Adventure Dog Blog

When we left town for the holidays this December, we needed to leave our two dogs at home. My parents do not want animals in their home, and since Chublet isn’t entirely potty trained, I didn’t think it was fair to push my luck.

When I leave my dogs behind, I dislike leaving them at a dog kennel. I have done so in the past, and it just seems like a less than ideal situation. While the kennels I’ve been to have been clean and run by very wonderful people who did everything they could to ensure my dogs’ comfort, I just felt that leaving them in a cage for a few days can’t have been enjoyable for them.

I recommend looking for a doggie daycare run in someone’s home that offers overnights. This is actually a service I offer out of my dog daycare. I run a dog daycare out of my home and we let dogs come stay while their owners go away for business or vacations. We’ve had all kinds of dogs come to visit, and their owners like the fact that their dog is staying in a home setting where they are free to roam the house and play with my dogs when they feel like it. They also get to sleep on the floor, the couch, or some of them even opt to sleep in my bed at night.

While not all dog daycares will allow your dog to sleep on a bed at night, they do offer an environment that is a lot more welcoming than your usual dog kennel. But how do you know that you are leaving your dog somewhere safe and trustworthy while you are away? It’s natural to be concerned, and it’s important to ensure your dog’s safety.

Here are some tips I’ve compiled to help you choose a good dog daycare. I am using my experience as a dog daycare owner and as a dog owner to tell you what I might look for in a quality care setting.

1. Can you book an appointment in advance so that you and your dog(s) can meet the dog daycare owner and see the daycare? I allow dog owners to make an appointment to bring their dogs to meet me, meet my dogs, and sniff my house. This not only gives the dog owner a great chance to see what type of person I am and what kind of environment I provide for their dog, it also gives me a chance to get to know their dog’s temperament and plan ahead for any special needs they may have.

2. Is the daycare environment clean and safe? You can’t leave your dog in a home that’s littered with tiny toys or garbage and you wouldn’t want to leave them with someone that can’t even bother to clean up before an appointment made in advance to meet you. The daycare home should be neat, tidy, and clean.

3. Does the daycare kennel the dogs? This is a good question to ask the daycare owner. I have heard of dog daycares run in human homes where they still lock the dogs in kennels for much of the time, and only let them out for scheduled walks and playtime. This is the environment you were attempting to avoid. Some daycares, like mine, will use kennels only when necessary. I’ve kenneled a dog once because he was still awake at 1am and bugging all the other dogs and humans in our home. Otherwise, I will only kennel dogs at night if that is what they are used to doing at home, or if a dog prefers to have a kennel to escape to when they want to be alone or feel safe.

4. Does the daycare have an outdoor play space? Do they have a back yard or a dog run? Is their yard fenced or will your dog be tied to a leash? Will the daycare owner supervise play in the backyard in person, or do they let the dogs play outside together alone? I always go outside with the dogs when they are under my care as I like to supervise all play times to make sure everyone is safe. I don’t think this is absolutely necessary, but you want to make sure the daycare has a secure and safe outdoor space for your dog to relieve themselves.

5. What prior experience does the daycare owner have with dogs? How long have they run the daycare? Have they owned dogs themselves or are they a dog lover? I would never leave my dogs with someone that had never owned dogs before. People who have not owned dogs simply do not realize the sheer responsibility that goes into owning a dog. I want someone with experience who feels confident at all times caring for dogs.

6. What happens in an emergency? In the event of an emergency, will the daycare owner take the dog to the nearest vet? Do they have a vehicle to do so? Have they any first aid training? I have taken a dog first aid course, though this is probably not an easy class to find in smaller communities.

7. Are there forms to fill out? Any good daycare owner will have you fill out forms with information about how to contact you in case of emergency, plus information about your dog. They will need to write down your dog’s eating habits, any allergies or medical information, and so on. If they don’t write this down, you can bet they will forget. They should also be getting you to fill out a form that grants them permission to make any necessary medical decisions for your pet in the case of an emergency in which they absolutely cannot get ahold of you. If you aren’t asked to fill out any forms, I wouldn’t leave your dog behind.

8. What does your gut say? In my lifetime, I can’t think of many circumstances in which my gut was wrong. If your gut is warning you not to leave your dog with someone, listen to it. However, keep in mind that it’s normal to be nervous. Most dog owners that have left their dogs with me were worried about whether their dog would be alright, and I can say that ALL of the dogs I’ve babysat have been just fine. Even the most anxious dogs that refused to come out of their kennels for the entire first day would come out of their shell and start playing. Most dogs had an incredible time and didn’t once remember their owner until they heard the doorbell again.

If you consider the questions I’ve given you, you should be off to a very good start when looking for a good place to board your dog overnight or longer. More and more dog daycares are popping up in people’s homes and it’s getting easier to leave your dog in comfort while you are away. Even your dog gets a vacation these days!