“Doggie Daycare Not For All Dogs”
That was the headline of an article in this month’s Your Dog newsletter sent out by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. The article was premised on the notion that while pet parents “lovingly assume their pet would prefer to have company and activity in their absence” not all dogs like being around other dogs, especially for long periods of time. We don’t disagree that not all dogs like being around other dogs for long periods of time, but we do disagree that this means these dogs are not ideal candidates for doggie daycare; it just means that they are ideal candidates for a different type of doggie daycare than the authors were envisioning.
“Doggie Daycare Not For All Dogs” What Your Dog Has Wrong
The folks at Your Dog appear to be thinking about doggie daycare facilities that only offer the “mosh pit” approach to daycare. That’s when all (or most) of the dogs, “play” together for the majority of the day with no additional options for physical or mental stimulation. Frankly, if this is all a dog daycare facility offers it’s no shock that it’s not ideal for every dog. But the issue is not the dog – it’s the doggie daycare facility.
Pet care professionals have known for a long time that not every dog likes to play with other dogs AND that not every dog should play with other dogs. The issue is that these same pet care professionals have failed to offer doggie daycare options for these dogs. Just because your dog doesn’t enjoy the company of other dogs doesn’t mean that doggie daycare is not for them; it simply means you need a different kind of doggie daycare. Pet Camp’s Canine Enrichment program may be that kind of doggie daycare for those in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Where Can I Bring My Dog if “Traditional” Dog Daycare isn’t the Solution?
Unlike the doggie daycare envisioned in Your Dog, Pet Camp’s doggie daycare options include a wide range of activities designed for both physical and mental stimulation that does not involve playing with or being around other dogs, including:
- Puzzles
- Balance work
- Fungility or using a flirt pole
- Basic commands
- Specific behavioral/training needs
Canine Enrichment doggie day can be completely custom designed for you and your dog’s needs. So, if you have a dog that you don’t think is a good candidate for doggie daycare – before you write off this option, give us a call, and let’s see if our Canine Enrichment doggie daycare is an option for your dog.
Thanks for reading.
Source: Your Dog, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, November 2022 page 2
Pet Camp has been providing fun and safe pet care for San Francisco’s dogs and cats since 1997. If you are a San Francisco Bay Area pet parent and have any questions or would like to learn more about our dog overnight care, cat boarding, dog daycare, bathing, dog training, or pet transportation, give us a call and chat with one of our pet care professionals.