Doggie day Care Enrollment

[Richard Crowe]

Holly has been raised with Maltese and she just loves little dogs. However, except for Golden retrievers (because of the imprinting of Misty, her Mom) Holly has been fearful of larger dogs. She would not play with other dogs at he local dog park and even when a one-year-old Goldendoodle came to our home to visit us, it took her the longest time to warm up.

We enrolled Holly in a great Doggie Daycare today. We had to bring Holly for an interview and she was accepted. We were there for about an hour and during that time, Holly gained enough confidence to initiate a little play with a bigger dog.

We are going to send (a van picks her up) Holly to daycare 2x weekly for five weeks. The owner will work with her to increase her confidence level and expects that she will do just fine at the end of the five weeks.

We would rather have Holly a little shy than overly aggressive but, we want her to have fun with other dogs too!

[Tamara & Giada]

I think that is a wonderful idea, especially if you work! She will love it and be very tired. WOW, they pick her up, how cool is that!! You may find you'll want to keep it up:)

[bokhud88hc94]

Hello Richard!

I think that's a terrific idea as well:-)) It's sorta like putting a child in day-care for a couple of days a week once they reach a certain age. It can be a wonderful experience .. great for improving social skills. So, sounds like the same rules would apply for Doggie Day Care .. Holly will make plenty of friends and I think it will break her of some of her shyness! She'll never be an aggressive dog as our doods just are not that type of dog:-) Most doods I know are big 'ol scaredy cats at best!

Well, I think you've hit on a wonderful idea for Holly .. sounds like that is just what she needs. It will be very good for her. Good luck and do let us know how she fairs!

Have a nice night:-))

[Richard Crowe]

Holly was picked up by the van at 8 am this morning and delivered back at 5 pm. I was anxious all day waiting for her and wanted to call the doggie day care several times but, didn't want to be like a kindergarten child's anxious parent (which I was).

Anyway, Holly arrived home and appeared very happy. She kissed the daycare owner as she left the van - so I knew that everything was O.K.

I had asked that they make sure that she had access to water from a private bowl because Holly doesn't like drinking from a communal bowl (except the one's she shares with her Maltese buddies). Anyway, they brought her into the office several time a day to make sure she had access to water.

It is really a nice operation. The lady that owns it, knows all her day and overnight boarders by name and knows their personalities and idiosyncrasies. They wander freely through a large area with wading pools, sand boxes shade trees and indoor areas with nice beds and cool floors.

The owner said that Holly did just fine on her first day at camp. We hope that this will give her some more confidence. Just bringing her to a dog park never worked because she would cling to us unless there was a golden retriever there to play with. Being on her own in a supervised day care setting without mom and dad should do wonders for her.

[bokhud88hc94]

Hello Richard!

WOW .. sounds like Holly enjoyed her first day of Camp .. and she even kissed the owner?! What a relief that must have been for you .. I'm so glad Holly had a nice experience. It really does sound like a wonderful operation. I'm sure it will bring her the much needed confidence it is that you desire. Thank you for the update on Holly's "big first day" at camp!!!!

[KJ]

that place sounds like a whole lot of fun. They don't have anything like that here. I mean they have a doggie day care, but really that's just a glorified way of saying Kennel your dog for the day while you galavant out of town for the day. Don't get me wrong, I may need to use it but all in all, it's not necessarily a blast for the dogs. I know Paddington would rather be at a daycare full of children then pups! LOL

but I'm so glad Holly did well. What a wonderful relief that is! So cute that she kissed the owner...Hopefully you can take some photos and share with us!

[Richard Crowe]

I THINK IT WORKED!

Holly spent her first day at Doggie Day Care yesterday. This evening, our neighbrs came to our yard and brought their two big dogs:a Labrador and a Labrador cross!

Holly wasn't afraid and greeted and played with the two big dogs. Of course they are nicely behaved dogs but, Holly was afraid of a nicely behaved Goldendoodle when the Doodle visited us a few weeks ago.

They pick up Holly tomorow for her second day at day care. I am guessing that the first day really helped. It is nice to see Holly relaxed and confident around big dogs.

[Tamara & Giada]

That is so nice to hear:)

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

Jordan has a big dog "fear" too. It happend at the dog park when she was 6m old, she was attacked by a bigger dog. Once she warms up she is fine, but I cant take her to dog parks unless they have a small dog area. Or to dog festivals. My trainer has really been no help at all. Maybe I should look into a good day care for her.
I would love to take her to a doodle romp but all she could handle is maybe a group of 3 dogs top.
Plus I would like to know how much of it is me.
There is this place out here call Fido Farms they supposedly work miracles with dogs with fear of other dogs. But I would have to leave her there. So I am warming up to leaving her someplace.

My sister will have dog parties at her house and she is fine over there,but Jordan also feels safe there.

[Richard Crowe]

Holly has no reason for her fears except that she has never interfaced with larger dogs except for her mom and my daughters (rather small) Labrador. However, it seems like she is probably gaining confidence. We were very lucky to find the Doggie Day Camp with a very responsible owner who also does dog training. I would hesitate to put Jordan in a situation wherein Jordan might either be harrassed by another dog or dogs or react from fear and bite.

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

That is exactly what her last trainer said. I really think Fido Farms would do her some good. They seem to be the only ones who understand what I want corrected.
I have been looking around here for a trainer who would work with her, but they all seem to think it is not a big issue or Jordan does not react to the dogs. It is just some dogs. Not all Big dogs.
The People at Fido Farms knew exactly what I was talking about. I am just going to have "man" up and take her there for some "pack" training.
I just hate being away from her.