When Jane Paynter leaves for work in the morning she drops off her baby at day care - puppy day care at Heartland Veterinary Hospital.
Her baby is a Yorkshire terrier named Reese.
The Paynters have had outside dogs, but not with much luck. When they decided to get another puppy they wanted a house dog, but Jane Paynter said she knew she would need some help with house training.
They got that help at puppy day care.
The folks at Heartland not only tend to the puppy during the day, they also teach dogs manners, how to stay in a kennel, and how to get along with other animals. They also house-train the puppies.
When a puppies' owners are away at work, the puppies can become stressed and show it by acting out. Puppies may use the bathroom on the floor or tear up the house. They can begin to exhibit anti-social behavior like excessive barking, jumping, biting and growling.
Paynter enrolled Reese when she was seven weeks old. At Heartland, Reese learned how to behave and interact with people and other animals.
"I think puppy day care really helped," Paynter said.
All puppies and dogs of all breeds need some socialization. Many owners need to unburden themselves of the guilt of leaving their dogs at home all day while they are at work.
Robin Bennett, who works at Heartland, started the program when she got her baby Yorkshires - Tasha and Taylor.
"I knew I couldn't leave them by themselves," she said.
Bennett took the puppies to work with her. The idea just took off from there, and four years later there are a half dozen dogs in day care.
All the puppies have social and alone time while in day care. They are all trained. The veterinary hospital works with the owners to make sure they use the same commands at day care and at home.
At the beginning, puppies, like babies, need more one-on-one attention, and instruction, Bennett said. The day care helps the hospital, too.
Bennett said the atmosphere there has become more relaxed, and the puppies, who stay up front at the desk, are good conversation starters.
"They're as good for us, as we are for them," she said.
When the puppies get home at night, they are tired and ready to snuggle instead of being overly stimulated and excited.
A year ago, Bessie Pfeifer and her husband, Karl, decided to get a basset hound because they heard the dogs were good for people with allergies.
Their puppy, Zoey, was mean, but day care has taken care of it. Now she is well-behaved and house-broken.
"It's wonderful not to worry about her when we're gone. ... She loves it, too."
Puppy day care is $10 a day or $200 a month. The dogs can be dropped off for a few hours, but the cost is still $10. Owners should schedule a consultation to talk to the hospital about what they expect from day care and training.
Heartland Veterinary Hospital is at 1324 Lebanon Road. For more information, call 1-866-609-4994.
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