Doggy Day Care - Apprehensive!

3Beasties

3Beasties

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Next week I am going to be out of the house for about 10 hours with no way of getting back to let my 4 month old pup out. I had planned to ask a neighbor to go in at least once to let her out but I have just discovered a doggy day care centre and am now wondering if that would be a better option!

It's not something I've ever considered before and isn't close enough for me to use regularly but it is on route to where I'm going so would be doable in this situation.

I've looked at the website and it looks and sounds great. It has great reviews and seems to be good value for money (although having never used one before I don't know what the going rate is!) BUT the thought of leaving her somewhere strange with people we don't know fills me with dread!!

I'm being daft aren't I?!? I know she'd have a great time but what if she is naughty? Gets too rough? Hates it there? Or loves it there and doesn't want to come home?! Oh I'm being ridiculous!!

Please someone share your daycare experiences and tell me to get a grip!?

(Never having children if it's this hard to leave a dog!)

PS. If she went to daycare our older dog would be home alone (he's used to this and will just sleep - and would have more of the house opened up to him) as I wouldn't trust him to be sociable in a daycare setting!
 
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Sounds like a great idea for the puppy.

Have you been to see them though (with the pup)? And will they take one so young?
 
We send our dog to doggy daycare and he absolutely loves it. He races in but is still delighted to come home obviously. We currently only have one dog so it is great for him to be able to play with other dogs. He gets decent walks and we know that they are very conscientious. I do understand your apprehension though if you don't know them. Could you ask to join them one day for a walk and go and see their set up?
 
Try it. I have a very sensitive, rather unsociable (with other dogs) poodle. I sent him him to a well recommended doggy daycare place and he came home traumatised. Tried again with a family daycare set up, initially he refused to get in the van, had to arrange a walk with them including me and he is now very happy with this.
 
She won't not want to come home, see how they manage her on your visit session and how they manage her around other dogs, im sure it will be fine and she will have fun.
 
They are registered for 40 dogs but they are never full. Looking at their pics and vids I would say that they never have more then 15/20.

I haven't been to see them yet as literally only thought about it last night but I will contact them and ask if I can visit early next week. Yes I'm sure they take them so young as a fb friend has used it for her much younger pup (I'm going to message her tonight to see what she thinks of it).
 
I used kennels for day care and Poppy liked it, if it were me I would put both dogs together in kennels {same kennel so together): for day. I would avoid doggy day care where they all run loose together with young pup
 
Kennels aren't an option as older dog hasn't had required vaccinations.

Why wouldn't you use day care if they run loose?
 
40 dogs is a massive number, 15/20 isn't much better. The one I use occasionally has a maximum of 5.

I wouldn't put a pup in that environment.
 
If its just a one off I think I would ask the neighbour. At 4 months she is at a very impressionable age, it would just need one dog to be a bit over the top with her and she could become anxious around other dogs. If she was going to be left regularly it would be a different matter and gettig her gradually used to it would be fine.
 
We used to use one, I would go and have a look round. The one we used had separate areas for puppies, smaller, quieter or more nervous dogs so they could interact with those more appropriate to their age or disposition. Jack used to end up in the 'old folks' room in the morning as after a morning of playing with the younger and bigger dogs he was knackard! Fizz started in the puppy room and graduated to the normal room when she was 7 months, she loved it!
 
I know my 2 year old BC would play to point of exhaustion in big group! Can u not get friend to dog watch if really one off, if a regular occurrence then different matter. Just to add I enquired about doggy daycare where they play together, I would have quite rightly needed to go with Poppy first time to check she was OK there.
 
Thank you all for your advice. Just to update you aam pleasedll - I took Lacey for an induction tonight to see how she reacted to the environment and the large number of did. She was not in the least bit fased, walked in without a backwards glance and thought it was Christmas with all the dogs to play with. They said they've never know a more confidence entrance which I'm not sure is a good thing or not lol!
She can get a bit OTT when playing but I was there for long enough to know that they will correct it if needed.
They assured me that they do all sleep during the day but if she wouldn't settle on her own she could go in the puppy pen to catch some zzzzz!
Overall very impressed and glad I went to have a look. I won't be able to use it frequently but it will be useful when I go on day trips. I think she'll love it and should gain a lot from it socially.
While I can see that it wouldn't be for everyone I'm pleased that it is an option for me.
 
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amymay said:
40 dogs is a massive number, 15/20 isn't much better. The one I use occasionally has a maximum of 5.

I wouldn't put a pup in that environment.
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It is a large number and apparently they are often full! It is a large industrial unit though so plenty of space, all dogs can be seen at all times and are very well supervised.
 
No way would I put a dog into that kind of environment, pup or not. It's too big a group, some are surely going to be dominant. I'd ask the neighbour. Ours lets out our three about 2-3 times a months and is fabulous. As a dog owner, I'd rather do this for a neighbour than have them use such a big dog care place.
 
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