Doggy daycare is a popular trend for busy dog owners. It’s a place dogs can go to get their exercise while owners are at work or have a busy day where they won’t have the time to get the pooch out for a walk or play time.
Doggy daycare provides many benefits to your dog such as:
- Socialization with Other Dogs: This is fantastic as it promotes healthy interaction and play and helps your dog to learn how to act when meeting dogs in other situations.
- Human Interaction: A lot of pets don’t like being left home alone so having the daycare workers there with them is a comfort as well as another playmate.
- Relief from Boredom: When dogs get bored, that can lead to destructive behaviour such as chewing up their crate (if they’re in one), chewing furniture or walls, scratching at doors or just becoming too curious and finding dangerous foods or objects to ingest.
- Less Guilt for Owners: Leaving for work with two big puppy dog eyes staring at you can be hard sometimes. It makes you feel guilty, especially since your dog doesn’t know why you’re leaving them. Dropping them off at daycare can be very exciting so it makes the day go easier for both of you.
Remember that doggy daycare isn’t for every dog. Some dogs are reactive or scared with other dogs so that environment would make them very uncomfortable. Also some older dogs don’t want that kind of activity so it wouldn’t be the best place for them either. Another option would be hiring a dog walker that comes to your house and takes your dog on a solo or group walk depending on their needs. Do research before choosing either of these options. Look at the different daycares or dog walkers in your area. See if they’ve been reviewed online or ask around to your dog owner friends and see if anyone has any recommendations on where the best place to leave your beloved dog is or who the best and most trusted dog walker would be to come to your home.
It doesn’t take away from your time with them though. Regular walks and playtime will make your bond strong and healthy. These options would just be added bonuses to your pooch.
