12 Questions to Ask Before Committing to a Doggy Daycare

Work or life commitments mean that you are not always available to look after your dog, and parting ways with your pooch can be stressful for everyone involved. That is why if you are going to use one, finding the right doggy daycare for your four-legged friend is crucial.

As part of their Doggy Daycare Report, the personal finance experts at money.co.uk have compiled a list of ten important questions to ask potential daycares when it comes to finding the right establishment to enrol your pooch in. 
 

1. What qualifications or training do the staff have?

Having well-trained staff is one of the most important elements to consider when choosing a doggy daycare, so it is essential to ask about this upfront. 

Qualifications or training regarding animal aid, behaviour or care is key, as well-trained staff will be able to observe dogs body language and interact with them on a better level. 

2.  Is there a temperament test/trial before being accepted?

All reputable doggy daycares will require your dog to have an assessment of their behaviour and personality first, to see if they are suited to the daycare facility.

This is to ensure that your dog is comfortable and right for the environment, and makes sure it will be compatible with the other dogs attending the daycare. 

 

3. What are the health and safety plans?

The doggy daycare should have a number of staff members trained in canine first aid in order to be prepared for the event of an accident or injury. 
You should also inquire about their communication plans should a medical emergency arise whilst your dog is in their care? Will they take the dog to an emergency vet for medical care? Will you be immediately contacted?

 

4. What is the ratio of daycare staff to dogs? 

It is better to choose a daycare that has a lower ratio of dogs to daycare staff, as this means your dog will be given more attention and supervision. 

It is also important to ask how many dogs each staff member will be walking and if it is a manageable amount you feel comfortable with.

 

5. What does a typical daily schedule look like?

Finding out what a usual  day at the facility would look like for your dog is a great way to decide if it would be suited to your four-legged friend. For example, if your dog requires an abundance  of attention and mental stimulation, you will want to check if there are lots of activities to participate in, to keep them entertained throughout the day.

 

6. What do the facilities include?

It is important to ask what the facilities of the daycare are like and also if it is possible to have a tour of the premises before committing to sending your dog to their daycare. Is the daycare spacious? Does it have good ventilation? Are there specific play areas? Do outdoor areas have secure fencing or gating?

 

7. What are vaccination requirements for dogs that attend?

Always make sure to ask about the daycare's policy on vaccination requirements for dogs attending the service. 

A responsible facility will require all dogs to have been vaccinated against rabies and DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus). This is extremely important as your dog will be in close proximity to a number of other dogs at daycare, where nasty diseases could easily spread. 

 

8. What are the rules regarding food?

If your furry friend is at daycare for the full day, it will be provided with lunch, as long as you bring the food to doggy daycare. If your dog is in a routine of eating at set times, it is a good idea to ask if the daycare has regular feeding times in place, or if they can be tailored to your dog's routine. 

 

9. Will dogs be separated by group?

All daycares group dogs together differently, some allow all dogs to be integrated together, whilst others separate the dogs into groups based on elements like their breed, size, energy levels and playing style. If you have a small dog and are concerned about it being left with much larger dogs, it is better to find a daycare that separates the dogs into groups. 

 

10. How much exercise will your dog get at daycare?

If you have a dog that requires a lot of exercise, it is important to ask about the daycare's policy on doggy fitness. How long will your dog be walked for? Will it be walked in a space/area where it can be let off of its lead to run freely? Does the daycare have a large outdoor area your dog can roam around?

 

11. What is the daycare's approach to rewards and discipline?

Whether your four-legged friend is extremely well behaved or can be a little troublesome at times, it is good to find out the daycare's stance on discipline. 

Will your dog be rewarded for good behaviour? Will this be in the form of praise, extra playtime, toys or treats? How do daycare staff handle misbehaving dogs? Do they separate them from the group for a time out?

 

12. What are the daycare costs?

One of the most vital questions to ask and consider are the costs of doggy daycare, not only to see whether you can afford it, but the cost is also a good indicator of how credible the daycare is. For example, sending your dog to daycare full time in the UK costs approximately ​​£25.92 a day, equalling £129.60 a week, a total of £518.40 a month and £6,221 a year. So if you come across a daycare that is really cheap and seems too good to be true - it is likely that it is.