Dog Daycare: 9 Tips for Preparing Your Pooch

It is a big decision to choose a puppy day care in perth. You want your dog to be happy. There are 5,000 dog daycares that are privately owned and only 5 chain dogs. This means there is a lack in standardization of policies and practices. If you don’t know where or how to begin, this can make finding the right daycare difficult and time-consuming. Here are 9 tips that will make your search easier for both you and your dog.

Make sure to have your dog’s medical history available.

A good daycare provider will ask for proof of vaccinations. Ryan Getwright, the owner of Philly Dog School, Philadelphia, Pa., said that they will also ask if your pet was spayed or neutered by the age of one year. He says that daycares cannot check to see if your dog is using flea or tick prevention care. However, they are expected to do so. Before you take your dog to daycare, make sure you have him on a flea- and tick treatment.

Ask about safety certificates

Although the daycare is not a vet, it should have attendants who are trained to handle health emergencies and basic first aid for your four-legged friend. Getwright says that the Red Cross offers certifications and that every daycare should have at least one person who is CPR and first aid certified.

Look into cleaning protocols

Jakob Hunt is the vice president of operations for Dogtopia. The daycare chain has 30 locations across the United States. This puts your dog at greater risk of getting sick. You should ensure that the daycare follows strict cleaning protocols.

Hunt explains that Dogtopia’s playrooms are cleaned daily and then cleaned thoroughly during the dog’s sleep time. The attendants will take extra precautions if kennel cough is identified. This is similar to the human common cold. Hunt explains that the sick dog will be kept in isolation so that other dogs don’t become ill. The rooms are then cleaned. We limit the number of people who can move from one room to another and dip their feet in bleach before they leave.

Another tip is to check if daycare has floor to ceiling walls. Hunt explains that half walls and chain link fences will not stop airborne illnesses from spreading.

Get ready for an evaluation

Daycare attendants will give your dog a thorough assessment before you sign the dotted line. Hunt says, “Just like children’s daycare, we won’t have you there during the day.” Hunt says, “We need to understand how your dog reacts without you.” This is our opportunity to get to know your pet so that we can provide the best care possible while you are away or at work.

Every dog daycare is different, but a good one will focus on the following: How your dog reacts to a dog’s crate, how he feels about being touched, how your dog gets along with dogs of different sizes, temperaments, genders and energy levels. You should make detailed notes for your dog and share them with you.

Remember that daycares are not training facilities. Hunt says that while your dog might be a great pet, he may not be suitable for open play. We recommend that you socialize your dog, enroll him in training and return in six months for a reevaluation.

Practice, practice and practice

Daycare is essentially an indoor dog park. Getwright recommends taking your dog to the outdoors version of daycare before you think about daycare. He says, “If your dog doesn’t like it he won’t enjoy it here.”

This is a great way to observe how your dog interacts and communicates with other animals. Hunt says that many dogs who have never experienced open play aren’t familiar with dog language. Hunt says that dogs learn how to respond to other dogs if they are allowed to play with them for a while.

Ask about the inclusions

Hunt says that some dog daycares are open on an as-needed basis. Do you want Rufus to go for a walk? This will cost you $10 more per day. Do you want Baxter to be petted all day? This will cost you $7. These small extras can add up to a large price tag. Ask your daycare manager about the daily fees. Many daycares will accommodate your requests at no additional cost.

Ask your child what a normal day looks like.

The schedules of daycares can vary greatly from one to the next. Some facilities are more structured than others. You should choose a facility that has a schedule that suits your dog’s needs. Make sure you have enough time to play and relax. Hunt says that dogs who aren’t allowed to rest can become clumsy and grumpy from exhaustion.

They will eventually get tired. Dog daycares should encourage their dogs to play together under supervision for most of the day. You may find indoor jungle gym equipment that your dog can use to climb up or slide down. Some daycares allow dogs to go on walks with their owners in small groups. Your dog will be active, and engaged. He’ll burn calories, he’ll run around,” says Getwright. “He’ll be exhausted when he returns home,” says Getwright.

Ask about meals

Daycares need to be aware of the possibility of food allergies in dogs and their aggression towards food. Philly Dog School is one example of a facility that doesn’t allow dogs to eat dog food. Dogs are provided with plenty of water throughout their day.

Dogtopia and others feed their pets twice a day. Dogs must be fed in their own crates. The attendants then clean up the area and ensure that there are no leftover kibble pieces before the dogs can be allowed to play again.

Find out what amenities are available

Many daycares offer remote monitoring so owners can check in on their dogs. Dogtopia has cameras throughout the day so you can monitor Fido’s activities from your smartphone or computer. Philly Dog School also has an Instagram account that you can follow to get a glimpse of his daily life. Others have spas and movie theaters. They also offer theme days for events such as March Madness. Before making your final decision, you should determine what is most important to your dog and yourself.