The idea of leaving a beloved dog home alone pains many pet owners. Sadly, they don’t really have much of a choice more often than not.
If you’re working full-time, leaving your dog alone at home for an extended period of time is inevitable.
Or at least it used to be.
With the advent of businesses and services that cater more to pet owners and the animals in their care, being home alone for most of the day does not have to be the norm for dogs.
Among those services that cater specifically to canines are doggy daycare centers. These daycare centers allow dogs to spend the bulk of their day exercising, playing, and socializing while staying safe throughout.
Enrolling your pet in a doggy daycare center can turn out to be a great idea, but before you do that, it’s important to consider how well your pet may actually fit into that kind of setting.
To help you do that, we’ve listed some of the factors that must be considered before a dog can be entrusted to a daycare center.
Sociability
According to Preventive Vet, there is a spectrum of sociability for our pet dogs.
On one end of the spectrum are aggressive dogs. They are not ill-behaved dogs per se, but they often only feel comfortable around very few dogs.
Selective dogs may be open to spending time with their fellow canines, but they still need to be monitored because they have a tendency to get into fights. Adult dogs usually fall into this range of the sociability spectrum.
Tolerant dogs don’t really get into fights anymore and they may even play with others every now and then. Older dogs are usually considered tolerant dogs.
Last up are the social dogs. These are the dogs that love playing around as much as possible. Puppies can often be considered social dogs.
Energy Level at Daycare
Your dog’s energy level can change over time. They may be bundles of energy as puppies, but become a bit more reserved as they mature.
A change in energy level does not necessarily mean that you should be worried about dog health, but it can influence your decision of whether or not to enroll your pet into a daycare center.
Dogs that tend to be more hyperactive are better suited for the daycare center. As noted by Whole Dog Journal, if hyperactive dogs don’t get enough exercise over the course of a day, they may channel that energy into annoying habits. You may be greeted by the sight of ruined furniture or footwear because your active dog needed to pass the time.
Let your pet channel that energy better by giving him/her the opportunity to play around and exercise with others.
Ability to Adjust
One more factor for you to consider before enrolling your dog into a daycare center is his/her ability to adjust.
Some dogs can be very stubborn and they may refuse to modify their habits even if they are in a different environment. Adjusting to a daycare center may prove difficult for them.
On the other hand, there are some dogs who can go with the flow easily. If they suddenly find themselves in the company of more dogs, they can adjust to that with no issue.
The staff at the daycare center can tell you if your dog is adjusting well to his/her surroundings. Consult with them after your dog has spent a few days there and ask them what they think.
Doggy daycare centers can be great solutions for busy pet parents looking to keep their furry friends happy and active. If your dog profiles well for a daycare center, then feel free to give it a try. Another option is to alternate between dog walks and daycare to reduce the chance of injury.
Don’t fret if your dog does not fit well into a daycare center as there are other services for you to try such as dog walkers.
Make sure that your pet continues to live an active lifestyle even as you spend your weekdays at work. Allow TAILored Pet Services to help with by giving us a call at 425-923-7791 or browsing our website for ways we can exercise your pup.
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