Doggy Daycare?
Discussion
We have been using doggy daycare for 3 days a week since Moss was 14 weeks old. He absolutely loves it! He gets walks, he gets to play with a variety of different dogs and he gets a good fuss from the lovely lady who runs it.
We chose a smaller operation, the lady runs her (fully licensed) business from her home and Moss has a great bond with her. We did see some larger businesses that had 15-20 dogs all running round in a barn & field, but we wanted a more personal service and for Moss to feel like he had a home from home.
I'd check for licenses, ask to see references from previous clients and maybe arrange a trial day/joint walk to be sure your dog gets on with the regulars.
We are based in Kent, if it's that area you're looking for then let me know. Our lady does have a waiting list though.
We chose a smaller operation, the lady runs her (fully licensed) business from her home and Moss has a great bond with her. We did see some larger businesses that had 15-20 dogs all running round in a barn & field, but we wanted a more personal service and for Moss to feel like he had a home from home.
I'd check for licenses, ask to see references from previous clients and maybe arrange a trial day/joint walk to be sure your dog gets on with the regulars.
We are based in Kent, if it's that area you're looking for then let me know. Our lady does have a waiting list though.
Our Staffy is out 3 days a week just now with our doggy daycare
Shop around ask questions (lots) any decent business will be more than happy to answer even the daftest of questions. And above all try them out before settling ask to go out with them see how they work and how they are with your dog
Ours is run by a lovely young lady who our dog just clicked with and to me that's the most important thing my pup is happy
Shop around ask questions (lots) any decent business will be more than happy to answer even the daftest of questions. And above all try them out before settling ask to go out with them see how they work and how they are with your dog
Ours is run by a lovely young lady who our dog just clicked with and to me that's the most important thing my pup is happy
A license to cover home boarding (under the Animal Boarding Establishments Act). I felt better knowing that our daycare lady had all the necessary insurance and had been checked out by our local council.
Medway council has a page on it:
http://www.medway.gov.uk/businessandinvestment/lic...
Medway council has a page on it:
http://www.medway.gov.uk/businessandinvestment/lic...
My other half runs a doggy day care/boarding/walking business.
A boarding licence is not required everywhere. Every council is different. In our previous house we needed one (Tunbridge Wells BC), but in our new place we do not (Tonbridge and Malling BC).
A boarding licence (where required) is only if they have dogs staying the night and not for daycare. We have been through this at length with the council when we were in our previous house.
More importantly is make sure that they have insurance and also see how they transport the dogs when they take them on walks. You don't want the dogs loose all over the car. It should be in the boot or secured with a proper harness.
Most insurance will cover the walker to walk up to 6 dogs at a time, so find out how big the packs are.
Most important is to make sure your dog is happy there. Most decent day cares will want you pop over with the dog to make sure it gets on with their own dog and any other dogs that are there at the time before taking the dog on. The last thing they want is to have to breaking up fights all the time and the last thing you want is for your dog to come back injured.
Prior to my other half doing the doggy day care, we used to put our dogs in. We ended up changing day care as they were just not that happy there. Our collie was fine for the 1st year and then something must have happened. Our springer never liked it there (she only went a few times - got her after the collie). I think it was because later on the area restricted to them was too small and there were just too many dogs in such a small space for them. We then had to find another one who we still use if we need to do stuff without the dogs.
A boarding licence is not required everywhere. Every council is different. In our previous house we needed one (Tunbridge Wells BC), but in our new place we do not (Tonbridge and Malling BC).
A boarding licence (where required) is only if they have dogs staying the night and not for daycare. We have been through this at length with the council when we were in our previous house.
More importantly is make sure that they have insurance and also see how they transport the dogs when they take them on walks. You don't want the dogs loose all over the car. It should be in the boot or secured with a proper harness.
Most insurance will cover the walker to walk up to 6 dogs at a time, so find out how big the packs are.
