Quick Doggie Daycare question - what age?

[Cammy Todd]

Just curious when some of you started Doggie daycare?  I've tried searching and found lots of recommendations for it, but not clear ages when you started.  It will only be one day a week (if that).  I work 3 days a week and can bring Izzy with me.  But, on some of my days off this summer, I really want to take my girls (ages 5 and 8) on some day long adventures.  How young is too young?  My vet has a daycare that will take her now as long as she is updated on shots.  She will be 12 weeks on Sunday.  It will probably be at least 14-15 weeks when I think I will start her.  Also, did you notice any house training regression with daycare?  Izzy is making progress in that area but doesn't have a signal yet that she needs to go out.   It's not like daycare will have bells by the door anyway:)

[Laura and Angus]

I think we started at 5 months - but I think our daycare requires all the shots and that the dog be neutered/spayed by 6 months. So I'd say it depends on the requirements of your specific daycare place. We started Angus going once a week and now we're at 3 days a week because he loves it so much, he's super super energetic, and also we need a break sometimes and daycare is exhausting to him. 

[Kelly & Zoe]

We started at 6 months.  We too do once a week (sometimes more if our schedules are really hectic) mainly for socialization and to expend some energy!  We did not see any house training regression.  We also spent time picking a doggy day care that met our needs - specifically we wanted an environment where the dogs actually play and are supervised by staff, rather than a free-for all or, worse (to me anyway), just crating for the majority of the time.  Even though Zoe is a 'big' dog - very tall at 50lbs, our doggy day care puts her with the small dogs because she's so gentle.  If you have more than one place to choose from I recommend scoping a couple of places out.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

We started doggy daycare as soon as Winnie had received all of her puppy shots- I believe it was right around 12 or 14 weeks.  At that age it was really the only way we could get her "played out" and manageable in the evening. She is over a year old now, and I still take her 3 days a week because she loves it so much!

The first week we had her there, she did have a little regression in her potty training. They take the dogs to a specific concrete "potty area" outside every couple of hours, but it wasn't like the grass that she was used to, and our usual routine that we had at home. It didn't take her long to realize that concrete is fine to potty on, but linoleum isn't. :-)