9 Reasons Why Doggy DayCare Is Good For You & Your Pet
1. Socialize: Meet New Doggy Friends
One of the main reasons parents are encouraged to send their children to preschool and nursery school is that the child learns to socialize with others. The same reason holds true for dogs!
Like people, all dogs have different dispositions, and it’s important for your dog to learn how to play and interact with the others in a safe environment.
Depending on the breed, some dogs are assertive, others aggressive, and others are shy and retiring. High energy dogs act much differently than the laid-back breeds.
If you have a tiny terrier or Shih Tzu, they might be intimidated by larger breeds like great Danes, Newfoundlands or German shepherds. In that case, a playgroup composed of similarly sized dogs might help them feel at ease and have as much fun as possible.
Playgroups in doggy daycares are also a good safety precaution since some energetic dogs might not understand how to be cautious around their small or timid counterparts.
Despite the differences in temperament, a dog daycare lets your dog learn of all the other beautiful breeds out there, and they will learn faster, and you won’t have to worry about separation anxiety.
Also, since dogs are the most interactive and social canines, it makes no sense to refuse them this innate need to interact with others.
2. Reduces Separation Anxiety
Your dog may start peeing or pooping in the house, it might start chewing your clothes, or shoes, among others. These are the signs of canine separation anxiety which often leads to destructive behaviors.
Leaving your dog home alone and wondering what the secret life of your pet is all about, find the best doggy daycare and take it there. Just make sure it’s been vaccinated. Interaction with other dogs will protect your dog from becoming too depressed and sick because of loneliness.
3. Supervised Playtime
One of the best benefits of doggy daycare is that your dog will get to play, as much as they want, and with lots of canine friends. Of course, when a big group of dogs gets together, there is bound to be some conflict.
Luckily, any fights can be quickly and efficiently handled by the daycare staff, who are experts in dog behavior. They know when to step in and defuse the situation, while encouraging continued play, and when to separate them for everyone’s safety.
The doggy daycare employees aren’t just referees, though; they act as teachers, as well. Your dog will be mentally stimulated by the games at daycare, not just physically tuckered out.
Watch the video below to see what it’s like inside a doggy daycare. Video is by SD922 of YouTube:
4. Fun & Exciting Excercise
Not just any physical activity, but fun and exciting that is high on the list of benefits of doggy daycare.
Leave your dog at home alone for any period, and they’ll probably have a lot of pent-up energy. They will be raring to run outdoors once you get back home, and let’s face it, after a hard day at the office, going for an hour-long walk might not be your first choice.
When they spend time in a daycare facility, however, they have the freedom to run, jump, frolic, chase, tug, and scamper.
All of this exercise is incredibly important for your dog. It’s great for your pup’s physical health, and a fun way to excercise. This means that upon their return home after a full day of play, she’ll be ready to snuggle up and relax with you. They’ll sleep better at night, too.
5. Doggy Entertainment!
Left alone for too long, dogs get lonely and bored, and they’ll start looking for something to do.
Chance are that what they find to occupy them isn’t going to be an activity that you approve. Rather, your pooch is likely to start digging under the fence, chewing shoes, furniture or your daughter’s stuffed animals, or simply tearing the place apart.
It will be difficult for a dog to be bored at daycare. Relief from boredom, as well as companionship, are two significant benefits of doggy daycare.
Dog daycare facilities offer a variety of play yards and spaces as well as plenty of balls, frisbees, and other toys.
There will be tunnels, play structures, and an assortment of other things to jump on, leap off, crawl through, and run around. Some doggy daycares even offer pools!
6. Meet New Fur-Parents
It’s a good bet that, after spending some time enjoying the benefits of doggy daycare, your puppy will start to bond with some special friends. You might want to set up play-dates with your dog’s best buddy, strengthening their bond. In the process, you might get yourself a new friend
.Just as the parents of preschoolers tend to gather and chat at pickup time, so do dog owners who come to fetch their furry friends. You’ll have some great discussions about leashes, toys, and food. Need help with traveling with your pets? You can ask your new friends to share their experiences. You can even get recommendations for vets or groomers. And you’ll, undoubtedly, share stories of the funny or frustrating antics your pets get themselves into.
7. Less Stress, More Cuddles
Separation anxiety not only affects the health and emotional state of your pup but it might affect yours too. You end up spending hours out of your day thinking of the danger your dog could be in and also how lonely it must be for it.
A doggie daycare will leave you happy and productive because you don’t have to worry about your dog running crazy around the house, whining for hours, or littering the house. And since your dog gets back home tired, a bath for the two of you, a meal and snuggling on the couch are the only beautiful things you will be thinking about.
8. Establish a Doggy Routine
Dogs, like humans, are creatures of habit. Sending your pooch to the daycare means that it knows that every day at a specific time, it goes away to spend time with its friends. And at the daycare, the staff have a schedule of activities that will keep your pup invigorated and exhausted at best.
9. Improves Your Dog’s Confidence
If you are worried that your dog’s timidness is unhealthy, take it to the dog’s daycare. There, your dog interacts with other trained dogs with different temperaments, and as it interacts with the others, and acts out of its comfort zone, it’s confidence levels will rise.
You should also know that constant interaction with other dogs makes your dog a lot calmer, confident, and it’s unlikely to bark or exhibit aggressive behavior.
Choosing The Best Doggy DayCare
Tour The Facility
Before you sign up to give your dog the benefits of doggy daycare, it’s important to tour the facility to make sure it will be a good fit. Ask about their staff-to-animal ratio, what training the staff receives, what kind of food or treats are provided, how often the dogs are taken out for potty breaks, and so on.
Check The Amenities
In order to avoid over-stimulation, facilities should also provide quiet spots, with cots or beds, so that each dog can take a quick snooze or are able to just be by themselves if they want a break. Most places will offer half or full-day services, as well as packages that give you a discount for bringing your dog several times a week or even daily. Be sure to ask about cost, although that shouldn’t be your only consideration.
Check their play area. Is it built for entertainment and safety? Does it include a pool or a set of play-track? Is the area large enough to fit all the dogs?
Security & Monitoring Procedures
Many doggy care facilities offer web cams, so you can take a peek at what your pup is up to during the day. Some also take daily pictures and send them to you. Depending on the number of dogs active, the ratio between monitoring staff and the number of dogs is 1:6. That means, for every six dogs, there is one monitoring staff.
Services Offered
The best daycare for dogs offer a wide range of services including grooming, basic to full grooming; shuttle services, pick up and drop off; and training classes, as well as veterinary services, and others will also offer boarding services. Others may be fitted with stores for pet supplies and pet food. While some premium services are offered at an extra cost, you should look for the daycare whose services meet the needs of your dog, affordably.
Speaking of affordability, you might want to choose the daycares that offer daily, weekly or monthly payment plans and packages.
Final Thoughts
If a daycare doesn’t work out for you and your dog, try another one. Or why not try a dog training class? You can also install a home pet camera to supervise your pet while you are away, but this will require basic training.
All facilities are different, and you’ll soon discover the perfect place that offers the many benefits of doggy daycare: socialization, loads of fun, relief from boredom, human interaction, and canine friends to meet and greet every day.
Keep in mind that like toddlers, pups require exposure to an environment offering constant supervision, rules, a sense of safety, and rituals. And above all, they need companionship.