Thoughts on Doggie Daycare

[Monroe-Rylee]

I’m wondering what people’s thoughts/ experiences with doggie daycare have been.
I have been taking my girls (1 ½ years old; 5.5 pounds & 6.5 pounds) to doggie daycare 1-2 times per week for about a year. The place they go is for “smaller dogs” but they base it on height and I think it’s under 21inches so some of the dogs are bigger than I liked originally. But, you can watch them on a camera all day and they always seemed to like it. They also have a staff person with the group the entire day. I check the video feed a few times a day and noticed the last few weeks that I sometimes cannot find Rylee for periods of time… they have a small front room where people come in and I assumed she was hanging out up there sometimes. This morning, I handed them off as normal, proceeded to do the check-in process and noticed Rylee standing at the gate next to the desk looking at me with desperation (this is the area where I wouldn’t be able to see in the video & it made me wonder if she is standing there throughout the day waiting/pleading for me to come get her). I watched her for a few minutes and asked the daycare person to keep an eye on her to see if she seemed unconformable like this throughout the day. During drop-off dogs are barking & pretty rowdy because it’s early and someone has just walked in… I guess this could make her unconformable but I was left with the gnawing feeling that she is not enjoying her time there and taking them has more been a way of relieving my own guilt for having to leave them during the day… I am usually gone from 10am until 4:30pm and sometimes come home in the afternoon to let them out. I have to keep them in a 6 panel pen when I’m not home. So, I feel awful leaving them home 5 days a week in a pen… but, does it seem like maybe this isn’t an activity that is beneficial for them (or at least Rylee)?
Sorry for the long post! If you wouldn’t mind sharing your thoughts on this situation & thoughts on daycare in general I would greatly appreciate it! (Should I stop taking them? Try to find a place where they’ll be with dogs closer to their size/activity level? Take Monroe only? Is leaving them in a pen 6 ½ hours a day as awful as I feel it is?) Thank you for any thoughts/suggestions!!!

[Rachael1983]

Hi There,

I think doggie daycare is great, my experience with my boy Troy and he went once a month and was excited every time and pooped by the time he made it home. I will say that as someone who worked 8 hours a day, Troy was left in an Ex-pen during the day and did not have any issues.

With Emma, I have not taken her to doggie day care as I think she is a little shy but if taken more often I think that could help with her socialization. I work 100% from home now so I don't use day care as an option now however when I'm not home, Emma is crated and I don't feel guilty given my carpets are saved and I don't have to worry about her hurting herself climbing on anything.

Check out a few alternatives, see if there's something smaller or even an in-home care option since those may have less dogs and less commotion but you'll still get the same benefits for a pooped dog when you come home from your day. Do not feel guilty about leaving your dog for 6+ hours.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by Rachael1983

Hi There,

I think doggie daycare is great, my experience with my boy Troy and he went once a month and was excited every time and pooped by the time he made it home. I will say that as someone who worked 8 hours a day, Troy was left in an Ex-pen during the day and did not have any issues.

With Emma, I have not taken her to doggie day care as I think she is a little shy but if taken more often I think that could help with her socialization. I work 100% from home now so I don't use day care as an option now however when I'm not home, Emma is crated and I don't feel guilty given my carpets are saved and I don't have to worry about her hurting herself climbing on anything.

Check out a few alternatives, see if there's something smaller or even an in-home care option since those may have less dogs and less commotion but you'll still get the same benefits for a pooped dog when you come home from your day. Do not feel guilty about leaving your dog for 6+ hours.

to all of this!

All dogs are different. I work at a daycare and find some dogs just LOVE it and want to play all day and others are so-so about it.

I honestly think some dogs would prefer to just be in their home chilling. Your hours aren't too crazy -- don't worry about them leaving them for 6 hours. I know it makes us feel bad but dogs adapt and are okay.

[Monroe-Rylee]

Thank you both so much! I had Monroe at an in-home pet sitter/groomer/daycare once who just did Yorkies (perfect right?!). I left Monroe there for 4 nights while I was on a cruise and I had the worst feeling that something had truly upset her when I got her home... for the first time she was skittish around my feet and dropped her head in fear when I dropped a towel on the ground. This strange behavior lasted about a week and although I hate to think anything bad happened I knew she wasn't "normal"... anyway, long story short I decided I would only leave them at a place that had cameras or at the breeders house since I know she loves them like a grandma haha.

I talked with the doggie daycare staff, who I know pretty well, and it seems there is one larger size dog that was playing a little to rough with the small ones. It sounds like this pup won't be there anymore. I had them there one additional day last week and Rylee seemed better. Today she playing like normal... I'm going to keep an eye on it closely. It does seem like they've made some changes since it was discussed last week. So, we'll see!

I'm glad to hear you don't think it's awful leaving them in the x-pen while I'm at work. I am hoping someday they'll stop being such puppies and be able to stay out in the kitchen/living room while I'm gone... we shall see!

Thanks again for your awesome input & help!!! :-)