Your thoughts on doggie daycare?

[CaliTerp07]

Yikes, these anecdotes really show how night and day facilities can be.

The place I take agility at is a daycare during the day (not the one Lucy goes to), and it's fabulous. The employees there are knowledgeable, long term, well trained, and watch the dogs 24/7 (literally--there's staff there overnight too).

The place we used to take Lucy to was great too. They had cameras up so I could watch the interactions online, and for the entire 2 years we went it was the same employees.

The place we go to now is great too. One girl is a former vet tech, one is a dog trainer in the evenings, and one of the guys is in vet school. They know their stuff, they're super sweet to Lucy, they can tell me all about how the day went when I pick her up (down to how many times she peed!), etc.

I'm sure there are horrible places, but there are also really good ones! Every one I have gone to has done a full evaluation of the dog before accepting them, and I've never had any issues. They also never have more than 6 or 8 dogs per person--so if there are 15 dogs, there will be 2-3 people in the room with them.

Like I said...in an area where so many people are putting in 50+ hour workweeks (plus hour+ commutes) as the norm, doggy day cares are necessary if you don't want to leave your dog alone for 12 hours a day.

 

[Fran101]

We have tried it and we're really happy I prefer large open spaces/smaller play groups with a strict introduction policy that makes sure dogs get along

 

[Zoom]

It highly, highly depends on the facility, their policies and how they train their employees. I've worked in two great places and another one that made me want to tear my hair out (I left after only two months there).

My decision to leave Sawyer would very much depend on how I felt about the place after a tour and evaluation. The place I'm at now, yes, I'd leave him there with little to no doubt. However, it's the only place I'd found in Colorado that fit my standards, which are stupidly high anyway.

 

[BostonBanker]

I wouldn't. Gusto might actually enjoy himself, but I'm not comfortable with him being in that situation.

When I absolutely need him cared for during the day, he goes to training camp with the woman I've trained agility with for nearly 6 years. Dogs get one-on-one training time on behaviors requested, and are crated when other dogs are out working. I know he is safe, in good hands, and will come home with new skills and completely zonked out.

 

[skittledoo]

I work at one.

With that said I would never leave my dogs there without me there with them. I rarely bring Bamm. He only goes in for certain classes (T-Touch and possibly Nosework soon) and he goes in when I need to give him a bath. Even then he gets crated away from other dogs if I can help it and he doesn't get to be in the pen unless we only have a couple dogs that are suited to his personality and that I know he gets along with. I don't like to bring him though so he rarely goes to work with me.

Cricket goes to work with me all the time and she gets along well with most all the dogs. Even so, I judge accordingly and will crate her if there are any dogs in there I feel iffy about.

I love working with dogs all day long, but as far as how dogs are handled, there are only a couple people at work that I would trust with my dogs and if I'm not there, who knows what could happen. I've noticed quite a few people I work with are more of the old school "make the dog fear you" mind set and that just doesn't sit well with me. I could go on, but I try to refrain from talking negatively about my job on public forums. Suffice it to say, I'd rather leave my dogs at home if I'm not around. If I have to go out of town I think the dogs would be more comfortable with staying at home and someone staying with them. More than likely I would ask someone like Cristy (sweet74... I always forget the rest of the numbers) since she knows my dogs and they are comfortable with her.

 

[Sweet72947]

Skittles, do you think Bamm would still be good with me?

Daisy and Rocky (and when he was alive, Benji) go to a doggie daycare in Manassas that we like. It is a small place, and we like the employees, and the dogs are always excited to get there, so I assume nothing too traumatizing happens to them while they are there.

So yes, I would bring my dog to a doggie daycare if I had the right dog for it and to echo what everyone else said, if I felt the staff was knowledgeable and competent.

 

[Bailey08]

I am in Cali's camp.

I work long (sometimes unpredictable) days and have a young dog who needs exercise and mental stimulation. He's lived in the middle of a city his whole life and had tons of interactions with other dogs, and he is very, very dog savvy and dog appropriate. He also has some separation anxiety, so it's hugely helpful for him to be around others all day.

His current daycare was recommended to me by a close friend whose dogs also attend. I've gotten to know one of the women who works there, and she stays with B when I go out of town. I really like her and trust her 100% with him, and it's awesome that she's there every day with him looking out for him.

It's a pretty plain facility but they interview dogs (B is a regular "interviewer") and keep the groups small and well supervised.

That said, I don't know that, when his sister comes, I'll send them both 5 days a week like I do with just Bailey. She'll probably stay out completely until she's spayed, and I won't do that the first year. I may change my approach once I have two (and B's SA gets better and better), but it's been almost necessary for the past few years with Bailey.

Plus it's hugely convenient -- he even gets picked up and dropped off!

 

[SpringerLover]

I worked in one a couple years ago. I let my dogs stay there once while I wasn't working. I specifically requested they NOT be in free play.

I start working at a different one tomorrow. So far I really like it, but we'll see as time goes on. I'm excited to have bathing/grooming/drying benefits again...

 

[SarahHound]

I'd love for my dogs to go to a daycare place. We live so remotely, they never get a chance to meet and play with other dogs, and I feel they would really love a day with dogs.

