Things You Should Know About Doggy Daycare. Just a few years ago, dog daycare was virtually non-existent and the idea seemed a little crazy. However, the times have changed dramatically since then. You can now find daycare facilities for him/her in many places. Sometimes it is a good idea to take a dog to daycare facilities but you should know that day care is not for every dog.
How to know if dog daycare is a good idea for your dog!
Whether or not a dog benefits from daycare has a lot to do with the dog's personality. Those that are playful, outgoing, sociable and require a lot of exercise will get the most benefit. Canines need exercise! Stimulation both mental and physical. It is a fact that very few get enough exercise and this could potentially cause them to become obese, develop bad habits, create unacceptable behaviors, or just go stir crazy. For some, especially adolescents and young adults, they can't stand being idle! For these canines, the usual half an hour of intense aerobic exercise per day is simply not enough, and when you go to work they quickly become bored and anxiety sets in. Dog boarding facilities are ideal places for those who like to be social. You should be careful not to take your dog to these places to socialize if he/she is not the social type. If he/she is not adequately socialized as a puppy, and therefore has trouble mingling with others, taking him/her to a hotel for dogs is not always a good idea. They will eventually develop social issues such as fear aggression and fear of other 4 leggers.
How to choose and use dog boarding to your advantage!
Doggy daycare facilities are good places to take your loving companion if you don't want to leave the dog all alone for the entire day. Sometimes people leave him/her at daycare facilities when they want some free time to carry out activities where he/she will surely be neglected. For other people, taking dogs to daycare is meant to deal with separation anxiety that affects many when the owners go to work, out with friends, go to movies, concerts, ballgames and leave the dog all alone. Remember, you owners have all of these things, your loyal companion has only you! Whichever the reason, there are several things you should do to make sure that the experience is good for both you and your most loyal companion.Before leaving a dog at a daycare facility, you should take a tour of the facility. Your main objective should be to find out how the dogs are treated and by whom. Ideally, dogs should be handled individually most of the time with the only exception being during playtime. You should also know how playtime is managed. For instance, are larger animals allowed to mingle freely with the smaller animals that might easily get hurt? You should make reservations in advance when you want to leave your companion at a sitting facility. Many daycare facilities are busy so you should book a spot at your preferred daycare facility well in advance. This is especially true for holiday seasons when a lot of people spend time away from their homes. A good daycare facility will be able to save you a spot on specific days of the week as per your schedule.
Precautions to take when using doggy daycare facilities!
You should always be aware that daycare facilities for canines receive many clients every day. Due to this fact, you should give the facility as much information as possible regarding your most loyal companion. This can only enable them to take better care of your best friend. It will also give daycare staff an easy time when dealing with unforeseeable circumstances that might come up! For example, you should always leave instructions for unique situations to the staff of the boarding facility. The instructions should be given when you make a reservation and you should also remind the daycare staff when dropping off. One special situation is when your dog is supposed to take certain medication. Also, if a special diet is required, you should tell the daycare staff. Keep in mind that a facility may not be equipped to handle some situations so you should confirm before bringing your dog. Another precaution to take when you are considering using a hotel for dogs is to make sure he/she is immunized. You should confirm that he/she has received all the necessary shots. When taking the dog to a daycare facility, you should bring proof of all vaccinations so that they can have it on file and also ask if all other dogs are vaccinated. It is recommended for you to give your dog medication for fleas and heart-worms before dropping him/her off. You should also avoid carrying your dogs pillows, blankets, or any other materials that may harbor parasites.
Final words
Daycare facilities for dogs are great places for dogs to get used to interacting with other dogs and people. These facilities are great places to take dogs for training, exercise, socialization and even separation anxiety. However, you should know that dog daycare should be used to supplement an existing training and exercise program that you use on your best friend. If you don't personally train and exercise your dog and instead rely on daycare facilities alone, he/she will no longer see you as the alpha dog which might cause him/her to behave badly when with you. If you rely mostly on daycare facilities for your dog, then it might be a better idea not to have a dog in the first place.It can be difficult to leave your dog in a strange place. However, if you check the place out ahead of time, it might help you solve the dilemma of neglecting your most loyal family member. Even though daycare facilities for dogs often take exceptionally good care of your buddy, you should avoid leaving the him/her at such facilities too often. Three days a week should provide noticeable positive results in behavior and over all physical and mental fitness.
I live in West Hills, just east of Calabasas,Ca., in a lovely home that I share with my husband, and lab-shepherd mix, "Trakr". Trakr is three-years old and loves the company of his new canine guests. I have been the proud owner of 3 wonderful dogs, spent a lot of time studying dog behavior, and many more hours volunteering at the local pet rescues during the last 15 years. I love dogs, and that is why I do this, to give them love as you would, while you are away.
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