What is Doggy Day Care?

Doggy day care is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, despite its very American sounding name. Originating in the United States, doggy day care facilities began appearing in the UK about a decade ago. At first, they mainly served major towns and cities but are now popping up all over the place. This is great news for dog owners across the country. So, what is doggy day care?

In a nutshell, it’s a bit like a creche for dogs. It can be used as a short-term boarding option for when owners need to go to work for the day or know they will be out for a few hours and don’t want their beloved pooch left alone. It differs from a kennel service in that rarely is overnight accommodation offered and the focus of day care is exercise, fun, activities and entertaining. Consider Dog Day Care Surrey to look after your pet.

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Rather than being left alone at home, a dog day care facility can offer exciting play equipment, outdoor play areas and a range of dog-friendly facilities for the ultimate enjoyment of any canine companion. Special care can be taken when introducing nervous or unsociable dogs, but the majority of dogs thrive in this playful environment. A dog’s personality must be taken into account before deciding if this rambunctious atmosphere would be beneficial or negative for your pet.

Day care for dogs is basically a pet-sitting service with specialist doggy equipment. There will be multiple dogs on the premises as it is not a private or one-to-one service. However, there should always be a sufficient staff to dog ratio so that every animal is kept happy and cared for.

Before your dog spends their first session at day care, you will be asked to visit with your pet. This gives your dog the chance to meet staff and for them to get to know your dog. They will be assessed on how suitable they are for the environment, looking for sociability and any nervousness. Staff will ask to see health records and evidence of up to date vaccinations. This is the perfect opportunity for you to ask any questions that you might have about the care of your pet while they are there.

If everyone is happy, including your dog, they will then be enrolled in the centre and you can book your pooch’s day care days. Whether you need regular scheduled working hours care, want to book a place in advance or might need last minute, short notice care, your centre will accommodate you where possible.

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Benefits of doggy day care

There are loads of great benefits for well-adjusted, happy and confident dogs who love to meet new people and play with other dogs. A day care centre can often be cheaper than a private pet sitter and offers more stimuli for entertaining your dog in your absence. Day care options are also great for allowing your dog to burn off all that excessive energy.

If your schedule means that you can’t always spend time with your dog or means them being left for longer than a few hours at a time, day care is a great option. For shy, wary or nervous dogs though, it might prove a stressful experience that they just don’t take to.