For many dog lovers, choosing a doggie daycare at Silver Spring or boarding facility can be as stressful as choosing the preschool for their kids. A dog is a part of the family and you have to ensure that Sparky is going to be lovingly maintained while you’re away or at the job. Here are some tips to help you choose a good facility.
Visit the daycare without your dog and have some questions. Exactly what their operating hours? Is there a penalty for buying a dog late? Is there a discounted rate for another dog? Is there a monthly or yearly membership available? Do they require up-to-date vaccinations? If not, take your dog someplace else. Make sure that you’re more comfortable with all of the policies and can comply with them.
Does the facility offer grooming or other spa services? Is there a swimming area? There has to be an outside dog run? An agility course? Do they give training? These exact things aren’t necessary, but it’s nice to choose a spot that has some extra amenities.
Does the facility work with a local veterinarian? If so, ask when you can contact the veterinarian’s office to ask about the daycare’s accident history. Realize that accidents and illnesses do happen, but there shouldn’t be an unusual variety of them. All daycares and boarding facilities should use a nearby veterinarian.
Is the staff equipped to provide your pet meals or medication?
Is the staff friendly and knowledgeable? Would you get the impression that when there is a problem they would know how to handle it?
Find out how the dogs are supervised. Ideally, the daycare will have a ratio rule, usually only 15 dogs per supervisor.
Ask for a tour of the facility. Any kind of doggie odors, aside from what you might expect? May be the place clean? Ask to see where your puppy will play and sleep. You must have access to all parts of the facility. If which section that they won’t let you see, go elsewhere.
Ask to speak with a few regular customers to get their impressions of the facility. Most daycares will have customers amenable to getting phone calls-and people wish to discuss their dogs!
Are there separate areas for large and small dogs? Ask what the staff does in case there is fighting or rough play. At what point do they intervene?
Is the facility secure? Is there any way for dogs to flee or be stolen?
Does the place look fun? Imagine that you’re sending your son or daughter to summer camp-wouldn’t you want the camp to be always a blast?
Many daycares have an intake process which involves a questionnaire and an evaluation of the dog. This is not to try to exclude your dog. Daycare in an open facility with other dogs isn’t for each canine, and the daycare has to be sure that Sparky will play nicely with others.
