By: Margaret Svete
Dog day care is all the rage these days. Dog day care is a great solution for working dog owners who feel guilty about leaving their dogs home all day. We asked Elizabeth Gabriel, founder of the Dog House, one of the first dog day cares in the country to offer some tips for choosing a doggie day care. Here they are:
-The owner is very important. A good doggie day care owner is on sight the majority of the time. "I don't care how much people are paid. If it is not your business, you will not take care of it like you would if you owned it."
-Are there enough people on staff to handle all of the dogs? Is the dog day care facility large enough to accommodate all of the dogs?
-Does the center have an outdoor play area for dogs?
-Are large and small dogs separated from each other or do they play together?
-How much do the people operating the day care know about dogs and behavior? If the facility offers agility equipment, does the staff know how to safely use it?
-Is the facility clean? This goes without saying.
-Does the dog day care have good ventilation? Good ventilation curbs smells and airborne diseases.
-Is the facility dog-proofed? I.e. are there any exposed wires begging to be chewed? Are there any nails sticking out? Are outlets covered when not in use?
-What are the dog day care's health policies? Which vaccinations does the daycare require? Does the facility keep track of vaccination due dates or do they rely on the owner?
-Does the facility allow surprise inspections from dog owners? You should be suspicious of daycares or kennels that require appointments for visits.
