How to find the right doggy daycare.

DOG TIPS AND TRICKS

Posted by bravectosouthafrica – 30 March 2018

Topics covered in this article:

1. Have your dog’s medical history ready
2. Check their safety certifications
3. Group Size
4. Caregiver Qualifications
5. How are the cleaning protocols?
6. How is your dog’s interaction with other animals?
7. Discipline Management
8. Activities

1. Have your dog’s medical history ready

Most daycares are going to ask for your dog’s medical history. It’s important that you have yours ready and updated to get a spot in your preferred doggy daycare. This will include proof that all vaccinations are up to date and that your dog is neutered or spayed by the time they are one year old. Having the medical histories of the pets they take in is a crucial element of maintaining a safe and healthy doggy daycare. As Kennel Cough is highly contagious and easily picked up at doggy daycares, it’s important that the daycare centres are updated and aware of any health issues to keep your pet and the rest of the daycare healthy and happy.

2. Check their safety certifications

Your dog is part of your family, and like any other family member, you want to ensure that you leave them in hands you can trust. Although the daycare centre is not a vet, they should still know how to respond to health emergencies. Dog daycares need to have certain safety precautions in case anything goes wrong. Ignorance is not bliss in this scenario, so you need to ask them the right questions.

3. Group Size

According to various canine behaviour experts, the dog to adult ratio at a dog daycare should not exceed 15:1. So, there should never be more than 10-15 dogs per group. Also, be sure that there’s enough space per dog when looking at the daycare facilities. They might cater for small groups, but the space per dog needs to be accounted for to ensure your dog has enough space.

4. Caregiver Qualifications

All staff members should be educated on dog behaviour, canine CPR, health and behaviour management. Check up on what training the daycare staff has completed. You need to be able to trust the people who are taking care of your dog and know that they’ll provide only the best.

5. How are the cleaning protocols?

Whether your dog is in daycare for the majority of a day – or whether it’s only for a few hours – you want them to be in a space that is clean and hygienic. When your dog is in such a close vicinity with other dogs, the chances of them contracting a disease or getting ill is much greater. Thus, the daycare needs to have strict cleaning procedures to ensure that the spread of germs is kept to a minimum.

6. How is your dog’s interaction with other animals?

You know your dog best. If they’re extra temperamental around other dogs or in certain situations, be honest about it and communicate your dog’s personality to the daycare. By doing this, you can provide the best suitable options for your specific dog.

7. Discipline Management

Be sure to ask the daycare staff how they respond to dogs with behavioural problems during daycare hours. Although they should have discipline, it’s crucial that it falls in line with how you discipline your dog – which should only be through positive reinforcement and force free.

8. Activities

Ask the daycare what a normal day would look like for your dog. Daycares should be able to provide the exact schedule of the pets they are taking care of. This should include organised playtime and developmental activities. Time at daycare should not only be fun for your dog but also provide programs that stimulate, train and educate your dog.