7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Doggy Daycare

You have your job and your busy daytime life, and you can’t be around for every moment of every day. Most dog owners think of their dogs as their children, and you wouldn’t just leave your children unsupervised all day, would you? If you aren’t able to find an in-home sitter for your attention-needing pup, or you would just prefer to let your dog hang out with other dogs, there is always doggy daycare! Places like Prestonwood Kennels right here in Houston are spaces where they can hang out and play while you’re at work and then you’ll reunite at the end of the workday! Now, let’s talk about some different things to consider when choosing the perfect doggy daycare for your pooch.

1. Tour a variety of facilities.

This should always be step one when looking at doggy daycares. Once you get an idea of a few places that you want to check out, touch base with the facilities to ask about tours. You want to make sure that it’s a good size and is kept nice and clean. You’ll need to make sure that the facility is as safe for your pup as you would a daycare for your child.

2. Ask about staffing levels.

You should check on how well they staff their facility. The International Boarding and Pet Care Services Association states that the ideal pet-to-staff ratio is 15 to 1. This ensures that there is enough staff for safety and supervision. You’ll also probably want to let your dog meet the staff to make sure that they’re comfortable with the people they’ll be spending the days with.

3. Do they have vet techs on staff and on-site?

This one is very important! Having a certified vet tech on staff and on location at all times will ensure the well-being of the dogs in the facility’s care. Verify that they are up to date on all relevant certifications.

4. Ask about their schedules.

Most dogs thrive on a schedule of some sort. Ask if the daycare has set play times, as well as rest times (because just like us, dogs need both).

5. Do they have a trial period?

Many of these doggy daycares do have a trial period, where they will check out your pup’s temperament and social skills. This also gives all parties involved a chance to see how your pet handles being in a new environment and without you for the day. This is something that sets certain facilities above others, as this is something that shows that they value the safety of your pet, their staff, and the other doggy guests.

6. How well-trained is the staff?

Just like you would with your child, you want to make sure the staff is properly trained to take care of your dog. Ensure that any certifications are properly held, and they should be well-trained in safety, basic care, and emergency situations or illnesses.

7. Do they group the dogs?

This one is safety related. Facilities should, ideally, space out the large and small dogs. They should also try to have playtimes with different energy level pups at different times, for the safety of all. Sometimes high-energy dogs just don’t understand their own happy strength, as I’m sure we’ve all experienced when being tackled by our own pups!

Let’s recap what we’ve gone over today: when you’re selecting the perfect doggy daycare for your pooch, you want to be sure to tour all of the facilities you’re interested in. You’ll want to make sure that the staff is equally matched with the number of dogs for optimal supervision, as well as that they’ll have a vet tech on-site at all times. You should check to see if they keep to a solid schedule and if they group dogs by size or temperament. You also want to ask about trial periods. Most of all, you will want to ensure that the staff is well-trained since that’s who will spend the most time with your pup.

We at Prestonwood Kennels would love to host your dog at our doggy daycare whenever you’re ready, so if you’re from the Houston area and want to spoil your pooch, come see us!