Doggy Daycare  Facts & Fiction

Kamp Kanine, LLC  www.kamp-kanine-com  Encinitas, California (760) 207-KAMP (5267)

Several years ago, John's Natural Dog Training Company operated a doggie daycare facility in Encinitas. We loved it and our customers were thrilled that we could offer this additional service. Our dog training business grew very rapidly at that time and so we had to make the difficult decision to simply focus on training. But, doggie daycare is something we very much know about.

There are doggie daycare's popping up all over San Diego. The dog business is booming! The problems that are now arising from the doggie daycare business are also booming. Many daycare owners do not understand dogs - in particular "pack dynamics". Most daycare owners have taken a course or joined a pet sitters organization. Most run their businesses well, but there is a huge difference between being a good business owner and being a knowledgeable dog handler. In our opinion, loving dogs is one thing but truly understanding them, especially in "pack" situations, is night and day.

NOTE: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery. (We thank our loyal visitors for notifying us that there are a few sites out there "borrowing" information from our copyrighted website articles.) That being said, as a consumer I am sure you will want any potential  service provider to prove themselves. They can use our information, but can they confirm they know what it means? Test them, take notes and call us. Let us help you decide if you should use them. We personally know most of the North County Day Care providers - many of them have gone through our group or private training! We can assist you in making the right decision when choosing the right daycare for your pup!

The "Socialization" Myth: This is the number one selling point made by doggie daycare providers. Most claim your dog will become better with other dogs when exposed to them on a daily basis. The truth is that your dog learned to become social within it’s litter. The Canine Socialization Period occurred when your dog was between 3 and 7 weeks of age. This is not to say that this behavior cannot be changed. It certainly can be reinforced. The problem is it can also be damaged - permanently. This is because your dog enters into what is known as the Fear Impact Period (8-11 Weeks).

Second Fear Impact Period (6 to 14 Months). It is the second fear impact period where placing your dog into the wrong hands can mean trouble. Ask your daycare provider about the age when dogs enter this second period and see if they have an answer. Chances are they won't even know what you are talking about.

The "We Separate by Size" Myth: Most daycare providers hype this selling point to make the customer feel comfortable that their dog will be with other dogs its own size; therefore, no injuries or scuffles should occur. While this is something that daycare providers need to consider, it is not enough. Pack Dynamics comes into play when placing dogs together and other things need to be considered. Your doggie daycare provider needs to get to know each dog and their personality and temperament.  Things the daycare provider must know:

• Does the dog like to play with other dogs? - Believe me some dogs could care less and don't want to be bothered, especially older ones.
• Does the dog like younger dogs? Some pups are annoying to older dogs and still have bad manners.
• Another really important issue to consider is the number of dominant females in the group. Females are "alpha" in the dog world and if there are too many (or even just one) dominant alphas in the group, fights with other females can, and do, occur.
• Toys can be problematic for some dogs that are overly possessive of them.

Daycare providers should have a thorough knowledge of pack dynamics as well a canine psychology to properly care for your dog. Test your daycare provider and ask questions before leaving your dog in their care. All of their employees need to know this information as well. It's not enough to just know CPR and first aid.

Please also beware of the daycare provider that does not separate at all! If your provider does not have the ability to separate dogs this can be a serious issue.

The "Your Dog Will Come Home a More Happy and Confident Dog" Myth: Usually yes, but many dogs can come home more aggressive. Doggie daycare is not for every dog and not every daycare environment is suitable for building confidence in your canine.

This is again where the daycare provider should be very aware of each dog's personality and temperament. Dogs in packs can bully the younger or more submissive members. A dog entering the second fear impact period can certainly be affected and the socialization reinforcement can literally come to a screeching halt. Fear and intimidation within mismatched packs can destroy a dog's confidence. A good daycare provider will work with your dog, and coordinate the packs as well as supervise activities, to ensure no dog, especially the younger ones, are experiencing discomfort or anxiety.

