When it comes to choosing the right doggy day care, you have plenty of options. From large-scale national chains to professional pet sitters who host dogs inside their homes, there’s a space for every pup.
Below, you’ll find several important things to consider when choosing a doggy day care, whether it’s your first time boarding your pup or you’re searching for a new location.
Meet and Greet or Trial Day
Before you drop your dog off for the first time, it’s important to do a trial run so you can learn more about how the sitter or day care staff members run the facility. This also helps ensure your dog will feel comfortable in their care.
What happens during this process
Most facilities will offer a drop-in session to allow your dog to have a controlled introduction with a smaller dog play group, says Chris Edge, certified dog trainer and founder of K9Edge Dog Training.
Individual sitters will also usually offer a first meeting, though you might feel more comfortable meeting in a public space before visiting their home to check out what they offer in their day care.
No matter where or how you meet for the first time, the sitter or staff members should ask detailed questions about your dog’s behaviour, medical history, and play style so they can understand your dog’s needs and place them into a compatible play group.
“You should leave feeling confident that the staff understands your dog’s individual needs and has a plan for keeping them safe and happy,” explains Dr Karen Halligan, vet and host of the Collars and Cents podcast.
Separate Play Groups and Routine
Larger dog day cares will typically group dogs into separate play groups so each staff member or sitter can keep a closer eye on the dogs.
For example, one group with high-energy dogs might go outside at 10 a.m., while a second group of older or lower-energy dogs has indoor playtime. Then, after two hours, the groups switch play spaces.
Ideally, play groups should be organised by temperament rather than breed and have no more than 10 to 15 dogs each, says Dr Gary Richter, veterinarian and founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition. That can depend on the individual dogs.
“A group of 10 calm, socially skilled dogs will need less supervision than three or four energetic adolescent dogs,” Edge adds.
Dog sitters on Rover can host dogs on an individual basis, which often works great for pups who need more personalised attention.
A Safe Environment
“A well-run day care will have clearly separated areas for different styles of play as well as a calming space for dogs to have a break,” Edge says.
Some day cares might also have an indoor playroom with agility obstacles or climbable dog furniture and a fenced-in yard where dogs can run to their hearts’ content.
However, since some dogs can get overstimulated by all the sights and sounds of the playrooms, it’s also important the day care has a quiet room or individual kennels, where dogs can relax away from the fray.
Health and Safety Precautions
Since lots of dogs will spend time in close quarters, doggy day cares need to verify none of them have diseases that can pass between dogs.
At a minimum, the day care will require all dogs to have had their core DHPP vaccines at least two weeks before entry (as required by their Animal Activities Licence). Many will (and should) also insist on seeing paperwork to confirm the dog’s kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccinations and worming. Ideally, dogs should also have a clean bill of health from a vet.
Staff trained in canine behaviour and safety, such as those with an animal behaviour accreditation from a recognised body like the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) or the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), have trained in ensuring your dog’s comfort and safety. They also have a deep understanding of canine behaviour, meaning they can quickly pick up on cues of aggression or conflict and take the most suitable steps to intervene.
Day cares also need to verify that dogs can play well with others, which is what makes a trial run so important. The sitter or day care staff can observe how your dog likes to play and spot any potential behaviour concerns early.
When vetting day care options, you’ll also want to pay attention to cleanliness and odours. Dogs will have to do their business during the day, and some might have accidents indoors—but staff should clean up messes promptly and sanitise the area daily. None of the play or rest areas should have bad smells.
A note about toys
While a day care may have dog “playgrounds” with platforms and ramps to climb on, most day cares don’t allow toys outside of private spaces like kennels.
Some dogs will resource guard their favourite stuffed animals or squeaky balls, so toys are often a source of conflict between guests. As a safety precaution, most day cares have strict no-toy policies.
Flexibility and Convenient Location
Your dog may be the one who will spend their time at doggy day care, but it’s just as important to choose a day care convenient to your daily routine.
For example, can you drop your dog off at the day care on your way to work, or will you need to make a detour during your commute? Will you need to pick up your dog at set hours every day, or do you have some flexibility?
If your schedule is more unpredictable, you might find it easier to work with an individual pet sitter. Many day care facilities will have strict drop-off and pickup windows. But home sitters on Rover are often more flexible, especially if you let them know of any changes in advance.
Cost
Of course, you’ll want to choose a spot you can comfortably afford, especially if day care will be a regular expense for your family.
When choosing a facility or sitter, ask what they include in the base price and if they offer a discount for dogs who attend a certain number of days each week.
Some day cares also offer premium services that might be worth the extra fee, like training classes, individual walks, or bigger private kennels.
If you can’t afford the base rate at your local dog day cares, you can also book drop-in visits or dog walking through Rover! Not only are these services usually more affordable than day cares and in-home pet sitting, but they also offer more individualised attention. Plus, these options usually work better for dogs who don’t love socialising in crowds.
FAQs About Choosing a Good Doggy Day Care
Is doggy day care good for puppies?
Doggy day care can help puppies learn to socialise and play with other dogs—as long as they’ve had their first vaccines and learned basic social skills. The RSPCA advises that most puppies have passed the two-week window after finishing their DHPP jabs at 12 weeks of age, and it’s around this time they’re also getting ready to put their newly established social skills to work.
Just make sure the day care keeps a close eye on puppies and separates them from bigger, rougher-playing dogs.
How does my dog’s breed and temperament affect which day care I choose?
“Temperament is ultimately the most important factor when choosing a day care,” Dr Richter says.
After all, two dogs from the same litter can have completely different personalities and play styles.
A good facility or sitter should look past your dog’s breed stereotypes and treat them as an individual. For example, a quiet or shy dog should get more alone time in their kennel, while a lively puppy needs more time to run outside.
What questions to ask a doggy day care before enrolling?
Before you trust a day care with your pet, you should always ask a few key questions to make sure you’re on the same page. Some examples include:
- What’s your dog-to-staff ratio? (Animal Welfare Regulations dictate a maximum of 10 dogs per staff member as a minimum expectation, but having eight or fewer would earn them the optional, higher-standard four- or five-star rating that marks them out as a great facility.)
- Do I need to commit to a minimum number of days per week?
- What training do staff receive on dog body language and first aid? Does anyone on the staff have ABTC or APBC accreditation?
What are red flags in a day care or a sitter?
One of the biggest red flags at a doggy day care is when they push you to skip the meet-and-greet.
A meet-and-greet helps the sitter or day care staff understand if a dog will fit into the group environment. Skipping this step suggests that a day care’s priorities aren’t aligned with the well-being of the pets they care for. After all, some dogs may need closer care and supervision than a day care can provide.
Dr Halligan shares a few more red flags:
- Overcrowded playgroups
- Not separating playgroups by age, size, or temperament
- No scheduled rest breaks
- Punishment-based training methods
- Dogs that seem stressed, tired, or scared
- Dirty play spaces or urine smells
- No clear emergency protocols
- A refusal to show an up-to-date AAL or a valid Certificate of Insurance for a public liability policy
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts,” she says. “Your dog’s safety always comes first.”
