By Heidi Clayton
Last week I wrote about behavioral issues that can arise when your dog goes to doggy daycare. This week, let’s talk about things to think about when picking a doggy daycare that will work for you and your dog.
First, consider whether your dog has a good enough temperament to handle group play. Dogs are not meant to play in large groups, which is how many daycares style their play sessions. While there are those extroverted dogs that can handle running in large groups, keep in mind that your dog may not be one of them.
It is also very common for teenage dogs (roughly 9 months to 18 months) to become less social and dog tolerant, so even if your young dog at one time enjoyed group play, they can age out of it.
Questions about how large the groups are and how the dogs are grouped should be asked. Also find out temperament testing is done to introduce a new dog into the mix. I would never allow my dog to simply be turned loose into any group of dogs and hope that they “work it out.” Your dog can be ruined from play all together if they have a bad experience, so consider how the daycare runs their introductions and remember: daycare should be stimulating for your dog, not over-stimulating.
Next, what is the dog-to-staff ratio? If you want to have the life scared out you, copy and paste this link: https://fb.watch/lQ1is1Eqin/ for an example of what happens when way too many dogs are in a play group with not nearly enough staff to deal with the situation.
Ask what training the staff has to break up a dog fight should one happen and what methods are used.
Avoid places that use aversive methods like shock collars, cattle prods, or throwing things at the dogs.
What protocols are in place if a dog is injured in the middle of play and their pain or yelping cause the other dogs to become over-stimulated? Don’t be afraid to interview the staff on their experience.
Finally, in what type of space would the dogs be turned out? I witnessed a daycare situation via a client in which about 20 dogs were turned loose indoors in a room where dogs were peeing on the walls. I find it unacceptable, unsanitary and confusing to your dog that it is OK to pee inside at daycare, but not at home.
I am spoiled in having Mary Remer as my mentor who is also the owner and founder of What a Good Dog, Inc. in Malvern, Pa. The daycare program at WAGD has numerous outdoor runs where the dogs can use the bathroom, with multiple staff members dedicated to each yard and play groups kept at smaller numbers so everyone is safe. The yards are also misted during the hot weather and all have pools for cooling off.
The dogs also get “down time” to nap and aren’t running wild all day, keeping cranky behavior and the risk of injury to a minimum.
Also consider how clean the environment is as it is imperative to prevent the spread of diseases like kennel cough.
Remember, it is more important for your dog to feel safe and clean at daycare than to come home tired and hassle-free for you. Do your homework before sending them and make it a great experience for the both of you.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at www.fouronthefloordogtrainig.net.
