Doggy day care

[Woeismethischristmas]

What do you look out for in a doggy day care. I have a lovely, nearly 2 yo lab normally she’s at home with me or with my ex. I have one day a week at work that we can’t cover. I could get a dog Walker or there’s a doggy day care. She loves other dogs and the place I’m looking at is a working farm with kennels for boarding which does daycare in the off season. Big enclosed field for running around. I’m going to have a look around but just wondered what I should be looking for?

Someone who asks you lots of questions about your dog, temperament and routine. On/off lead walking. Asks to see vaccination schedule. Has training in dog first aid.

Our doggy daycare told us how they introduce new dogs to each other, gave an idea of schedule and minimum time spent walking. Showed us round.

I felt confident that they were professional and clued up, and I happy trusting them with Ddog.

I think you can also check with the local council whether they are properly registered.

There is such a variety in doggy daycare settings. Some are big noisey places in commercial buildings, some are kennels and some are much smaller in dog walkers homes.

You do need to think about the type of environment, others dogs as well as insurance, licensing etc.

My dog hates big noisey places so we use dog walkers who only take a couple of dogs for daycare.

You do have to be council licensed for daycare here. My biggest must is that my dog is happy and wants to return there. My primary daycare is lovely and I am sure he would move in with her if he could. They also board him when I go on holiday. We have also just found a backup daycare in a similar setting and again I can tell that he is happy there.

Forgot to say. Might be worth searching for old threads in the doghouse section for information/advice on what to look for.

Make sure they're licensed with the council - they should be if they're a kennels too, but always worth double-checking.

I'd want to make sure the dogs have private areas they can go to if they're feeling tired or overwhelmed. I'd also want my dog to be walked at least twice per day, and not just left to run riot in a field. Structured walks with the chance to sniff is vital imo.

I'd also double check whether they let dogs off-lead on walks, how they introduce new dogs to the group, and what they'd do in case of a fight, disagreement or medical emergency.

But like @BiteyShark says, the most important thing is that they're happy. A daycare can be perfect on paper but if it doesn't suit your dog, that's really irrelevant.

Think about your dog’s personality and what kind of environment would suit them. My dog would be no good in kennels or just being exercised in a field. In fact I wouldn’t want her in an outside building even if it’s heated.

So her daycare is a young couple who run it in their own home. They only have 4 dogs a day, and take them out for long countryside walks. Then it’s back home for a wash off, a snooze, then playing indoors or in the garden.
Also think about whether you need your dog to be picked up and dropped off.
Make it about your dogs individual needs and whether those can be met.

Mine does pick ups and it really helps. Also first aid trained and use the same local vets so much less stress were something to happen

They are licenced and the dogs are walked on leash in small groups of 3 or 4 and the field is an extra. I thought shed like it as we're surrounded by lambs at the minute so is being walked on lead. Sher knows better than to chase sheep but lambs are temptingly rabbit sized.

Its just ten minutes from work so can drop off/ pick up easily. Really it seems mainly how they manage interactions with other dogs?