User:Jlippiner/Sandbox

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DOG DAYCARE
While the specific offerings of each daycare can vary widely, they are all founded on the same basic concept. A dog daycare is a supervised environment where dogs can play off-leash with other dogs from other families. Like child daycare centers, a dog daycare center caters to busy dog owners who want to provide their dog with exercise and playtime in a safe, controlled and constantly monitored environment during the day while they are at work or tending to other matters. Dog daycares offer their services for the entirety of the day, allowing flexibility for the owners and their busy schedules. In addition to daycare services, many dog daycare centers provide add-on services such as grooming, training and night boarding. Dog daycares often charge a daily rate for the service varying from only a few dollars to over $40 per day depending on the size of the staff and facility and often offer discounts for multi-day packages purchased in advance. The number of dogs at these facilities ranges from 10 dogs to upwards of 75 dogs and the facilities often include indoor and outdoor play areas with dog toys and balls and in some cases a swimming pool for the dogs. According to Oppenheimer Equity Research, $2.4 billion of the total pet industry is related to pet services including daycare, night boarding, grooming and training, having grown at an estimated 26% compound annual growth rate since 1996 and dog daycare is the second fastest growing sector within this industry according to American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (APPMA).

Dog Daycare (a.k.a Doggie Daycare, Dog Hotel, Dog Boutique)
from the American Boarding Kennels Association

The trend in American society today seems to be work, work, work, and this requires leaving the loyal family dog at home for extended periods of time. Owners then come home to find a stressed out pooch, rampant destruction, either of the house, or the yard, and neighbors who complain of barking and howling due to separation anxiety. After working your 10 to 12 hours, you then need to exercise your pet— even in inclement weather. You’ve heard about dog daycare. You’re thinking about it, but are you sure it’s right for you and your dog? This pamphlet is designed to give some insight into the growing trend of dog daycare facilities and their benefits, to help you decide if daycare is for you and your dog, and to help you choose the best option for your dog’s needs.

So what is dog daycare?
It works just like daycare for children. Drop your dog off in the morning on the way to work, and while you slave away, your pampered pooch is pampered indeed! Dog daycare is an organized, controlled and monitored environment, in which a group of friendly dogs, from multiple families, can interact and play throughout the day in an enclosed building or yard. Depending on both your dog’s activity level and the curriculum set by the daycare owners, your dog may enjoy the day by playing with other dogs, playing with people, inside or outside, or whiling away the hours ensconced on somebody’s couch, getting loving attention. There is a daycare for every kind of dog, and it’s important to find one that fits the needs of your dog the best.

How do I know if daycare is right for my dog?
Most dogs that have had prior social experiences with other dogs will enjoy attending daycare. You may not know if your dog is a good fit for daycare until you apply and the facility performs its temperament test. Professional daycare managers will provide an assessment of your dog’s fit to their facility and recommend the best way to integrate them into the routine of the existing pack. Daycare is not a fit for all dogs. Some dogs do fail temperament testing due to aggression that is often fear based. Other dogs pass testing, but exhibit more stress than enjoyment when attending daycare. Some of these issues can be resolved with behavior training, so discuss your dog’s needs with the daycare manager.

How much does dog daycare cost?
Costs can vary widely, from a few dollars to $30 or more a day, depending on the provider and whether the daycare is operated out of a private home or a multi-staffed, full service facility. Some daycares offer pre-pay packages and others are simply pay as you go. Don’t select your daycare by cost alone. The lowest priced daycare may not be suitable for your dog. Facility specifics

A fully staffed facility offers much for a social dog. The number of dogs participating each day at these facilities often ranges from less than 10 to 80 or more, all ready to make friends. Trained staff keeps the dogs busy with indoor or outdoor play, or even, in some cases, happily munching snacks (healthy, of course!) and watching movies made just for the entertainment of dogs. Activities might include “hide and seek’’, or “tag’’, or anything that canine minds can come up with. Many facilities provide a variety of toys and balls to enjoy, and some even have swimming pools!

How do I know if the daycare facility is safe for my dog?
When asking questions of potential facilities, confirm that trained staff supervises each playgroup at all times. Inquire as to how many dogs each staff member supervises. This ratio can vary from as little as 1:10 to as many as 1:20 based on the comfort level of the operator. It will depend on the physical set-up, specific group of dogs at play and the experience level of the staff.

Ask how dogs are separated into playgroups. To minimize risk of injury, dogs should be separated based on play style, size and age. Inquire as to how dog incidents are handled and how many injuries have occurred in the facility. Keep in mind that accidents and injuries can happen in all facilities. Dog daycare is like a child’s playground, and by allowing dogs to play together there is a risk of injury. Make sure you are comfortable with the testing process at the facility and their responses regarding handling of dog incidents. Be sure you are comfortable that escape risks are minimal at the facility. You should see multiple doors within the facility to the playrooms and secure high fences around outdoor play yards. Ask the daycare what their policy is regarding dogs wearing collars during play. If collars are worn, what is their safety plan if dogs’ mouths get caught during play? If collars are not worn, how are dogs identified? You’ll find that your professional daycare managers are happy to answer all of these questions and explain their safety policies and their reasons for them. Staff is trained to deal with any outbreak of aggression that might result, and most facilities have a standing agreement with a local veterinarian should an emergency arise. In all daycares, dog owners should present proof of current vaccinations, and all should be healthy to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and parasites. Dogs are temperament tested in most cases to ensure the safety of all the canine attendees.

US Doggie Daycares
Dog daycare facilities can be found in almost every state (and in some cases on every continent!)