One of the hardest decisions to make as a dog parent, especially as a new dog parent, is making that first decision to send your young pup to doggy day care. It’s sometimes necessary for high-energy dogs if you have a job where you work long hours and no one can exercise or be home to let the dog out. It’s also a good break in the week or on the weekend if you crave some alone time or crave some time away from your pup. But, choosing a doggy daycare is one of the most crucial decisions you will make in your young dog’s life.
Reputation matters
Would you send your young child to an organization that has 1.5 star reviews on Yelp just because it’s a little less expensive? Would you tour an organization and look past the holes in the walls, the unfriendly staff, or the seemingly disgusting facilities? No! And you shouldn’t do that with your pup either. It’s very important to do your homework when investigating a doggy day care facility. With new organizations starting monthly, it’s hard to determine what company is best for your pup.
At home, at their home, or at a facility
You ultimately have three choices when it comes to doggy day care: host someone in your home, send your dog to someone else’s home, or send your little pup to a boarding facility. If you choose to host someone in your home, you have to go through the rigamarole to ensure that the person is safe to have in your home. There are plenty of apps and websites out there that do a great job of this, and it’s important to do your due diligence. Similarly, when hosting your pup in someone else’s home, the same applies. Especially in someone else’s home, you should do a doggy play date in that person’s home prior to allowing your pet there overnight or during the day while you’re gone. Lastly, following the tactics above, choose a boarding facility that has a good reputation, good facilities, and a friendly staff so your time away from your pup goes by fast and without a hitch!