If you are looking for a doggy day care for your beloved pet, you probably have a ton of questions and concerns. For some people, picking out the best doggy day care for a pet is just as important as picking out the best day care for a human child.
While some dogs are perfectly happy being on their own at home during the day, others really need the extra attention, stimulation, and love that doggy day care can provide. There's no reason to feel guilty for dropping off your dog at day care — the socialization will probably be amazing for them.
There's a lot to consider when you're looking for the right place for your pet to spend a few hours each day. Here is everything you need to know when you're looking for the best doggy day care for your dog.
Ask yourself if day care is the best choice for your dog.
Before you even start looking up doggy day cares in your area, it's important to ask yourself if doggy day care if really the best choice for your pet. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- How does my dog respond to other dogs?
- How does my dog respond to strangers?
- Does my dog experience anxiety or boredom?
- How much exercise will my dog get if they aren't in doggy day care?
Google with intention.
Once you've answered those questions, it's time to start googling! Try to avoid typing in a general query such as "doggy day care in [CITY]"; instead, try something more pointed. One suggestion: "best doggy day cares in [CITY] for small dogs" (or whatever size dog you have). You want to make sure that the doggy day care you choose is appropriate for the dog you have, and vice-versa.
Tour the doggy day cares you're interested in.
Once you have a list, resist the urge to go with the first one that meets your criteria, and instead find out if the doggy day care offers tours. If you can't go in person, even a virtual tour can give you an idea of what the day-to-day experience at each doggy day care is like.
Observe and ask questions at the doggy day care.
Whether you tour in person or not, there are a few things you want to either keep an eye out for or ask about:
- Is there adequate, safe fencing at the doggy day care?
- Are the floors safe?
- Is the ventilation adequate, especially on long, hot days?
- How are dogs grouped and/or separated?
- How many dogs are assigned to each staff member?
- Can your dog bring toys from home?
- What kind of training does the staff have?
Read reviews and try out your top choices.
Once you've narrowed your choices to two or three of your favorite options, there are more questions you can ask that can help you figure out which one is the right one for you.
- Find out if you can read reviews or even speak to current clients about their experience at the doggy day care.
- Review the safety and/or emergency procedures.
- Ask if you can try the doggy day care out on a trial basis. Some doggy day cares even require a trial visit to see if your dog and the day care are a good fit.