Most important is to make sure your dog is happy there. Most decent day cares will want you pop over with the dog to make sure it gets on with their own dog and any other dogs that are there at the time before taking the dog on. The last thing they want is to have to breaking up fights all the time and the last thing you want is for your dog to come back injured.
Prior to my other half doing the doggy day care, we used to put our dogs in. We ended up changing day care as they were just not that happy there. Our collie was fine for the 1st year and then something must have happened. Our springer never liked it there (she only went a few times - got her after the collie). I think it was because later on the area restricted to them was too small and there were just too many dogs in such a small space for them. We then had to find another one who we still use if we need to do stuff without the dogs.
smashie said:
My other half runs a doggy day care/boarding/walking business.
More importantly is make sure that they have insurance and also see how they transport the dogs when they take them on walks. You don't want the dogs loose all over the car. It should be in the boot or secured with a proper harness.
Most insurance will cover the walker to walk up to 6 dogs at a time, so find out how big the packs are.
Most important is to make sure your dog is happy there. Most decent day cares will want you pop over with the dog to make sure it gets on with their own dog and any other dogs that are there at the time before taking the dog on. .
Couldn't agree more! More importantly is make sure that they have insurance and also see how they transport the dogs when they take them on walks. You don't want the dogs loose all over the car. It should be in the boot or secured with a proper harness.
Most insurance will cover the walker to walk up to 6 dogs at a time, so find out how big the packs are.
Most important is to make sure your dog is happy there. Most decent day cares will want you pop over with the dog to make sure it gets on with their own dog and any other dogs that are there at the time before taking the dog on. .
You really need to get out and see a few of the places near you and see which is likely to work. In the course of my work I come across them every now and then, and some of them have great websites / sound excellent on the phone but are pretty poor in person.
Plus your dog might not get on with any of the regular residents there (either 2 legged or 4)
Plus your dog might not get on with any of the regular residents there (either 2 legged or 4)
We use it for perhaps one day a week for our eleven month old Cockapoo and she loves it. Your local council may well have a list of registered providers but you can't beat a word of mouth recommendation. It's a great way for dogs to socialise, is a really handy option to have, and our dog is so tired when we collect her we have a whole day off from working as dog owners. She gets two walks when in daycare and then spends the rest of the day playing. Our provider always takes photos and posts videos so it's easy to see what they've been up to and it's really nice to watch her out with her doggy friends.
My dogs hate it the one we use , I used them once for a weekend as they looked after my cats. All the dogs get put in a large barn/room type thing
My collie just slumps head first on the floor in the corner , you can see him thinking "why the fck am I here" , whilst my terrier runs around with the other dogs barking his head off!
When I picked them up, my terrier actually lost his bark! He couldn't bark, he then collapsed on a walk and I realised he had some nasty bite marks under his leg! I'd imagine it was my collie, as they would have shared a cell in the night , my terrier would have kept barking and the collie beat the s
t out of him for being annoying.
Was a shame the centre didn't notice any of the above and my terrier is a tough little beast to see him collapse on a walk was worrying (he was fine 3 days later)
I'd use doggy daycare again, but as other posters said I would ensure they suited my dogs, as I'm sure they'd enjoy a smaller group with an experienced owner.
My collie just slumps head first on the floor in the corner , you can see him thinking "why the fck am I here" , whilst my terrier runs around with the other dogs barking his head off!
When I picked them up, my terrier actually lost his bark! He couldn't bark, he then collapsed on a walk and I realised he had some nasty bite marks under his leg! I'd imagine it was my collie, as they would have shared a cell in the night , my terrier would have kept barking and the collie beat the s
t out of him for being annoying.Was a shame the centre didn't notice any of the above and my terrier is a tough little beast to see him collapse on a walk was worrying (he was fine 3 days later)
I'd use doggy daycare again, but as other posters said I would ensure they suited my dogs, as I'm sure they'd enjoy a smaller group with an experienced owner.
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