How Dog Daycares Manage Fights
How Dog Daycares Manage Fights
Blog Article
Questions to Ask a Dog Daycare
While every dog daycare has its own unique policies, there are some questions you should always ask. These questions can help you determine if the facility is right for your dog.
Red flags include a facility that refuses to give you a tour, has excrement or potty stains on the floor, and does not have a regimented cleaning schedule. Green flags include an incident assessment procedure.
1. How Many Dogs Are There?
Many facilities have rules and requirements for bringing in dogs to play. They might require a certain set of vaccines or a specific spay/neuter status.
Some also have a set schedule of activities throughout the day. This can help prevent overstimulation and physical injury. It can also help ensure that each dog gets enough breaks to stay calm and happy. Ask about this and the staff-to-dog ratio for each group.
2. How Many Dogs Are There During the Day?
Ask about their dog-to-human ratio, as this can affect how much interaction the staff gets with your pet. Some daycares keep dogs separate based on temperament or size to prevent accidents.
You should also learn how they respond to dog fights and other issues that may arise. Some facilities use tools like squirt bottles, pet correctors or shock collars to get dogs to behave.
3. How Many Dogs Are There During the Night?
Dogs are generally grouped based on size, age and temperament. A good daycare will do a behavioral assessment of each dog before they get them into the playgroup.
Look out for facilities that only use positive reinforcement methods to instill discipline. They should never use stern measures like the water hose or harsh corrections.
Ask about their injury assessment and de-escalation policies. A responsible daycare will have a procedure in place to separate a dog from the group if they aren’t happy.
4. What Is the Staff Like?
Working at a dog daycare isn’t a job for just anyone. It requires knowledge of dog behavior and an ability to handle multiple dogs at once.
Some facilities have structured rest periods to prevent overstimulation and promote a healthy environment for the pups. Others are more flexible and allow the dogs to play all day.
Ask about these policies to ensure your dog’s safety.
5. What Is the Environment Like?
A reputable daycare will keep you informed about your dog's behavior in their environment. They should be able to explain what behaviors can be worked on by the daycare staff or with a professional dog trainer on their team.
They should also be able to answer questions about cleaning and sanitizing procedures. This includes the floors, equipment, and crates. Double-door entry is an important safety measure that prevents escape attempts.
6. Do You Offer Other Services Like Grooming or Training?
If your dog needs to rest during the day or has health requirements, it’s important to find out if the facility has accommodations. Ask how they separate dogs into playgroups, if they have kennel accommodations for noise sensitive or reactivity issues and how they handle medical emergencies.
It’s also a good idea to ask about their pet medical certifications. Sometimes, dog professionals who get to know your pets can spot potential problems before you do.
7. Do You Have a Quiet Area?
Most dog daycares will have a quiet area where dogs can relax and rest. This is important because many dogs need mental breaks as well as physical ones.
Look for facilities that use zoning to create different areas for different activities. Zoning also helps to control noise, which long term dog boarding near me can stress out dogs. It should also have soft furnishings and sound-absorbing panels.
8. Do You Have a Large Outdoor Area?
Just like workplaces and schools, dog daycares have plans for fires, earthquakes, criminal activities, and medical emergencies. Ask what these are to make sure the facility is prepared.
Also, ask if they separate dogs into playgroups based on size and temperament, so your dog can feel safe. Lastly, reputable facilities ensure staff has pet first aid training. This includes understanding dog behavior and body language.
9. Do You Have a Large Indoor Area?
If the facility has a large indoor area, it is a good sign that they provide toys for dogs to play with. This can help dogs get their energy out without interacting with other dogs.
Good daycares will assess each dog before they allow them into a group setting. They should be able to explain what they look for and how they assess a dog's personality and body language.
10. Do You Have a Private Room?
Dogs need routine, and dog daycare offers them that. They’re typically open from the morning until a designated evening time, and often include activities like playtime, snack breaks, and naptime.
Ask about the facility’s cleaning practices. Ideally, floors, equipment, and crates should be disinfected on a daily basis. This will prevent diseases from spreading to other dogs. It also helps keep your pet’s environment clean.