Should you enroll your dog in daycare?  That is a very good question and a question that all owners should ask themselves.  Besides how much daycare may cost, owners should be asking about many other things.  The number one question I’d like all owners to ask themselves is if this will be beneficial to your pup’s quality of life?  Not all dogs are suited for daycare.  Not all dogs like other dogs.  In fact, very few dogs are 100% suited for daycare; it can be overwhelming for many pups and being exposed to such high stimulation day in and day out can really mess with their heads.  It is said that when stress levels are up, cortisol is being pumped into the body (fight or flight response) and it usually takes up to 72 hours for that “stress hormone” to filter out of your system.  Most dogs are not given the chance to come back down to a normal state.  Even if they seemed relaxed and composed on the outside the hormone is still swimming along on the inside.  What does that mean for your dog?  It can mean that some pups may start becoming anxious, start developing behavioral problems to deal with the stress, or their immune system can go out of whack.  Am I saying that this will happen to all dogs or to your dog?  No.  What I am saying is that, please assess if your dog will do well in such a high pace and high intensity environment.  Just like people, some thrive on the adrenaline rush while some like to hide away and just make friends with woodland creatures.  There is no shame in having a dog that prefers to be more low key.  It just means that you’ll have to find other avenues to increase your dog’s quality of life.  It may mean you might have to look a little harder for the right daycare or maybe you might entertain the idea of getting someone to come walk your dog a couple times a day or even a hike.  There are many dog enthusiast out there that are totally willing to provide these services, but again, please ask questions.  Don’t just look at the dollar amount.  Interview your potential dog care person.  You have the right to know who will be handling your pet.  Sometimes going cheaper means less experience and increased risk for your dog.  If you’re not sure if your dog is suited for daycare or not, you can ask for a trial day.

Don’t take offense if the daycare you’ve chosen has informed you that your dog is not suited for their facility.  It is not a knock against you or your dog.  What it means is that your dog is not suited for their facility; it is simple as that.  Your dog is not a bad dog and you’re not a bad owner.   It can be that your dog may not like being in such close quarters with so many other dogs or it may just be that the dogs that are attending that daycare doesn’t have the same sense of humor as your pup.  It happens.  We experience it in our own lives as well.  We either click with someone or we want to repel them as far away from us as possible.  If your dog is more space conscious or easily overwhelmed, you might want to try an open space concept or a small facility daycare (mom and pop operations).  What I mean by this is seek out a place that has less dog per person ratio or a more open area for your dog to explore.  Most dogs do best with no more than 8 dogs in a play group.  As you would for a larger facility, request a tour, meet the staff, and ask questions.  What is the dog to human ratio?  How is the staffed trained?  How are play groups conducted?  Where is my dog housed during rest time?  What are your cleaning procedures?  How long is rest time?  How long is play time?  Ask as many questions as you can.  It is your right to know how your dog is being cared for and at any point you feel uncomfortable you don’t have place your dog there.  That being said, please be polite about it.  Don’t be a jerk.

Now, lets say your daycare dreams are dashed and your dog is just not the party or die kinda dog?  Well, this is what I usually hear when I have to inform owners that their dog is not suited for daycare, “How do I keep my dog socialized?” “How do I socialize my dog?”  or “My dog needs socialization!” There are so many answers to that and none of them even involves the word ‘Daycare’.  First, if you have a puppy under the age of 6 months, go to puppy socials!  This is not a shameless plug.  I don’t care if you come to my puppy socials, but find one that has a trainer involved to walk you through what to look for in play and what proper play should look like.  This is an important first step for your dog.  They’re learning from practicing with their peers how to play and how to interact.   This a pretty critical socialization period.  Dogs are more forgiving and tolerant of each other, just like human toddlers at this age.  These socials may even help with your dog’s future aspect of getting into a daycare.  Show your dog how to play nice.  It is a bit harder for older pups to find the right play pals, but it is not impossible.  You do have to put in a little more effort.  Usually, if you’ve been attending puppy socials you’ll find dogs and people that you and your pup click with.  I highly suggest that you exchange information.  This will be helpful for those dogs that don’t fit the daycare mold to continue dog-dog socialization.  Take all that you’ve learned in puppy class and apply them to your play dates to ensure a safe playing environment.  At this time your dog may be experiencing some hormonal changes; this is when scuffles may start to occur.  Be vigilant.  Watch for any stiffness in body or mouth, hardness of the eyes, showing of teeth, growling, hackles up, or avoidance of other dogs.  Calmly walk over to interrupt by strolling in between the awkwardness or make kissy noises to grab their attention.  Don’t get worked up or it can escalate a situation.  You can also put together play dates with your friends’ dog.  Make sure that  your pal has a friendly dog that is tolerant of younger dogs and can help teach your dog better manners.  If you lack such friends, you can also look for play groups through social media.  You’ll find people on the same boat as you looking to socialize their dogs too.  Again, be cautious.  Ask questions.  When meeting for the first time, have a back up plan ready to keep your pup safe.  It’s best to have someone with dog experience run these groups.  Try to go for a smaller play group. For a less hands on approach, there are dog walkers that can take your dog out with a pack.   There are even people that can take your dog on a hike with other like minded dogs.  Your dog doesn’t have to fit in a mold to enjoy pack life and socialization.   Like mentions many times, ask questions.  Be your dog’s advocate.

So here it is.  I hope this post was informational.  There is so much more that I want to share, but it would make this post so dramatically long.  The main point I really want to get across is that not enough owners ask enough questions, whether its of the daycare, boarding facility or even simply if their dog would enjoy this form of socializing.  I want owners to understand that not all daycares are created equally, daycare may not be the right fit for your pup but it doesn’t mean you have a bad dog or that you’re a bad owner, and that convenience or price shouldn’t dictate your dog’s sanity.  Please.  Please.  Always ask questions.  Thank you for reading.  Here’s to good vibes for all.  🙂