While the relaxation of rules for COVID-19 is a welcome respite, it’s a bittersweet moment for pet parents. The excitement of returning to a WFO culture is understandable, but what about your furry friends? Doesn’t the very thought of leaving them alone haunt you? Although the separation is inevitable, we’re here to make it easier on both your pets and you.
In this post, we’ll talk about how you can pick the right daycare for your little doggos to ensure that they’re well-cared for in your absence. Let’s get started!
Check the place out in person
Before signing your pet up for daycare, it is paramount that you visit the place once to ensure it’s ideal and safe for them. Here are a few things you must pay attention to:
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Check out the litter area to learn about their hygiene standards.
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Look at the playing area. Is it large enough for your doggo to run and play around?
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Keep an eye out for any sharp-edged furniture that could potentially hurt them.
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Enquire about what emergency safety measures they have in place.
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Check the foods they offer to the dogs. Don’t forget to check the availability of water.
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Ask about what a typical day at the daycare looks like.
Interact with the staff
The staff at the daycare are the sole caretakers of your pets in your absence. It is, therefore, essential to communicate with them openly. Talk about your fears and your pet’s weak points, and learn about their qualifications and experience with animals.
The staff of a dog daycare must have professional training in basic animal care,
animals’ body language, and signs of distress. Additionally, they should also be able to get along with all dogs easily. To check the latter, you can spend a couple of hours at the daycare with your dog, observing how the staff work.
Lastly, it is also important to enquire about the staff-to-dog ratio to make sure that your pet’s needs will always be looked after. One staff per 10-15 dogs is ideal If there are more than 15 dogs for a single staff member to handle, perhaps it’s not the right daycare for your doggo.
If things go smoothly, you can also introduce your dog to them beforehand to avoid making them feel alienated on their first day.
Talk to other pet parents in your area
If this is your first time evaluating a dog daycare, try talking to pet parents who have plenty of experience in daycares. If you don’t know any of them yet, try to find them actively by talking to other owners while dog-walking. The honest recommendation of an experienced pet parent can save you a lot of trouble and effort.
Keep distance in mind
The distance of the daycare from your home and office is another factor to consider. Having a daycare nearby makes it convenient to drop and pick them up. In case of an emergency, you’d want to reach your doggo at the earliest, wouldn’t you?
Lastly, taking care of your pet’s comfort
Once you’ve made sure all your doggo’s needs will be met at this daycare, you can certainly go ahead and book them. However, before your pet’s first day at the daycare, you must prepare them at your end as well.
The first step towards doing that is preparing a bag containing your
dog's toys,
chews and blankets. You could also devote an hour helping your pet socialize with other dogs every day, whether in a park or a friend’s place. This will make it easier for them to be surrounded by other dogs at the daycare.
Choosing a daycare for your pet can be challenging, but if you keep these pointers in mind, your hunt for the best service will be smooth-sailing.
