Is Day Care Suitable for My Dog?

We all have busy lives and to be able to provide for ourselves and our dogs, we have to work. Not everyone is able to work from home or bring their dog to work. Many of us have to work fulltime and still want a dog. We love our dogs and don’t want them to be home alone all day while we’re at work.

There are several solutions on what to do for your dog. If you work close by, you can walk your dog on your lunch break or a neighbor could do it. A professional dog walker is another solution, but you need to be willing to give your keys and let a stranger enter your house and take your dog along.

Many dog guardians have chosen to use a dog day care center. But is it really suitable for your dog? The idea is perfect. You drop your dog off before work and collect him at the end of the day. Your dog is exercised, sometimes even fed and you can take him home and end the day without worries.

There are of course different types of day cares available. Some are indoors and others are outdoors. Some have toys and obstacles, others just have a playing field.  Some work with kennels and others have all dogs together in one large group. Every country and facility is different. There are many different options available.

Many guardians don’t even bother to walk their dog prior of bringing them to a day care facility. Their dogs come in and do their business as soon as they get out of the car or when they’re put into a kennel. Guardians see a day care as the perfect solution for not having to worry about the dog while they have to work. It takes away all the walking and caring for the dog during these working hours.

But is your dog really happy being at a day care? Do you know what it involves and what an influence it can have on your dog?

You probably take your dog home at the end of the day and your dog is sleeping all night. You might think he is exhausted from playing and having fun. But that is not always the case.

Within some day cares, your dog is being placed in a kennel, depending on the size of the facility, your dog can either be by himself or with other dogs in a kennel. A dog day care can also facilitate in socializing your dog.

All dogs need to be brought within a specific time frame. This also has to do with the stress the facility is trying to lower. If dogs were being brought all through the day, the loudness would be constant.

All the while your dog is waiting in a kennel, loud noises of kennel doors opening and closing, dogs barking, dogs walking passed. It’s a high stress situation not every dog can cope with.

When it is time to be taken out, not all dogs are mixed together. Groups are made based on age, size, breed, personality and even sex. These groups go out to fields where they can relieve themselves and play with others if they choose to. 

Not all dogs play with others, some don’t even want to be in a group with other dogs and have to entertain themselves on a field. When you usually take your dog out for a walk, you walk the dog. In a day care, this isn’t done. There isn’t enough man power to walk every single dog. It is a complete switch for your dog to accept that and understand what he needs to do. Being in a kennel might also be an adjustment. He might have been used to a crate at home where it is quieter than in a kennel with many dogs around him who are all making noise. It can be very loud. This is also why staff have to wear mandatory hearing protection.

 A lot of dogs are stressed in these situations. They constantly bark, pace, pant, drool and some even get an upset tummy from all the stress and excitement. They get excited when they hear a door because they think they will be let out or that their guardian is back. On the playing field they keep close to the gate, bark and pace because they don’t want to be there. After their exercise time, they will have to get back in to kennels waiting for the next round. Dogs are matched with other dogs, have beds to sleep on which some do. But others will continue to bark.  

At the end of the day, the guardians will be coming to pick up their dogs one by one. This will create more excited and arousal levels are through the roof. Dogs get let out of the kennels and walked to the door where their guardian is waiting to take them home. Others will try to exit the kennel as well, which is understandable.

The amount of stress a dog has to endure while being at a day care, is high. The constant barking of other dogs, the waiting to be let out for exercise, for going home. No wonder your dog is exhausted when he’s home. His body needs to rest and calm down. The adrenaline has been high all day. The dog has been in a constant state of stress due to his own feelings or by others. The dog comes home, eats and sleeps. Their day is done and tomorrow it will all begin again depending on their guardians work schedule.

If your dog is a hyper dog, he will probably be one of the instigators of causing stress and tumult when the dogs are in kennels. This hyper activity can also be caused by stress of being in the situation he is in and the other dogs who are also creating this loud environment. Dogs bark for a reason. It is how they communicate.

If your dog is anxious, your dog will be withdrawn, stressed and not at ease. The best advice when your dog is anxious and scared is to not let them go to a day care. Just for their own peace of mind. The best option for a dog like that would be to have a dog walker or maybe a neighbor, walk the dog so the dog can sleep in his own bed in his own home without having to endure too much stress.  There are different kinds of dog walkers. The ones who take groups of dogs and walk them on an enclosed field, woodland area or rented property. Some just walk them on a lead. But there are also dog walkers who do one on one. They go by a house, walk the dog, bring him back after and go to the next house.

Dog walkers have to abide by rules and regulations in certain countries. Not everyone can walk dogs without a lead wherever they want. There are leash laws and certain woodlands are not suitable for dogs when it’s breeding season for wildlife.

There are plenty of dogs who love going to day care. They jump out of the car and can’t wait to go inside. They love to play with others and have the time of their life when out in the field.

Other dogs have no problem sleeping while the rest is barking. It all depends on the personality of your individual dog. Dogs are prone to copy behavior they experience, so it can even lead to your dog becoming more vocal since he is learning that due to the stressful environment.

When you do decide to bring your dog to a day care facility, do your research. How are the dogs being kept, how are they exercised? And if the staff is telling you that your dog does not have any fun, which good facilities will tell you, listen to them. Why put your dog through all this stress when it is not needed? Of course, people have to work to make a living, but you wanted a dog and you want the best for him. Stress is not good for a dog and can have long term effects on their immune system. Being put in a stressful situation every day, can overload their immune system with stress hormones. This can lead to illness and even death. A dog needs time to recuperate after this event. Being out on a field might be the least stressful unless paired with dogs they don’t want to engage in or who are bothering them.

So be sure your dog actually had fun and is tired of playing with friends and not tired due to the high amount of stress they endured. If your dog does not like day care, try a dog walker instead. Find a solution for the sake and welfare of your dog.

A day care facility can be great and it’s good to have that solution, but it might not be the perfect place for your individual dog.