What is Dog Daycare?
Daycare for dogs is an organized, controlled and monitored environment for a group of friendly dogs to interact and play throughout the day. It's a new alternative to leaving your pet home alone all day while you're working. The purpose is to provide stimulation, exercise, socialization, and in some cases training. You receive peace of mind knowing that your fuzzy friend is being cared for by experienced professionals and will be just as tired as you are at the end of a busy day.

Why should I consider Dog Daycare?
M any dogs are left home for extended periods of time throughout the day. Owners often come home tired and are unable to give their dog the amount of exercise and play their dog really needs to maintain physical and mental health. Without adequate exercise, dogs sometimes develop problems like destructive behavior, incessant barking and regression in their housebreaking. Guilty owners add to this by overdoing activity on the weekends and feeding treats to make Fluffy happy (and fat). Dogs are active and social animals, they need to run and romp regularly and for most dogs, the chance to play with other dogs is a joy like no other! For owners with puppies, the most important period in a puppies life is between 3 to 6 months when all the experiences they have help to form a fairly "permanent" adult personality. It is very important to socialize your puppy to give your dog the best start in life. Daycare can provide excellent socialization opportunities with other dogs and other people.

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Why is there an interview?
The interview is for your dogs protection as well as for the other people and dogs at the dog daycare. The interview helps to determine if your dog is right for dog daycare (wants to be around other dogs and people), helps address your concerns and expectations, makes sure your dog is up-to-date with the needed vaccinations and preventatives. It also allows you to tour our facility so you feel good about the process and where your dog will play.

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How do I select a Dog Daycare?
Currently, there is no specific licensing or accreditation for dog daycare businesses. You should visit the facility, look for an attentive staff (dogs should be monitored at all times they are at play), look for an average staff to dog ratio of 1:15 or better, look for clean conditions (spotless may be unattainable since dogs shed and don't put their toys away, but look that accidents are taken care of immediately). Dogs should not be over crowded and there should be ample space for dogs to rest in one area and play in another.

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Where can I find a Dog Daycare?
The best way to find a dog daycare is to check your local yellow pages.

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How can I be sure my dog is being treated well?
Ask about how the owner and staff handle different situations. We will be more than happy to discuss how we settle problems like toy disputes, mounting behavior, irritability, picking fights, accidents, and other problems. If your dog seems unhappy about coming to see us at daycare, we will discuss other options for you and your dog's peace of mind.

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What about my dog getting sick from another dog?
Most diseases your dog could contract in a at daycare are prevented by keeping your dog up-to-date with their vaccinations, worming and flea/tick prevention. However, some diseases like Bordetella, commonly known as "kennel cough" have many different strains. It is always possible your dog could contract "kennel cough" when one dog in the daycare has been exposed to it and begins to show the symptoms. Once our staff hears a dog coughing -- we will quarantine the affected dog and send him home. We'll let you know if an outbreak has occurred, clean the daycare thoroughly, and observe if the other dogs begin to show symptoms.

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Should I bring food or toys with my dog?
There is no need to bring toys. We have plenty of toys for them to play with throughout the day. We would be happy to talk with you about food issues and try to keep with your regular food and schedule as much as possible. Your dog will be in a separate area during feeding time to prevent any "food issues" with other dogs.

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How many other dogs will my dog play with?
An average day consists of about 30-45 dogs and puppies. Our facility is 10,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor play area. We have separate play areas to maintain a good balance of dogs and puppies.

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Do you segregate the dogs by sex, breed, size, age, etc.?
Not usually, we may separate dogs by activity level throughout the day or have a small-breed only play group. Typically all ages, sexes, breeds and sizes are permitted to play together if they pass the interview. We also have special areas for dogs who may need a time out, some extra TLC or medications during the day.

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