Your dog is your best friend. And though you want to spend every minute of the day with them, work and life’s schedule can make that impossible. While some dogs are perfectly happy being on their own for a few hours in the day, many are not, and long hours alone are never okay. Being alone can cause dogs anxiety or boredom, which can lead to an unhappy pooch and/or bad behaviour, including possible destruction of your home. Dogs are social creatures and sending them to dog daycare can keep them happy and exercised when you can’t be there with them.

On that note, how do you find a dog daycare that is a good fit for your dog? Here are some tips for finding a great dog daycare:

They Take the Time to Get to Know Your Dog

A good daycare will take the time to answer all your questions and address all your concerns before the first visit. They will also want to know as much about your dog’s habits and needs as are pertinent to their care and happiness. Most great dog daycares will have an introductory trial process that allows them (and your dog) to assess whether or not their daycare and current doggy members are a good fit for your furry loved one.

They Have a Full Staff

One of the hallmarks of a great daycare is that they have enough staff to keep an eye on play and intervene when needed. You aren’t there to make sure your pup is having fun, so you need someone else to make sure that everyone is having a good time. Great staff will also notice if your pup is off, and they will suggest medical care or get them to medical care in an emergency.

The Daycare is Clean and Hazard Free

A great daycare will give you a tour of the facility so that you can see where your pup will be playing. While it might smell like dogs there, it shouldn’t smell like a toilet or strong chemicals. Also, look for any choking hazards or setups such as cramped spaces that might result in injury. There should be plenty of space for the dogs to play so they’re not crammed in. There should also be separate spaces for different types of dogs to maximize their fun (i.e. small dog/big dog separate spaces). An awesome daycare will also divide dogs by temperament.

They’re Strict About Vaccinations

You don’t want your dog to come home with a terrible, preventable illness, so make sure that the daycare that you send your dog to has a solid policy around vaccinations. They should request proof of vaccination documentation from you, or at the very least call your vet clinic. If they don’t do that for your dog, chances are they aren’t for the dogs that your pet will be playing with.

For more tips on finding a great dog daycare, or to check out one that services Squamish, call us at Ruff Stuff Dog Services. At the end of the day, sending home tired, happy dogs is our goal.