Doggy daycare

[Melsy88]

Would you send your dog to doggy daycare when it's really cold outside? It'll be between -3 and 1 degree tomorrow while he's there.
He's a small cockapoo.
The setting is dogs in fields, one barn which the dogs rotate to go into for around 1-2 hours a day each.

Sounds like a horrible set up in any weather to be honest. But my thoughts are skewed owed to the fact I have a lurcher who is a tad princessy about unlimited access to a sofa at daycare.

But in all seriousness no I would not send a dog for a full day in those conditions.

No I wouldn't.

Don't think I would want them to be outside for that long in any weather, to be honest.

Not a chance regardless of the weather.

No, regardless of weather, as I am not a fan of animal abuse.

Wouldn’t use that kind of daycare anytime of the year to be honest. My dog goes to daycare three days a week, a lovely lady runs it from her own home. The dogs go on a big countryside walk in the morning, then back to her house for naps on the sofa or dog baskets, with free access to the garden (with lots of toys and some agility equipment), whenever they want it. It’s very much a “home from home”.

Same set up for my dog

Thanks all. Am actually starting to look into home from home type places. This may be the final straw.

I'm not sure I'd call it "animal abuse" 😂

Oh I absolutely would. Most dogs are not built to be outside for sustained periods these days - whether that be extreme heat, or cold. No animal lover would subject their pet to these conditions.

It's not a doggy day care. There's no 'care' involved. No effort. No time given. It's a get quick rich scheme for them and only a mug would pay for that.

@Melsy88 I wouldn't send my dog to doggy day care full stop.

It sounds dreadful, irrespective of the weather conditions.

I wouldn't send my dog to that kind of set-up regardless. It sounds horrendous.

Is this place licensed?

Hard no in any weather.

A cockapoo had a thick enough coat to be fine in that temp. My dog has alopecia and has minimal hair, but with an appropriate coat she’d be fine too.

Did I miss something? I understood the dogs are in a barn for one to two hours and go outside for part of it? Or are they outside all day but have an unheated barn they go in to for one to two hours? If the latter then no.

My dog goes occasionally, she loves the play and socialisation. It's inside and they do go for walks. I definitely wouldn't leave her outside for most of the day in this weather especially.

Not if he was going to be outside for most of the day, no. Ours goes to one but they are only open for 3-4 hours each day and the dogs have unlimited access to a heated barn with sofas, blankets etc and several fields with natural play areas and a sensory garden. He loves it and I have no concerns about it - but would if he was only going to be inside 1-2 hours a day and was to be there for 8 hours or so.

My dog ran off and stayed out 12 hours when it dropped to -4 one night. She is very little hair and hates the cold.

Little Madam she knew the way home. Turned up at 10am begging for bacon butties in a cage she knows well.

Not talking about tomorrow, but that would be a hell of a miserable experience for most dogs if it was raining.

That's not anyone's idea of care is it?

It's from 9-4 and they are inside for 1-2 hours and outside the rest of the time

I have a border collie who voluntarily spends most of her time outside regardless of the weather (we have chickens and her job is to keep an eye on them) it’s been -2 here today and she’s only really come in for a cuddle now it’s dark. She sleeps on my bed and is an absolute princess. But the cold doesn’t phase her in the least. She goes to daycare on a farm twice a week, they run around playing in the morning, have a nap after lunch inside and then back out again and then a nap at teatime.

I have a border collie and I can barely keep him inside, so yes I'd send him in this weather. Obviously I am very much in the minority with that though!

Is this place licensed? Is the indoor area heated and sheltered, with beds etc. for them to rest if they want to?

What plans do they have in place for dogs who are struggling in the cold?

I'm a dog walker myself and would want to know their cold weather policy and what they plan to do with dogs who are cold, or the weather turns, or if the fields are too icy for safe play.

Is this even legal? Sounds horrendous for all but hardy dogs like springers and collies.

No, and I wouldn't send my dog there at all ever.