Daycare Benefits for Dogs: What Pet Parents Need to Know

When it comes to keeping your dog happy and healthy, you’d do just about anything, including being home with them 24/7. But, sadly, that’s not the world we live in. Stuff gets in the way, like long work hours and never-ending errands.

That’s where dog daycare comes in! Daycare gives your precious pet a place to play, socialize, and thrive while you handle the important business of life.

Here, we’ll talk about the benefits of daycare for dogs and how to choose the right one. Let’s go!

The Takeaways

1. Dog daycare is a place you can take your dog to be watched and cared for while you have to be away from home.

2. Daycare benefits for dogs include daily exercise, consistent routines, socialization, behavior improvements, reduced stress and anxiety, mental stimulation, and supervision.

3. When looking for a dog daycare, consider cleanliness and safety, staff training, communication standards, activities, and emergency procedures.

Table of Contents

• What Is Dog Daycare?

• Daycare Benefits for Dogs

• What to Look for in a Dog Daycare

  
  

What Is Dog Daycare?

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Dog daycare is exactly what it sounds like: daycare for your dog! More specifically, it’s a facility where you can leave your dog to be looked after, have lots of play time, and get plenty of socialization in a structured, professional environment.

Similar to regular daycare or school for kids, dog daycare provides a place for dogs to spend the day while you work, run errands, or handle the millions of other things on your to-do list.

Daycare Benefits for Dogs

Sending your dog somewhere new isn’t an easy decision. But it might just be the best one you could make! Let’s take a look at the benefits of daycare for dogs.

Daily Exercise

When your pup’s stuck at home alone all day, they don’t get much (if any) exercise. This can lead to all kinds of trouble, from destructive behaviors like chewing, digging, and excessive barking to more serious problems like weight gain.

Putting your dog in daycare gives them an outlet for all their canine energy. They can run, play, and be as active as they want!

This is especially beneficial for high-energy breeds. The daily activities and play sessions at a dog daycare can mimic the natural bursts of energy that they would experience in the wild.

Consistent Routines

Dogs need routines and consistency to thrive. Sticking to the same schedule every day helps them regulate their sleeping and eating patterns, which is good for their overall health.

When you put your dog in daycare, they’ll have structured playtime, scheduled meals, and opportunities for rest. Not only do these routines benefit the staff and other animals at the daycare, but they’re helpful at home, too!

Consistent daycare schedules can help with house training, lessen your dog’s anxiety, and support improved behavior all around.

Socialization

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Dogs are naturally social creatures. Because their ancestors always ran in packs, your dog is wired for social interactions. In other words, canines were never meant to live alone!

Most pet parents understand the importance of socialization for puppies, but that need doesn’t go away as dogs age. That’s why continued socialization is important. It’s not just about letting your dog have fun; it’s crucial for their emotional and mental development.

Dog daycare provides plenty of opportunities for the social interactions your dog craves! They’ll get supervised playtime with other dogs and lots of love and attention from staff members.

Mental Stimulation

Dogs need to use their brains just like we do. When your dog sits home alone all day with nothing to do, their mind becomes practically inactive.

Dog daycare provides your pup with lots of new sights, sounds, and smells to explore. On top of that, experiencing different situations with other dogs throughout the day naturally strengthens their problem-solving skills.

All of this helps keep your dog’s mind sharp for years to come!

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

As you’ve probably figured out by now, being alone for long periods of time is really stressful for your dog. And stress can be detrimental to your pup’s health, leading to things like excessive shedding, digestive issues, withdrawal, and destructive behaviors.

Whether your dog is only slightly stressed when left alone or they experience severe separation anxiety, sending them to daycare even a few times a week can help.

Supervision

One thing you may worry about while you’re at work is leaving your dog unsupervised. Even if you’ve done your best to dog-proof your house, accidents happen. And, unfortunately, these accidents can be dangerous for your pup.

At the right dog daycare, your dog will be supervised all day long, meaning whether they’re having group playtime, eating lunch, or anything in between, they’re being looked after and well taken care of.

