Taking your dog to Daycare is the most preferred way to prevent your dog from feeling lonely, anxious, or even bored with its environment, if you have to leave it for a length of time. The dog will always experience such conditions when left alone at home every day, or when you go to work. Therefore, dog daycare is good for your dog as it will allow the pet to interact and socialize with other dogs. This will enable the dog also to exercise fully. However, some dogs may not feel comfortable when taken to a dog daycare place. Such dogs may find it difficult to adjust or fit in the daycare, making it not applicable to them.
How Long Does It Take for A Dog to Adjust to Daycare?
It isn’t easy to pinpoint the exact time or the duration your dog will take to adjust to the daycare environment. Some dogs may take a few days to adapt. On the other hand, some dogs may take weeks or even a few months to get used to the daycare. As a pet parent, you can best monitor your dog’s behavior during daycare, especially when showing signs of distress. If there are such signs, you will have to be more patient and give your dog lots of love and care during the daycare period. Every dog has a unique behavior that makes them adapt differently to daycare.
On the other hand, there are other options for caring for your dog, especially if the pet is not adapting to the daycare environment. You may easily know if your dog is not comfortable with the daycare environment when the pet is showing signs of distress. The dog may also show some common stress indications such as licking, the body frequently shaking, the dog sitting while lifting one of its paws, and hyper vigilance. Some other options to consider is the drop-in visit, or employing a trusted person to come and take your dog out for regular walks and exercise.
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Happy at Daycare?
Before you can be able to know if your dog loves the daycare, you must be regular in practicing the daycare routine. These practices include: dropping off your dog in time three days a week. When you bring your dog, it’s important to say goodbye to the pet when leaving. It would be best if you were punctual in picking them up at the correct time. It would be best if you also spent some good time with the dog at home, playing and walking with it in your area. The dog will eventually adapt to the routine when you follow these practices. The dog will show some amazing signs that can help you know when they are happy at the daycare.
These indications include;
- Every time you mention the daycare, your dog will always perk up with some excitement.
- When you want to drop off the dog, they will feel excited and very cooperative in the morning.
- The dog will also respond positively to the daycare staff when they are at the daycare.
- The dog will always feel happy when they arrive home despite feeling tired.
- Your dog will also feel calm and relaxed in the evening after arriving home from the daycare.
How Many Days A Week Should My Dog Go to Daycare?
It would help if you took your dog to daycare thrice a week. This is the preferred number of days a dog spends every week in daycare. Because dogs like to spend most of their time participating in joint activities that are enjoyable to them with their people, playing with them while training them is also very important. There are many other tips you can also consider to make your dog adapt to the daycare environment.
These tips include;
- Ensure you note the layout and size of the quiet spaces and playrooms before choosing the best daycare for your dog. You can also consider the routine and temperament of the daycare staff.
- You can also bring some of your dog’s favorite food, treats, and toys to the daycare to make your dog feel at home.
- You can also make the dog get used to the new transition faster by exiting the daycare in a quick style after dropping off the dog.
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What Are the Pros and Cons of Doggy Daycare?
There Are Many Benefits of Taking Your Dog to Day Care.
The daycare provides your dog with a safe socializing environment. Your dog may have limited opportunities to socialize, especially when there is no other dog friend at home. The dog might also be experiencing terrible recalls that make them feel bored, stressed, and lonely. For this reason, daycare encourages the dog to interact with other dogs, making them overcome the challenges they face when you leave them alone at home.
Daycare Allows the Dog to Have Enough Physical Exercise.
Dogs always feel dull when they are left alone at home, which makes it difficult for them to have some exercise that may make them more active. The daycare will provide your dog with enough exercise to make the pet more active and healthier.
Daycare Is Also the Cure for Anxiety in Dogs.
If your dog is showing signs of anxiety, leaving the dog alone at home may not be helping the dog. However, taking the dog to daycare will separate it from anxiety and make it feel free to socialize with other pups.
Daycare Helps the Dog Maintain a Routine.
When you take your dog to a daycare, the pet will be trained to maintain home routines, such as playtime, feeding time, naps, and bathroom breaks.
The Daycare Will Also Enable the Dog To Have Peace Of Mind.
Taking your dog to daycare is the best way to let your pet overcome some of the stress and frustrations they face at home, such as accidents and damaged properties.
On the other hand, there are also challenges faced by taking your dog to daycare; they include;
Cons
- Some daycare facilities for pets cannot be trusted
- Your dog may experience some behavioral issues when taken to daycare.
- There might also be an illness outbreak in the daycare, which may affect your dog.
- Not all dogs will accept the daycare; your dog might reject it or fail to adapt to the daycare environment.
Conclusion
Daycare for dogs is the best solution for the anxiety, loneliness, and dull experiences your dog goes through when left alone at home. Therefore, it is a practice that will make your dog feel more happy, strong, active, and healthy. It also lets your dog get trained in maintaining their routine and only takes three days a week. With professional staff, and a properly monitored environment, a dog daycare center may be the perfect answer to ensuring your dog is well looked after, at times when you have to leave it for work, or for some other reason.
Featured image: Most Dogs Love the Company of Other Dogs
