Dog daycare - bigger is not better!

A new dog daycare client came to us recently who specifically sought us out because of the large amount of outdoor play space we have and because of our philosophy of not putting 10 to 20 dogs together in a daycare group. Instead, our groups typically consist of two to four dogs. In fact, we only take 10 to 12 dogs a day for daycare, so that we can keep the groups small and give each dog the exercise and attention he or she needs and deserves.

Why do we have this philosophy? Why do we believe this is the best way to run a dog daycare? There are a number of reasons, and here are a few.

• If you look at the evolution of dogs, they didn’t evolve playing in large groups. Play between dogs generally involves only two or three dogs. If you watch a group of dogs at the dog park for example, there are generally only two dogs playing with each other while the other dogs watch from the sidelines. These “outsiders” may then find a suitable playmate and form additional small playgroups, but you will rarely see more than two to three dogs playing together at any given time.

• When there are too many dogs coming in to daycare, it’s difficult for the staff to get to know each dog and for each dog to get to really know the staff. If you don’t know a dog well, you don’t know how he will react in specific situations.

• Most dog daycare facilities have one person watching over too many dogs. In this situation, it’s very difficult to monitor everything that’s going on with all the dogs and to stop something before it happens. This can be a recipe for disaster if play escalates beyond the “friendly” stage.

• When there are many dogs in a single daycare area, an incident between two dogs can quickly involve the entire group, often in a matter of seconds. In a situation such as this, a serious injury or even a fatal injury is pretty much guaranteed. It’s virtually impossible to stop.

• While some dogs are very social, many others are not. It’s just like people – many of us don’t like crowds. I know I don’t. Putting a dog who is timid or who doesn’t like crowds or dogs he doesn’t know causes undue stress on the dog. You may pick your dog up from daycare thinking he had a great day in daycare because he’s tired, when in fact he’s tired from being in a corner stressed all day. There’s a huge difference between happy tired and being tired from being stressed. And the latter will end up taking its toll on your dog’s overall health and well-being.

When done right, with dogs who enjoy it, dog daycare can be a wonderful experience for all the dogs involved. Dogs will get the mental and emotional stimulation they want, plus the physical exercise they absolutely need. It will be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog. Just take care and make sure to select the right daycare.

Sherri Cappabianca, an expert in the field of canine health and fitness, is the author of two books on canine health, and co-owner of Rocky’s Retreat, an intimate and personal boarding, daycare, hydrotherapy and fitness center, and Barking Dog Fitness, a Gym for Dogs, both located in Orlando. For more information, visit rockysretreat.com or barkingdogfitness.com