together? By size only? Or by temperament?
- Is one of the groups potentially a good fit for your dog?
- Do the staff members supervise the playgroups? If so, how many dogs does each staff member monitor?
- What is the first day temperament test look like?
Staff
- How experienced are the staff members?
- Are they Pet First Aid & CPR certified?
- Do they seem like they truly love and care about the dogs?
- Are they attentive and not just on their phone, collecting a paycheck?
Safety
- What are the required vaccinations? (Some daycares require influenza shots)
- Are you asked to provide the proof of vaccination? This is extremely important to understand how diligent they are to ensuring every dog is up-to-date on their shots.
- In case of emergency, what’s their protocol? Do they call you? Do they take your dog to the emergency room with or without your consent?
- How do the handle dog fights?
Breed/Personalities
If you have a specific breed, like Shiba Inu, do they have any experience or understanding of them? Don’t take the dismissive answer of “Oh, we know every kind of dogs!” as an acceptable answer if you know that your dog isn’t an “every other dog.” Ask what they know about the breed to see if they do understand what to expect. While you can’t expect the daycare staff to be an expert of every breed and many dog experts do not like to overgeneralize dog breeds especially for their “negative” traits. But you know your dog’s personalities that could lead to misunderstanding of his or her behaviors.
Many doggie daycares have an initial interview or assessment with the owner and the dog. Be sure to discuss some of the quirks that your dog may have. Key information like your dog is an escape artist, or he or she doesn’t like other dogs in their personal space initially, or he or she has the tendency for resource guarding are all important information that can help the daycares make sure that all the dogs can be happy and safe.
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