How to Select a Good Doggie Daycare

Why bring your dog to daycare? By nature dogs are pack animals; so being alone can often be upsetting for them. Dogs that are bored and don't have enough stimulation will often display unwanted behaviors such as destructive chewing, excessive barking, and potty accidents. Daycare is a place where dogs can socialize and play with people and other dogs. Here are some tips to find a quality daycare.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Gather a listing of daycare facilities in your area. Good places for recommendations are off leash dog parks, veterinarians and pet shops.

2. 

   Tour the facility. Some daycare's require that you make an appointment, others will let you stop in anytime during lobby hours. The most important thing is to pay attention to details during the tour. How clean is it? Cleanliness is very important. If a daycare doesn't smell clean, it probably isn't. Do you find the people stressed? Is the staff friendly and knowledgeable?

3. 

   Ask Questions!
   • Are the dogs indoors or outdoors most of the time?
   Many facilities utilize indoor play areas while some also have outdoor
   play. Ask if there is adequate shelter in case of bad weather.
   
   • Are the dogs always being supervised by staff?
   What is the person per dog ratio? The higher the number of people the
   better, but a minimum of 1 person for every 7 to 10 dogs is desirable.
   
   • Is the staff trained and certified in dog care?
   
   • How Secure are the play areas?
   Fences should be high enough to prevent jumping and low enough to
   hinder digging.
   
   • Are the dogs separated out? You would not want a small Pomeranian in
   with a German shepherd.
   
   • Do the dogs have a time out area? Some dogs can get too rough with
   other dogs or your dog may want a water break with some down time.
   
   • Do they have a veterinarian on call? What are their emergency
   procedures? (Hopefully it is a rarity for calls to the vet).
   
   • How much does it cost? Are their added fees for medication
   administration or other special requests. Some facilities charge extra
   for these services.
   
   • Does the facility offer any other services such as grooming or training?

4. 

   Ask What is required of your dog.
   
   * What vaccinations are required? Usually they are Bordetella, Distemper
   and Rabies.
   
   • Does your dog have to be spayed or neutered? Non altered dogs can often
   be more aggressive and females in heat can cause tension and fights in
   male dogs.
   
   • Will your dog go through a screening before being allowed to attend
   daycare? The daycare should assess all dogs for temperament. All dogs
   should be able to play nicely. Ask if they offer a free trial day of
   daycare to make sure it is a good fit.
   
   Doggie Daycare can be a great place for your dog when you are working. Mostly, finding it takes time and patience. Try not to rush into anything. Your dog has the most important opinion of all- Dogs are usually excellent judges of character, so heed any warnings that your animal offers you about a particular person or place. You most feel good about the daycare you are leaving your best friend at.

[63miranda]

on 3/2/2009 Excellent article, Chris! This is such great advice. 5*