 

[cloudcandy]

I doubt I could find somewhere that would live up yo what I need!
i have no experience about the ones in my area but would want,people knowledgable ...really knowledgable about dogs.Big dogs and small dogs seperated.Testing before dogs were allowed to join.Supervision at all times.Not to mention reasonably priced.
I would feel safer and happier with a dog walker and that is what I plan to do when I go full timr.I just dont think I could relax with Coco in daycare..

 

[smeagle]

I'm not at all interested in doggy day care and wouldn't take my dogs to one.

 

[Doberluv]

I would be apprehensive to leave my dogs with people I don't know extremely well.

 

[elegy]

When I board Steve in April for a family trip, he'll be staying in a place where he can go to daycare playgroup during the day. I am SO NERVOUS about this. He plays really really well with some dogs but he's a complete jerk with others. This place has a bunch of smaller play yards and runs several small groups and they seem to be pretty flexible about accommodating dogs with Preferences.

I know the owner, her daughter who actually runs the place, and one other employee who works there. I know a number of people who take their dogs there. They seem to be happy with it. I hope that Steve is not a jerk.

 

[smeagle]

When I board my dogs I specifically ask that they aren't run with other dogs, one of my dogs can be DA and the other is great with other dogs but I'd rather not take any unnecessary risks.

A couple of years ago when I was going OS I boarded the dogs and explained to the kennel my Siberian is not good with other dogs, he cannot be run with them, he is DA etc. I called to check how the dogs were going and the snotty ass on the other end of the phone said in a condescending tone "Well, Micha is NOT good with other dogs!" - WTF!! I ripped them a new one to say the least!!! They sheepishly admitted it was on his file he can't be run with other dogs :madgo: I dread thinking about what happened for them to learn he's not good with other dogs

 

[Southpaw]

When I board my dogs I specifically ask that they aren't run with other dogs, one of my dogs can be DA and the other is great with other dogs but I'd rather not take any unnecessary risks.

A couple of years ago when I was going OS I boarded the dogs and explained to the kennel my Siberian is not good with other dogs, he cannot be run with them, he is DA etc. I called to check how the dogs were going and the snotty ass on the other end of the phone said in a condescending tone "Well, Micha is NOT good with other dogs!" - WTF!! I ripped them a new one to say the least!!! They sheepishly admitted it was on his file he can't be run with other dogs :madgo: I dread thinking about what happened for them to learn he's not good with other dogs

That's really bad on their part.

We board dogs at the vet clinic I work at but we don't do daycare or any of that, the dogs never socialize with one another.... and yet on their boarding sheets we still make it very clear, with large letters written in Sharpie and highlighted, if a dog is DA. (we do this with any special concerns, really).

I recently interviewed at a daycare/boarding place and during the interview they spent a good amount of time emphasizing how VERY important it was to thoroughly read and comprehend everything in a dog's file, because one mistake, even if it seems small and insignificant, could end up being dangerous.


I can certainly understand being wary of daycare if there was something particular with your dog that you wouldn't want to risk. With Juno I don't know what I would have to be worried about. Yeah she gets sprayed with water when she starts her obnoxious third-wheel barking, but that information was readily given to me, they certainly aren't trying to hide this from the owners. But otherwise, she's not on any important medications, she'd be fine if she were fed the wrong food, she gets along fine with all dogs of all play styles, she's not a resource guarder.... the only potential issue I could see is if another dog decided to attack her. Which I know is a possibility even though they do screen dogs before allowing them in. But I have confidence that the staff is prepared for that scenario, and we go to the dog park frequently where something like this is an even bigger risk. That's just why it's important to find a good place that you trust, not all daycares are equal and I would probably not be so nonchalant about the whole thing if Juno's daycare gave me ANY reason to feel like I should be concerned.

 

[smeagle]

That's really bad on their part.

We board dogs at the vet clinic I work at but we don't do daycare or any of that, the dogs never socialize with one another.... and yet on their boarding sheets we still make it very clear, with large letters written in Sharpie and highlighted, if a dog is DA. (we do this with any special concerns, really).

It upset me particularly because I was so specific with them that he was not to be run with other dogs at all, and it's the reason why I now ask that none of my dogs are ever run with other dogs if I have to board them because I just can't trust a kennel to do the right thing and ensure that only friendly dogs are run with other dogs. And not just the kennel staff, I also don't doubt that some owners send DA dogs to kennels and fail to tell the staff that their dogs are not suitable to be run with others. Just like people take unfriendly dogs to the dog park thinking that it's somehow ok to let a DA dog loose with other dogs.

 

[DogKisses]

The idea itself sounds great, but I don't think I could trust strangers with my dogs. I would be on pins and needles all day, worried about "what if's."

Plus I am very anal when it comes to my pets, I want things done certain ways.

 

[Linds]

So what we've learned from this is most of us are paranoid dog owners.

 

[Zoom]

So what we've learned from this is most of us are paranoid dog owners.

Stole the words out from under me.

 

[elegy]

When I board my dogs I specifically ask that they aren't run with other dogs, one of my dogs can be DA and the other is great with other dogs but I'd rather not take any unnecessary risks.

Yup, I was very neurotic and anal retentive when I boarded the bullies there in October. The place I chose requires you to bring your dogs in for an "interview" and for you to take a tour of the facility. They have several different areas with different styles of arrangements. The area I chose for them had no outdoor runs because I didn't want to worry about fence fighting, and then my two were turned out alone together in a yard several times/day. I was very clear that they couldn't share chain link fencelines with other dogs, and they couldn't play with other dogs. It was not a problem at all.