We personally know many of the more established providers, both facility owners as well as mobile. We also know the horror stories, bad handling practices, and customer dissatisfaction issues. We have heard it all and have first-hand knowledge in many cases.

Along with all of the aforementioned knowledge, mobile doggie daycare providers must possess safe transportation practices. Indeed any provider that offers drop-off and pick-up services must guarantee to transport your canine companion in a safe manner.

If your daycare provider does not secure your dog in their vehicle by using a tether, harness, crate or other device that keeps your dog safe during transport, fire them. Harsh but necessary - your dog's life could depend on it. I have heard the excuses given by one mobile provider, who incidentally had a dog die in her care because it was not tethered down. Her reasoning was that a tethered dog could have it's neck injured in the event she had to slam on her brakes. (This dog had it's neck broken from slamming into to cab of her truck.) If this is still an issue for her then a harness or crate should be her method of transportation. But, I can only assume laziness is really the issue when a provider refuses to safely secure her client's beloved dogs.

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.

Posted Warning Signs: This too would seem logical but a responsible mobile daycare provider who utilizes public dog parks, hiking trails and beaches should always heed posted warnings whether they are for communicable diseases (as you see posted above that one daycare provider chose to ignore) or for wildlife warnings such as rattlesnakes or mountain lions. All San Diego beaches post warnings, especially after heavy rains, due to possible contamination from sewer run-off. An experienced and responsible daycare provider not only heeds these warnings and will take her "campers" elsewhere for the day, she will also know what time of year to avoid these environments in the first place. A daycare provider who has little experience with hiking and field trips simply does not understand the concept and might put your dear dog in danger. Camp4Dogs and Kamp Kanine have access to an exclusive use private dog park when needed so your dogs will always have a fun, safe day at camp!

Referrals, Referrals, and More Referrals!: In conjunction with possessing the knowledge and skills necessary to care for your beloved pet in the first place, excellent referrals are vital! (Keyword "excellent") Getting an endorsement from us, or another well established professional dog trainer or behaviorist is a good start. But, several superior referrals can seal the deal. Referrals from a wide variety of sources are your best bet for a true and honest evaluation.

You Have To Like the Human: This is a no-brainer but worth mentioning. Does the provider seem open, trustworthy and personable? Does it seem like she really enjoys what she is doing as a profession? I had a customer tell me that she dropped her doggie daycare provider because she overheard her yelling at the dogs in her truck one day. Also, her kids told her that she yelled at them as well on several occasions. The final straw was her witnessing the provider speeding out of her neighborhood one morning - a neighborhood full of children playing.

The Dog to Human Ratio: This is where most providers get low marks. Many doggie daycare providers do not take into consideration that dog packs require constant supervision. Just like children, dogs scuffle, play hard and get bullied. "Live" human supervision (not a camera or being within earshot) is mandatory. 

If a mobile provider takes their charges to a dog park all day, what happens when she leaves to use the restroom? What if a dog gets loose or a fight starts? For this reason the dog to human ratio is important - especially for facilities or mobile daycare providers who use the same enclosed area day after day. For them there should always be two humans supervising up to 15 dogs. It would be impossible to place dogs in kennels or back in the truck for every bathroom break.

Finally: Choosing the right doggie daycare can take some time and research. But, I am sure you will find that it is well worth it. I hope that we have been able to assist you with the knowledge necessary to make a well-informed decision.

 

 

Camp4Dogs www.camp4dogs.com Owned and Operated by Jenny Gutierrez  (760) 214-6085    Kamp Kanine, LLC  www.kamp-kanine-com  Encinitas, California (760) 207-KAMP (5267)
				Pick-Up and Drop-Off Doggie Daycare and Day Camp 4 Dogs Walks, Hikes, Beach, Park Trips Licensed and Insured

 

 

 

Kamp Kanine, LLC  www.kamp-kanine-com (760) 207-KAMP (5267)

 

www.johnknowsdogs.com

 

 

 

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