Doggie Daycare or Doggie Prison?

[Star and Goldie]

I'm sure that searching for daycare for our four legged babies is just like searching for the perfect day care for our children.  What I'm learning though is that I don't know what I'm looking for in a doggie day care.  I thought I did but my search is turning up with only what I think are bad results.

I found a place online that is near my house and would be great location wise. The website didn't raise any red flags to me so I went today to check it out.  My heart broke for those dogs in there and as I was leaving I had to ask myself "is this normal"? It wasn't what I had in mind, but maybe it is what I could expect of doggie daycares.

It just looked like a giant building of kennels. I felt like I was walking through a humane society shelter where each dog was just screaming for someone to take them home. Each dog was closed in a kennel. They had only one toy, if any. It had a doggie door in the back to allow them to go in and out. None of the outside part was grass. It was either cement or rocks. So I thought, how is that going to set back potty training? I don't want her to think it's ok to go on cement and start peeing and pooping all over my patio slab!

Next she took me to the back of the building and pointed to a closed door calling it their 'play room'. She described it nice talking about toys, couches, tv's the works. When I asked to see it guess what it was... a TINY hodge podge room of crates, grooming stations, electrical cords EVERYWHERE, one tiny filthy couch, a small 15" tv on top of a computer desk covered with papers... just a mess. It was like this room was a mixture of an office, a groomers and a place to store dogs. Definitely didn't give off the community play area fun time vibe!

She said there were 'runs' in the back outside where they can play when the weather is nice but when I said "so it looks like they basically just spend all day in a kennel" she looked at me like I was crazy for thinking that was a bad thing.

Here is the website for the place I looked at. Can someone tell me if anything would have stood out as a red flag just from the website so I can be more cautious in continuing my search?

pendletonpens.com

Also, am I being crazy? Am I expecting to much? My thought is if Goldie is going to be crated all day why would I pay$20 a day for her to be crated in a place that is sooooo loud (think walking through a shelter loud) when she could just be crated in the comfort of her own home. She'd probably rather listen to Disney Junior all day then that nonsense.

Is this normal for doggie daycares?

[F, Calla & Luca]

This place does sound bad and I think your dog would be better off at home. I hope you can find someplace better.

[Katrine]

You might also consider hiring a dog walker who comes over and walks your dog while you are away, that way she gets a break from being in the crate. An alternative if you can't find a daycare close by.

[Star and Goldie]

We do have a dogwalker. My plan was to take her to daycare just on Wednesdays to give her a nice break in the week and some added socialization and still keep the dogwalker the other days :)

[Katrine]

That's great! At least you have that until you find a great playcare facility :)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

That does not sound like a place I would leave Libby.  It seems more like just a boarding facility and not a very good one at that!  I find it hard too to find a day care place here in Fresno.  I went to one and it had a large room for them to run around and play, but I just did not get good vibes and the place was not very clean or friendly.  When I asked about the form they wanted me to fill out, they were rude and not helpful at all!  Red Flags for me.  We decided Day Care facilities were not for us.  I do believe it is absolutely as hard as finding day care for Children.  Good luck on your search.

[Christine & Shelby]

I think what you saw was indeed a day care. Sounds as though you might be interested more in a Playcare type of environment. The place I take Shelby has both Playcare (max of 25 dogs, supervised, indoor and outdoor play... Not a crate or kennel in site. They also have daycare.... Which essentially is boarding during the work dày.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I would avoid this place, however, even Camp Bow has a "lunch hour" where all the dogs are in the kennels for one hour while they clean the floors and the humans have a break. Did you ask if they were on a break. This is not doggy daycare this is a kennel as far as I can tell. They did have a photo of the dogs outside playing but.....

[Star and Goldie]

Im ok with kennels for part of the day for breaks and whatnot. That's probably a good idea for nap times and after meals and such. This place I visited though appeared to be the opposite. It appeared that they are boarded for the entire day with only going out for breaks when the weather is nice. She told me that when the weather is nice they get to go out into a grassy run for 15 minutes at a time. I didn't ask her how many 15 minute breaks they get a day though because I think by that point I was completely checking out.

The extension cords all over the 'play area' were what solidified my gut instincts about not liking that place. There were 3 dogs in that room but they were her dogs. That's why they were out and not kenneled.

[Hailey and Oliver]

  I'm reading the site that you posted the link for and thinking, "You know, if I didn't already know the truth about this place I would definitely recommend it."  the second one seems much better!!!!  Although I can't say much, we don't send Oliver to daycare, but the doeg walker is a good idea.  Maybe that could be my knew hobby instead of archery.  Well maybe not.  idk.  Or i could have two hobbies.  Sorry, thinking while I type.

[Star and Goldie]

well I definitely learned that just because you have a website and nice advertising doesn't mean a thing so now I'm super cautious. At least with the second one I can see a webcam and see what's really going on. I'm sure the other place would never do that because who wants to log in and see their puppy chewing an extension cord?!?! While we were there my daughter even said "this place is stinky and yucky, mommy". She said that right in front of the lady giving us the "tour" BAHAHA

[Star and Goldie]

Thanks for the input, everyone! It's refreshing to hear that I'm not crazy and that this is not typical for a daycare. I've been checking out the webcam from DogDayz off and on today and those dogs are being very well taken care of and seem to be having a blast. I called and set up an arrangement to go for a visit on Tuesday to check it out.

Places that board dogs all day may work for some people but not me. I can keep her boarded up at home for free. I want her daycare to be a special experience where she gets to romp around and have a blast all day!

I definitely feel more empowered with questions to ask the next places I look at thanks to you all!

To be continued...

[Star and Goldie]

Awww how cute! Looks like they have a blast!!

I do have a dog walker. She comes every day and Goldie looooves her. I was just hoping to find a place to take her one day a week for more socialization with other dogs and people.