Though some dogs really enjoy romping around with dog buddies, dog daycare is a luxury, not a necessity. You are perfectly capable of meeting your dog’s needs without doggy daycare. You may need outside help if you’re gone for more than 10-12 hours per day, but most adult dogs are happy to snooze away the work day.
Depending on your dog’s individual activity level, you may feel stretched thin trying to meet his needs, as well as your own. If you are in the unique position of having more money than time, dog daycare might be great option for you and your pup.
Dog daycare is not always a positive experience for dogs, so it’s important to know whether or not your dog is a good candidate for such an environment.
I managed one of the largest dog daycares in the Midwest for over a year and observed hundreds of dogs, many of which really struggled in the daycare setting. Here is a list of signs that your dog may struggle in the daycare setting.
Uncomfortable in the crate. Though the exact amount of time will vary from place to place, all daycares crate dogs for hours during the day. If your dog paces, pants, and cries in the crate, daycare is not going to be fun for him, even if he does love playing with dog buddies
Noise sensitive. Dog daycares are very loud places and dogs that are easily stressed by noises will have a hard time dealing with the high volume sounds.
Uncomfortable with strange dogs. This may seem obvious, but many owners don’t realize that though their dog loves the neighbor’s dog & their parent’s dog, they may not be open to meeting 10 new friends all at the same time.
Some daycares try to schedule dogs with their friends when possible so that the dogs aren't forced to have a “1st day at a new school” experience every time they come. Daycare is supposed to be fun for dogs, so if the daycare you’re looking at doesn’t try to keep dogs with other familiar dogs, pass on that establishment and look for one that does.
Uncomfortable with strangers. Like many low wage jobs, dog daycares have high staff turnover, so there’s a good chance they will have to be around people they don’t know or trust.
Rough play style. This can be hard to determine, because to an extent, most dog play looks “rough” when compared to human standards. But if your dog is constantly mounting, standing over, grabbing skin and holding or shaking, ignoring other dog’s signals and just being generally abrasive, daycare is not a good environment for him. This type of play tends to escalate into real fights.
Bossy with other dogs. Remember daycare is supposed to be fun for your dog, and running around telling other dogs what to do all day is stressful and exhausting. This is more common with herding breeds who were bred to boss around other animals, but I observed several dogs that spent the entire day worriedly following other dogs in playgroup, barking at them for having too much fun. I have a dog that does that and we call him “The Warden”
If your dog is not a good fit for daycare, fret not. Check out my list of FREE/almost free activities to do with your dog at home, 5 At- home Enrichment Games. If you need help making sure your dog gets a bathroom break, hire a professional to stop by for a quick walk.
Here is a list of signs that your dog may be well-suited for daycare.
Goofy. This good boy doesn’t take life too seriously. This is not a scientific term, but the dogs I saw doing well in daycare were the “dupey” dogs. They didn’t have a chip on their shoulder and instead embraced living in the now. Dogs who let rudeness roll off their backs and diffuse conflicts with a polite play bow.
Extroverted. This dog seeks out affection from humans and playfully greets other dogs with loose, full body wags.
Sound sleeper. This dog can sleep through anything. Dogs that are defiantly not sound sensitive. They don’t startle awake when you drop your phone.
Crate comfortable. This good boy puts himself down for naps and treats his crate like a bedroom sanctuary.
Comfortable with body handling. Dogs are regularly handled by staff as they are lifted in and out of crates and need to be ok with walking on a slip lead and wearing a quick release collar. Though collar grabbing is something good handlers avoid, it does happen from time to time and it’s important your dog is chill with this level of handling.
Based on my experience, the dogs that enjoy daycare the most are puppies, adolescents, or the perma- puppy adult dogs. Extroverted, confident, easy going, goofball types tend to enjoy the playful chaos and tolerate the environmental stress with grace. If your dog is more of the wallflower type, struggles with general anxiety or loud noises, skip the dog daycare and hire a professional walker/sitter if you need help meeting your dog’s needs.