Puppy Day Care?

[Lindsay n Archie]

Hi has any one had any experiences with day care for your puppy- either good or bad? We both work during the day, and Archie is NOT doing crate training well, he barks all day long. So we are signing up for a puppy training class starting Saturday but they also offer a no cage day care.  Its a little expensive, but thinking maybe if we can do it one day a week, it would give him some socialization and tire him out. I dont know much about it though. Any insight on any experiences would be very helpful.  

[Erin & Maizey]

Maizey has been going to daycare since she was fully vaccinated.  It has worked out really, really well.  She seems to love it (she gets excited to leave the house and then watches out the window in the car and then when we pull up, she gets really excited and runs right to their door and runs upstairs to go play).  She's currently 14 months old.  It's a no crate day care, there are different floors for different sized dogs (she's with the medium sized dogs, despite being kind of big now, but she started there and the staff thinks she does great) and an outdoor roof deck thing.  I'm not entirely sure what they do all day, but she's a really happy and calm dog and genuinely seems to like it. The staff all know her and she's stayed there over night a few times which has also worked out.  I would do your homework - read all the reviews online but take them with a grain of salt.  Visit the daycares and see what feels right.  We tried out another one a few times and she didn't like it at all - she came home dirty and not happy and tried to follow me out barking madly when I dropped her off (i felt so guilty).  Most day cares (at least where I live) require a trial period where they make sure your dog can handle it and you can see if you like the staff / check out the space / make sure it's not so full that there's not enough space for the dogs and that staff is paying attention, etc. A lot of daycares have webcams where you can check in and watch your dog play.   I'm admittedly a bit overly protective of her and so I wanted to find a place where they took really good care of her and paid attention to her. It's definitely not cheap though but in my opinion if you find a good one, its worth it.  Maizey is happy, very well socialized, and exhausted at night.  

Hope this helps!!!

[kristine & Auggie]

Good question, I am in the process of looking for a place this week.  I am taking Auggie in to the vet today to get his kennel cough so he will be good to go.  I too am pretty protective and I just don't want to leave him all day in his kennel or just alone all day in the kitchen.

I know it will be expensive but I will feel better if he is having some socialization time.

I would go check some places out and see how your puppy does.  I think you can get a real feel for a place pretty quickly.

Good luck.  And, I never thought I would be one of those people who took my dog to day care lol

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Stanlee has just recently started going to daycare and I have to be honest with you, I really wish I had started taking him sooner.  HE LOVES IT!!!!  I agree with Jan in that you really do need to research and find the one that makes you comfortable and at home.  I'm lucky enough to have a MOST fabulous daycare close by:  http://www.petparadiseresort.com/locations/tallahassee.aspx

I hope you guys find the perfect place!

[Lindsay n Archie]

Thanks all for the advice! Do you send the pup every day or occasionally?  I dont think I could afford daily, so thinking maybe once a week? 

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Don't hate me when I tell you this but Stan just turned a year and is the most layed back, non-hyper doodle I know.  Okay, he's a spaz for about five minutes when I get home but after that, he's Mr. Lazy Bones.  A couple of reasons for me to point this out.  Stanlee's energy level isn't super high so he doesn't need to go every day.  I take him about once every ten days because he really does need to move around more.  Also, we have another dog  and the two of them wrestle and play so he isn't bored at home, either.  I think once a week is great because really, not every doodle is lucky enough to go even that much.  You will be the best judge of how often your dog needs to go, not us.  Another bit of food for thought, you may see that as a young puppy he may need to go more often to burn off some energy.  If this isn't convenient, maybe ther is someone that can come to the house once or twice a week to help him get the edge off his enegry while you're at work.

Maybe Erin or other DK members have some more suggestions but either way, good luck finding the perfect place.

[Lindsay n Archie]

I go home at lunch every day and take him on a long walk and play a little bit. But the prob is he hates his crate SO much that even though he is tired he barks all day and doesnt sleep. so he sleeps when we get home.  Acutally though, we video taped him today, and I went home at lunch and caught the little fella sleeping =) but he was not happy to go back in after lunch! I think once a week would be really good for him. Theres a place that offers swimming as well as massage, and training (for additional charges).  Hes got a few weeks before he is even old enough, so maybe ill spend some time touring a crap load of day care centers!

[Vivian & Mojo]

Mojo will be a year old next week and just started daycare. He loves it and its a very small group in a private home. They take no more than 5 dogs and the dogs are tested for aggression before she will accept them. They are create and cage free and have a large fenced in yard and a indoor playroom. They are constantly supervised and can be boarded overnight or longer. I'm retired and home 95% of the time and take him on daily walks and to the dog park. My main reason is for him to have other dogs to play with that are nice and playful as at the dog park I sometimes leave if a dog is too aggressive. I also like having a day to myself to shop and not feel bad that he is home in his create. I have a second playgroup that he will attend for pack walks and spend the day so he will be going twice a week. I checked into many playgroups and not all were to my taste so really look around for the best one for Archie...Good luck :)

[Rita and Fazzy]

Your Stan sounds like our Fazzy...he loooves daycare and plays hard when he's around dogs that want to playl, but when he's at home, he's totally lazy.  Heck, even at "Juniors" training class, I'm lucky if I can get him up in a sit and keep him there, he keeps just wanting to lay down.   Fazz goes to daycare twice a week, sometimes three, depending on the week, but normally twice.

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

So did you end up using a doggy daycare? Please share :) I'm asking because I am going to check out doggy daycare next week. I'm pretty excited about it. We're in an area where it seems like everyone has a dog and there is a dog kennel, grooming, or doggy daycare on every corner!!! (I'm in TX outside of Austin) So lucky for me I was able to get a referral and hopefully this will be something that works.

[Kathryn and Zoe]

Eager to hear how Archie does at doggy daycare when he is old enough!!

I have been contemplating working daycare into Zoe's schedule once she hits 16 weeks and has had her last vaccinations.  We have a dog walker come twice a day now to the house, but I want Zoe to have the experience of running and playing off leash too.   It also seems like a great idea for days when I have lots of errands to run, but don't want to leave her home all alone.

The only caveat I've heard from friends who use doggy daycares is that their dogs get really stinky...whether from other dogs or stinky toys, I'm not sure.  Often times, they have to bathe their dogs afterwards.  This is a major drawback for me.

Anyway, I'll be checking back for a status update and more advice :)

[kristine & Auggie]

Doggie day care is the best $20 I have ever spent lol.  Auggie loves it so much.  he gets to interact and play all day long.  He is so pooped at the end of the day that he just sleeps when I get him home and that means I can get things done during the day and take a nap when he comes home.  He does get dity but that is a small price to pay for how much he loves to go.