Behavior Improvements

Separation anxiety, boredom, and a lack of physical and mental stimulation can all lead to some pretty bad behaviors in your dog. If you’ve ever come home to find your house completely wrecked after leaving your pup alone for a while, then you know what we’re talking about.

The good news is that the socialization, playtime, and affection dogs get during their daycare time can combat any anxiety or boredom they might otherwise experience. This means your dog will come home relaxed, happy, and ready to snuggle!

What to Look for in a Dog Daycare

If you’re convinced your canine companion would love daycare, you might be wondering where to start. How do you choose the right facility for your best friend? Let’s take a look at some things to consider.

Cleanliness and Safety

Of course, the first thing you probably want to know is if the place where your dog will be spending a good chunk of their time is clean and safe. That’s why we recommend visiting any dog daycares you’re considering sending your pup to.

Seeing the facilities in person gives you a much better idea of how clean and safe they are than simply browsing through photos online. While you’re there, ask if the daycare has any written maintenance or safety guidelines they wouldn’t mind showing you.

At Around the World Pet Resort, for example, anyone can check out our website to review our 25 Points of Safety, which cover everything from how the artificial turf play yards get cleaned to the safety of our bedding.

You’ll also want to look into the daycare facility’s stay requirements when it comes to vaccinations, illnesses, and so on.

Trained Staff

A dog daycare is only as good as its staff. These are the people who’ll be spending the most time with your beloved canine, so you want to make sure they’re properly trained.

Anyone working at a dog daycare should at least have basic safety and care knowledge, but ideally, you want them to also be familiar with dog behavior, including warning signs that might signal when a dog is stressed, sick, or a danger to others.

Good Communication

Your dog is family! So knowing what to expect at daycare, how to prepare for their time there, and if any issues come up during their stay is important.

Look for a dog daycare that communicates well with pet parents. Ask the owner or manager what their standard communication process looks like.

Plenty of Activities

Quality daycares will offer plenty of activities and provide loads of physical and mental stimulation for your dog. After all, that’s why you’re sending your precious pet there in the first place!

It’s a good idea to ask a staff member of any facility you’re considering what a typical day looks like for the dogs they watch. Are there structured playtimes? Do the pups get to play in supervised groups as well as individually? What kinds of toys are provided?

Emergency Procedures

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to ask about emergency procedures. Are there staff members available who are trained in canine first aid? How will they contact you in the event that something disastrous happens?

These are important considerations when you’re leaving your dog somewhere for several hours at a time.

Daycare for Dogs and Peace of Mind for You

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Now that you know all there is to know about daycare for dogs, you can decide whether or not it’s right for your furry friend. Then all that’s left is to choose the best fit!

We think you’ll want to consider our daycare program at Around the World Pet Resort. An exciting and enriching day full of play and new friends awaits your beloved canine when you book with us. And our experienced and caring staff will be right there to supervise every play session.

Book your dog’s staycation now, and watch them thrive!

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my dog go to daycare?

The answer to this question depends on your unique dog’s preferences and needs. Many dogs do well going to daycare two to four times a week. Anything more than that causes overstimulation and can actually stress them out.

On the other hand, some breeds are more high-energy and need lots of exercise and stimulation every day, so five days a week at daycare and two days at home is the best solution.

Start with one or two days a week as your dog adjusts to the new environment, and you can increase from there if daycare seems to be a good fit. As always, check with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.

Are there any disadvantages of dog daycare?

There aren’t many disadvantages of daycare for dogs, but you should be aware that your pup might be around dogs with minor illnesses. That said, the daycare facility should do everything they can to minimize the spread of illness.

The only other potential disadvantage is that your canine pal might come home completely exhausted from all the fun they had!

Is daycare stressful for dogs?

Just like any new situation, starting daycare might be stressful for some dogs. But once your pup has a chance to adjust, they’ll most likely grow to love it!

However, if it’s been a few times and your dog seems more stressed or anxious than usual, stop taking them to daycare right away and talk to your veterinarian.