Choosing the Right Doggie Day Care

The Scoop on Doggie Day Care

By John and Bonnie Rubin

We have not only provided dog training for many years, we have run a successful doggie daycare as well. The business of dogs has indeed exploded within the last decade and doggie daycare has become an easy business for amateur dog trainers, groomers and even veterinarians to embark upon. With little experience, and even less cash, anyone can start a doggie daycare business. Unfortunately, this makes for some pretty low-quality care with providers selling their services to an unknowing public.

What's worse is that many of these unqualified providers remain in business for years. The ability to properly group dogs together in a cohesive, yet safe pack environment takes skill, knowledge and experience. One simple mental mistake can be disastrous. It is always 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?
• What is your background and experience with dogs?
• What health/vaccination requirement do you employ?
• 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 an accident or emergency?
• Are you certified in canine first aid or CPR?
• Do you temperament test all dogs in your care?
• Are dogs separated by size, age? (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?

Now for the tough questions:

• Have you ever had a traffic accident with dogs in your care? (during transport)
• Have you ever had a dog fight occur with the dogs in your care?
• Have you ever had a dog escape?
• Where did you receive your training to operate a doggie daycare and care for dogs? Can I call to verify this reference?

It is training as a professional, working with many breeds of dogs, and over an extended period of time, that makes for a well-rounded provider. And a daycare provider who has been in business less than 5 years might not be the best choice unless they have had extensive experience elsewhere. Check references from at least 5 clients. Previous employers or business partners should be contacted.

Check public records as many providers stretch the truth when it comes to the amount of time they have been in business. You can search county records online for business licenses and Fictitious Name Statements. Call previous employers to verify actual background and experience. If they refuse to supply you without this reference DO NOT HIRE THEM.

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

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. Another customer told me that his daycare provider drags his less than willing dog to her vehicle every day and now the dog urinates when she greets him. The dog has to like, and trust the human too.

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.

On That Note

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 quickly become a serious situation for your dog if the daycare provider has too many dogs to watch and your dog gets into a scuffle.

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 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.

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 its neck injured in the event she had to slam on her brakes. (This dog had its neck broken from slamming into to cab of her truck when she ran into the back of another vehicle.) A harness or crate can be a safe method of transportation. But, laziness is really the only issue when a provider refuses to safely secure her client's beloved dogs.

Finally

Choosing the right doggie daycare can take some time and research. But I am sure you will find that it is well worth the effort. Kamp Kanine Daycare for Dogs www.kamp-kanine-com Encinitas, California (760) 207-KAMP (5267)