Doggy Daycare, thoughts and Considerations

There are a few concerns about doggy daycare in general for most dogs that should be taken into account when considering doggy daycare for your dog. Traditional doggy daycare relies on free-for-all style play that often leads to bad habits. It teaches dogs that other dogs are for playing and that's where all the fun is to be had. While most dog owners think of doggy daycare as a good way to socialize their dog with other dogs this isn't exactly the case. You can read more about what proper socialization looks like here. In short, socialization is more about positive exposures and that doesn't necessarily include playing or even interaction.  Below we will highlight some issues that can crop up with traditional doggy daycare.

• Unrestricted play can lead to dogs developing undesirable behaviors such as rough play, excessive barking, reactivity, or even aggression.
  • Dogs learn that other dogs are FOR playing so when they see other dogs, all they want to do is play! 
  • Dogs may develop frustration-induced behaviors like leash reactivity, barking, or pulling when they can't play with other dogs they see during walks. 
  • If a dog learns that barking and pulling on the leash will get them access to other dogs, these behaviors will become more frequent and entrenched.
• If your dog attends daycare twice a week they are spending approximately 16 hours a week at daycare playing. That means a significant amount of reinforcement is coming from other dogs.
  • In contrast, how long do you spend playing with and training your dog on a weekly basis?

Different breeds often clash when thrown into a melting pot like environment and different behavior problems can arise.

• Labradors and Golden Retrievers get excited easily might resort to big physical behaviors like humping, mouthing, and jumping due to overexcitement. 
• Herding Breeds (e.g., Border Collies, Australian Shepherds) try desperately to control other dogs by nipping and herding. This can be misinterpreted and lead to conflicts when other dogs don't follow their arbitrary rules
• Bully Breeds (e.g., Bulldogs, Boxers) Their play style can be very physical and might intimidate or upset other dogs, leading to possible aggression or fear. (Herding breeds in particular can take offense to being body slammed!!)
• Terriers have a high prey drive and can kick into overdrive when their instincts are triggered. They also think they are bigger than they are and can "bite off more than they can chew."
• Sighthounds love to run and be chased but hate being caught! Run and chase games in a group can get dangerous fast as it brings out the prey drive in many dogs!

Another consideration is the level of training the individual dog handler in charge of the playgroup may have. The entire pet industry is unregulated so there is no standard for dog behavior knowledge, number of dogs, area sizes, or equipment used. Often doggy daycares are opened by well meaning dog owners or dog groomers adding services. But without important understanding about what healthy play looks like or even basic current dog behavior knowledge some doggy daycares can be canine mosh pits with little over-sight.  

• While some daycares have robust training systems, the majority do not. Many dog handlers are young and lack formal training in dog behavior and management.
• The average handler is often a high school student or in their early 20s, with limited understanding of canine behavior and no professional training background. 
• Handlers often manage large groups of dogs, typically ranging from 10 to 25, which can be challenging and often leads to the use of aversive tools to control the dogs like squirt bottles, shaker cans, hoses, and shock collars (with and without owner permission in some cases).

Owners should thoroughly research and visit potential daycares to assess the quality of care, training of handlers, and overall environment. Maintaining open communication with daycare staff about specific needs and concerns regarding their dog’s behavior and well-being should be welcomed and encouraged. Not every dog would enjoy doggy daycare and that is okay! Finding a dog walker is a great alternative or providing enrichment in new and fun ways can keep them engaged and entertained too! Your dog is your best friend and there is nothing they would want more than to spend time with you!