The Right Doggie Daycare

How to Choose the Right Doggie Daycare

By John Rubin

There is no doubt that doggie daycare has become an extremely popular service. Because dogs are social animals, leaving them home during the day can cause problems. Young pups often experience separation anxiety, and owners experience frustration and guilt. Sending your dog to doggie day care can be a good solution. But, just like any other service, not all doggy daycare providers are the same. Some have facilities, while others take your dog on hikes, to the beach or on other types of field trips.  We hope we can help you make a good choice for you and your dog.

I know this article is lengthy. However, after 20+ years in this business we have seen the good and the bad that doggie daycare has to offer. I encourage you to read it all and follow as many suggestions as you can. I promise you, if you spend a little bit of time now to find the right doggie daycare provider for you and your dog, you will be glad you did. Your dog will thank you too!

It is a great idea to interview the daycare provider. (I know this seems logical, but knowing what questions to ask can be very important.)

• How long have you been in business?
• Where does my dog go all day?
• How is my dog transported?
• How often do you give my dog water? Shade? Rest?
• Is there access to veterinary services in the event of a problem or accident?
• Are you trained in canine first aid or CPR?
• Do you temperament test all dogs in your care?
• Are dogs separated by size, age, temperament? (a small dog recently died while in the care of a local daycare provider as she did not properly separate the dogs in her care)
• How many dogs are in your care?
• How many employees per dog?
• Can I visit unannounced?

Please do not just go by what the prospective provider tells you. Many will not be completely honest as they really want your business. Especially if you plan to lodge your dog overnight with the provider, ask to view the property and area where your dog will be. San Diego is "coyote and bobcat country" and should your provider offer to lodge your dog, and yet only has an outdoor set-up, your dog might not be safe. Also, some providers also use their property as a doggie daycare. Not only is this illegal, it can be very unsafe - for the same reasons stated above - but also because dogs can and do escape. We acquired a client whose dog, when under the care of another North County daycare provider, escaped, crossed a major freeway and ended up 2 miles away in someone's front yard. That home owner and good citizen called her (her dog's tags were luckily still attached) and she went to pick up her young pup. She was obviously horrified.

The Mobile Doggie Day Care Provider

We personally know many of the more established providers, both facility owners as well as mobile. While most do a fine job, we also know the horror stories, bad handling practices, and customer dissatisfaction issues.

Internet Searches

As a professional dog training company not only do we provide doggie daycare services ourselves, we have trained many of the providers that are now out there performing these services under their own business names. A few of them do an excellent job and provide the services they are touting on their websites - a few do not. (One site claims weekly dog training classes yet former clients have told us they were never able to attend one as the provider never could tell them where, what date and what time.) Competition is fierce in the doggy day care industry and it takes an honest, experienced, energetic, capable and well-trained individual with an equally capable staff to properly care for your precious pup. This is especially true with Mobile Doggie Daycare.

False Advertising

False advertising and inflated claims are common practices on the internet and it is no different with Doggy Day Care providers. As a consumer, caring dog owner and potential client, you are obviously searching for the best place to send your dog during the day. I always suggest dog owners read between the lines, ask plenty of questions and spend as much time necessary doing your homework. It could save you from future frustration, wasted money and potential heartbreak. Doggy daycare can be the worse decision you have ever made for your dog if you choose the wrong provider.

Any website can make a claim that they perform a particular service but you as a consumer will often have no idea if it is actually being performed. One picture on a website does not tell the whole story. As I mention later, one doggie daycare company uses a dog park every day yet their site claims they go on hikes and excursions. The key here is to ask questions, look at the pictures (staff pics too) and a good rule of thumb is if it doesn't make sense, it is probably not true. For instance, does the staff look like they are active and frequent hikers? Are they dressed for hiking or long physical outings? Are the pictures you see of field trips varied?  Or, do they seem like they were taken on one or two outings and just for the benefit of the website. You can never be sure so ask questions to get the answers you need.

San Diego's First Mobile Doggie Day Care Provider

Jenny, at www.camp4dogs.com, was most definitely the first Mobile Doggie Daycare Provider in San Diego County. Jenny was an employee of ours just prior to her leaving and starting her mobile doggie daycare business in late 2002. She was full strength in early 2003 under the name JenDogs. There were no others at the time she began and so we helped her to develop and create this unique service. She perfected the practice. Another former employee of ours began a similar service in late 2003/early 2004, but used a local dog park only.

However, Jenny did what no other doggie daycare ever did - and still does not to this day - she took dogs on hikes every day. She created specialized hiking equipment and fitted a van in a manner that allowed her to safely transport her daycare dogs to some of San Diego's most beautiful hiking trails, beaches and parks. Just visit her website, www.camp4dogs.com, and you will see the amazing service she provided. (and still does but more on that later.)

Others might now claim they do this, were the 1st to create and provide this unique service, and are the only ones who do. I can only tell you this: Jenny at Kamp Kanine acquires new clients every week and many have come to her after using another mobile service provider. With few exceptions they change to Kamp Kanine because their dog(s) are being picked up and taken to a dog park all day and it was not what they wanted for their dog. (Other reasons are that their dog is not treated well, or needs a smaller or more appropriate play group.)

Transporting Your Dog Safely

Our company severed ties with a mobile daycare provider who refused to properly and safely transport dogs in her care. She also had very poor customer service skills and left two dogs in her care at a local dog park.  Animal control picked up the dog which is where the daycare provider had to go to retrieve her charge. I doubt she ever told the client. She left another dog at the same park not long after. Luckily a visitor was there, checked the dogs tags, and the unhappy owner was called to pick up the dog.

A daycare provider who utilizes a public dog park every day might not be the best choice. Public off-leash dog parks are great for you when you are there with your own dog. But, for a provider with many dogs in her care this can pose a real problem. Most dog parks do not have areas that allow for smaller and larger dogs to be separated. Also, there are no breed restrictions and no monitoring if un-neutered, aggressive or un-socialized dogs enter the park. This can be serious for your dog if the daycare provider has too many dogs to watch and your dog gets into a scuffle.

Another issue is sanitation. I witnessed a North San Diego County Day Care provider enter a dog park in March of 2008 where there was a sign prominently posted that stated Parvovirus was a possible issue and that entry was at risk. She took her clients dogs in anyway. I estimated she had about 9 or 10 dogs in her care but there may have been more. She could have easily avoided the park and gone to another for the next day or so. She instead chose to put her client's dogs at risk. I left after notifying my client that we would have to postpone our training session for a week. He was grateful. I never took my own dogs out of my vehicle.  

Canine Diseases: Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Canine Papilloma Virus - these are just some of the viruses that can be picked up at a dog park. Parvovirus is spread through fecal matter, Leptospirosis is a water-borne bacteria and Canine Papilloma Virus is commonly thought to be transferred through saliva. As you can imagine, in a public off-leash dog park, and without adequate supervision and control, your dog or puppy can be at risk.

Here are some ways you can test your mobile provider - or potential provider;

• Do you send me daily pictures of my dogs adventures and activities?

• Can I meet your staff?

• Can I go on hikes with you or meet you at a location?

NEW! They are now accepting customer drop-off and pick-up. See their services and rates.