You would not send you child to some stinky day care tended by a mean person.
Why would you send your dog to a similar place? Doggie day care has boomed as a business over the past ten years.
Operations range from a person taking care of a few dogs out of their home (often illegally) to slick operations with several acres and hundreds of customers.
How do you choose the right one for your dog? The criteria, in my mind, break down as follows:
- It is clean.
If you walk in to the place and it smells like it hasn't been cleaned in a month, chances are that it has not.
This is more than just an annoyance.
It threatens the health of your dog and ultimately the health of your family because those smells indicate the presence of bacteria. - There is a low dog-to-human ratio.
If dozens of dogs are being tended by one person, how can they all be getting the attention and love that they need? Why not just leave your dog at home alone if they're going to feel lonely anyway? - They separate the big from the small dogs.
Most do this, but many do not.
Unless you want your Pomeranian to be given panic attacks, you want to make sure they're kept in a place with other dogs their own size, not threatened. - They do not accept aggressive breeds.
Yes, I'm talking about Pit Bulls. - They offer other services, especially an on-call veterinarian.
What if your dog gets sick during the day? Not only that, but think of the convenience of being able to have Fido groomed while you're at work.
It is one less errand to run. - The owners have good "chemistry" with your dog from the get-go.
If your dog starts barking or freaking out when they walk in the place, turn around and find another place.
Listen to your pet as you want them to listen to you.
Remember that your dog is a living thing that brings you a lot of happiness, not some kind of inanimate status symbol.
Find the right doggie day care, and your dog will thank you.