Doggie Daycare vs. Destruction
Why would anyone want to take their dogs to doggie daycare? Add up the cost of one torn couch, 8 pairs of shoes that have been destroyed, carpets that have multiple stains of various varieties, and let’s throw in a dog with way too much energy when you get home. Elimination of these destructive behaviors are just some of the “people benefits” that doggie daycare can provide. The “dog benefits” include socialization with other dogs and other people, lots of supervised play, and reinforcement of basic training commands.
Doggie daycare is an inexpensive alternative to the destructive behaviors that often occur when a pet is left alone all day.
So what should you look for when searching for an appropriate day care facility? Probably the number one item in looking for one is the people who work there. If they are friendly, look like they are having a good time and genuinely seem to love dogs, you’re off to a great start. Aside from that, any good facility should welcome new clients with a visit and a tour of the facility.
When you visit, look at the other dogs - are they active? If the other dogs are running around and playing well with each other you can be fairly sure that the facility is of good quality. Cleanliness is another big consideration, ask the facility what steps are taken to keep the kennel area and play area sanitized. While no daycare will always be spotless (the dogs are good at making sure of that), you should be able to trust that all “accidents” are promptly cleaned and that the play and kennel areas are disinfected on a regular basis. Another question for your list should be what type of training methods do they use? Positive reinforcement is ideal. Please know that when dealing with multiple dog situations there will almost always be some form of corrective method used and knowing what form your prospective daycare uses is of utmost importance. A good quality daycare will most likely use time outs and possibly water spray bottles (that do little more than distract the dog(s) from their destructive behavior).
Now that you’ve begun to consider daycare as an alternative to replacing your couch on a regular basis, there are a few other things you will want to know. A quality daycare facility will require that your dog’s vaccines are current and most will require that all dogs be spayed or neutered. The primary reason for requiring all dogs to be altered is to cut down on any chance of aggressive behavior.
So…what next? Well, stop replacing items in your home, get your Pet Pages book out and start checking out the doggie daycare facilities in your area. Your dog will love you for it and you’ll fall in love with your dog all over again.
Compliments of dogZone of Tampa, 14623 N. Nebraska Avenue,813.979.1123.
