Dog Daycare-
Supervised play all day? Yes, please.
“It’s a lot different from just taking them to a dog park where you won’t know if the other dogs are friendly or healthy.”
The following written content by Jennifer Tzeses
As any proud pup parent knows, spending time with your furry friend is legit the best part of every day. The sloppy kisses, the squishy lap takeovers (even by those who are way bigger than your lap), and that look you get—like you’re the only person who ever existed on the planet. It’s the kind of unconditional love that can make even the coldest heart melt. While chances are you would choose to spend all day at home with your dog, canine companions need time away from you and their digs, which is why doggie daycare is a good idea. “When puppies are with their mom and siblings, they begin to learn how to speak dog,” says Adrienne Carson, director of training and behavior at St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J. “Without a variety of dogs to interact with, their social skills outside the home can become rusty. Daycare provides dogs with the opportunity to continue practicing their dog-to-dog communication skills with a diverse cast of characters.”
It’s also a healthy outlet, says Colleen Demling-Riley, canine behaviorist for Dogtopia, which provides daycare, boarding, and spa services at locations around the country. “Not only do they get socialization, they get exercise, they develop and learn how to bond and respond to different people, and they get to play with other dogs in a safe environment,” she says. “It’s a lot different from just taking them to a dog park where you won’t know if the other dogs are friendly or healthy.”
The benefits of doggie daycare are endless for both pet and parent. If your pup could talk, they’d definitely tell you how much they love it. And how much they love you, duh! Keep reading to learn more about why every owner should send their dog to daycare.
What daycare entails
If your idea of doggy daycare is dozens of dogs in all shapes and sizes left to their own (rowdy) devices, you would be surprised at the reality. At Dogtopia, highly trained behavioral coaches separate pups by age, size, and temperament into different areas where they are closely monitored. “Coaches are trained to understand the dogs’ body language and know breed tendencies and puppy developmental phases so if they see two dogs having a little disagreement, they can quickly redirect them; most pet parents don’t know those warning signs,” Demling-Riley says. While they get loads of (supervised) free play, their day also consists of command training—like sit, stay, responding to their name, and coming when called—agility games, and nap time (because it’s a ruff life). Then there are the super-fun extras like bacon-scented bubbles, “back-to-school” headshots, arts and crafts including paw printing and painting, and dress up days.
Safety first
For parents who are nervous about leaving their precious cargo, Dogtopia takes major measures to ensure that every pup is safe. For example, there’s an extensive screening process required for admittance. Read more from Men’s Health.
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