What would you look for in daycare/dog walkers?

[Doggydaycarewannabe]

Name changing regular here, deliberately so as my usual MN identifies me. If you do recognise me, please don't out me.

DH and I are thinking about setting up a Doggy Day care facility to diversify from farming. We have the infrastructure already in place as well as 500 acres of private land to walk dogs on, so really my questions are, if you were sending your DDogs to Doggy daycare,

What facilities would you look for and what would you be prepared to pay on a 1/2 day and a full day? (Am open to all ideas)

Some ideas we already have are as follows:

Pick up and drop off collection facility (added cost)
"Game-parked" field for clients to run free/socialise
Agility field with a large paddling pool/pool for summer months
Dog grooming facility
Group "Pack walks" off lead
Indoor "quiet areas"
Large indoor barn for playing on wet days
Access to a trainer/behaviourist
Training/agility classes

We'd also be very clear that we only did the following - would this influence you?

Positive reinforcement based training. (i.e. no negative punishment)

All dogs having a behavioural assessment/induction with us to identify issues before they could come to daycare (e.g. dog aggressive dogs wouldn't be able to be catered for)

At least 2 x hour long walks during the day if wanted.

This idea is in the very early stages, so I'd be grateful for opinions, ideas and comments.

Thanks

I'm south east as well :-). It sounds just the thing my young lab would love! Good luck if you do set up and hopefully I'll see an advert when you do.

We use a lady who is also my dog walker and a trainer and she does homeboarding plus is a groomer so slightly more luxuruy as the dogs are actually in her house and only has maxium of 5 at a time .Same as you have a paddling pool and a fun aglity course but is only for fun

I would be concerned if my boy is running round with a lot of dogs and especially if not supervised as even the most passive dog can have enough and snap --

But do like idea that you have a indoor area for the dogs when wet but I would also expect them to be walked as well ,regardless of rain as dogs like mine love the mud and water

I would suggest a outside warm tap for hosing dogs of and even a bath area if really muddy ( obviously bath only if planning to have groomer to )

should add am near London and pay £30 if in the week and £45 on weekends

My dog goes to a dog daycare place one day a week. They are based on a farm and have similar facilities to the ones you're thinking about. They offer loads of extras (home boarding, many different training options, grooming, claw trimming, etc) which are charged for separately. I pay £25 a day for pickup around 7.30am, a whole day there, and she's brought home around 4.30. They have a key so can let her in if I'm not back yet from work. I'm in the East Midlands so a pretty average area price-wise.

My favourite aspects are the big, open, but safely fenced spaces my dog can romp in (she's a greyhound so doesn't get many other chances to really let rip!), and the fact that one particular member of staff has taken main responsibility for her. This staff member has got to know her really well and has helped her settle and socialise with the other dogs. I know that there's someone I can talk to who does really know my dog if I have any questions or concerns.

They are also very flexible in terms of changing days, etc. I've had to change the days several times recently as Ddog has been lame and housebound for a week or so, and they've been great about it.

Thank you all. These are all great comments and ideas and giving lots to think about. DH is very much on board with the idea, so I think a lot of planning, research, planning, research and more planning, with a bit of planning (and research!) is now required.

Thank you all for comments, if you have any more please add them!