Is Dog Daycare a Good Idea? Pros and Cons of Dog Daycare [2022]

Dog daycare sounds like a great idea. We humans generally like the idea of our “fur kids” running around in a “play group” all day filled with games, activities and snacks.

We don’t like to picture our dogs bored on the couch. Or, God forbid, locked in a CRATE. (We’re kidding, we’re a fan of crates!)

But … dog daycares are all very different and every dog is unique. It’s important to think about dog daycare from your dog’s perspective, and we really mean YOUR dog.

What might sound like fun for you might actually be incredibly stressful or scary for your dog.

It’s not so simple as “does he love other dogs?” Or, “Is he high energy?”

IN THIS POST:

• What are the different kinds of daycares for dogs?
• Who should consider dog daycare?
• Questions to ask the dog daycare owner or staff
• Pros and cons of dog daycare
• Are doggy day camps good for socialization?

What are the different kinds of daycares for dogs?

Most common form of dog daycare

A dog daycare is most often an overnight dog boarding facility that also offers “day care” where dog owners can leave their dogs for a few hours during the day.

There is usually an outdoor fenced area or a large indoor room where groups of dogs can move and play off leash.

The number of dogs in the daycare varies greatly depending on the facility. Some might keep the groups to 5 to 10 dogs. Others might include groups of 20, 30 or even 40+ dogs! Some might have one large playroom while others have multiple play areas for different groups of dogs.

Smaller in-home dog daycares

There are smaller dog daycares managed by dog lovers in their own homes. These are obviously much smaller and the owner might take in 3-4 dogs or even just 1 dog.

Lindsay used to offer this service and would take the dogs on multiple walks throughout the day paired with plenty of time lounging around and a bit of training and play.

The owners would drop their dogs off in the morning and pick them up later in the day after work or running errands. Overall, it seemed to be a good experience for everyone.

See our post: The best dog daycares

*Enjoying this article? Get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Click Here

Dog daycares that do off-leash hiking or field trips

Also growing in popularity are off-leash dog hiking groups or “field trips” which is a more adventurous form of dog walking and gives the dogs a chance to socialize in a small group.

Typically, the dogs are picked up in the morning by the business and then dropped off in the afternoon.

Who should consider dog daycare?

If you work long hours and you have a social, active dog, it would make sense that you might want to consider leaving him at a dog daycare.

If you’re considering dog daycare for your dog, think about it from your dog’s point of view. Make sure it is something that is truly in the best interest of your dog.

IN GENERAL, larger dog daycare facilities are potentially a good option for:

• Medium and high energy dogs with good social skills who enjoy other dogs
• Dogs that are confident enough to stand up for themselves
• Dogs with a high tolerance for rude behavior from other excited dogs

Some dogs will not enjoy doggy daycare

If you have a low-key, mellow dog, he might be happier at home lounging around on the couch in a calm environment or even staying in his kennel or crate. All that activity at dog daycare is stressful for some dogs!

Dogs enjoy a routine, and as long as you’re providing your dog with a long walk every day and some daily training and interaction, you shouldn’t feel guilty about leaving your dog at home while you go to work.

We do not buy that myth of “if you work long hours, you shouldn’t have a dog.” That’s just not true.

There are lots of different dogs and plenty of them would gladly take up space on your couch all day while you’re at work.

Lindsay’s Lab mix Ace is the perfect example. She adopted him when she worked 10-hour shifts at a newspaper.

She would walk or run with him for an hour every single day before work. They never missed a day. Lindsay had an hour off in the middle of her shift where she would come home, quickly eat dinner and let Ace out for a 10-min walk.

Some dogs are too wild for dog daycare!

On the other hand, some dogs are extremely hyper, to say the least (Remy!).

While running around all day playing at a dog daycare might SOUND like a good idea for your boxer, it might actually be too exciting for some high-energy dogs.

Dogs that are naturally nervous, anxious and INTENSE often do better in a calm environment. They don’t necessarily need encouragement to be MORE hyped up.

For example, Lindsay’s weimaraner Remy loves other dogs and he has unlimited physical energy.

She likes the idea of sending him to a large daycare, but that kind of environment is too overwhelming for him for long periods.

*Enjoying this article? Get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Click Here

Remy enjoys playing with other dogs, but after about a half-hour he starts to get mentally overwhelmed. This happens at the dog park too or when he plays with friends’ dogs.

When Remy gets overwhelmed, he tries to move away from other dogs and ignore them. That’s when Lindsay knows it’s time to leave the dog park. If dogs continue to push his limits, he will snap to tell them “KNOCK IT OFF.”

This is good dog communication, but Lindsay doesn’t trust the daycare staff to recognize when her dog needs a break.

She hates the thought of Remy needing to lash out in order to defend himself!

The last thing Lindsay wants is for Remy to be labeled “aggressive” for standing up for himself.

TIP: Ask the dog daycare about smaller and shorter “playgroups”

Some dog daycare facilities are good about catering to your dog’s specific needs.

This is a good solution for Remy.

The dog boarding and daycare facility Lindsay uses offers shorter play options.

This is a good setup for Remy because the daycare staff knows he does better with frequent breaks. Remy goes into a kennel area by himself, sort of like a “timeout” to turn it down a notch! Then he goes back to play with the group again once he’s had some time to wind down.

Which brings us to …

Questions to ask the dog daycare owner or staff

Here are some sample questions to ask the staff to help you decide if dog daycare is a good idea for your dog. We don’t mean to go crazy and ask every single question but to consider your unique dog and get the information you need to make the best decision.

Also make sure to tour the area where your dog will be. Observe the behavior of the dogs and the staff, the noise, the cleanliness, etc.

Questions to ask a dog daycare:

There are not necessarily “right” or “wrong” answers to these. It all depends on your dog and your comfort level.

1. How many dogs are in each group?

2. What is the typical staff to dog ratio?

3. How are dogs evaluated?

4. What kind of training does your staff go through?

5. Do you combine large dogs with small dogs?

6. How long are the play periods? Are there breaks? How long are the breaks?

7. Are there toys out in the group play?

8. What is your process for disciplining a dog?

9. What is your process if there is a dog fight?

10. What happens if the dog is not a good fit for group play?

11. What kind of feedback will you be able to give me about my dog’s behavior?

*Enjoying this article? Get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Click Here

Pros and cons of doggy daycare

What are the benefits of doggy daycare?

• Provides your dog with physical exercise and mental activity during the day
• Helpful option if your dog does not like to be home alone
• Decreases destructive behavior in your home
• Decreases barking
• Your dog will likely come home mentally exhausted and sleep
• Your dog can learn social skills
• You won’t need to let your dog out mid-day
• Helpful if you don’t have time to walk your dog that day
• Helps provide your dog with exercise and activities if you have a busy schedule (but nothing can replace a long walk with you!)
• Good option for some puppies who need extra potty breaks and socialization

Is dog daycare bad for dogs?

• Too exciting and overwhelming for some dogs
• Some dogs will be mentally exhausted due to stress or fear and not because they had “fun”
• Cost adds up (on average $25+ per day)
• Your dog could learn bad behaviors such as jumping on people, being annoying to other dogs, growling at other dogs if he constantly has to defend himself, etc.
• He could be bullied or injured
• Your dog could start a fight with another dog
• You can’t control the behavior of your dog, other dogs or the staff
• Some people will use it to replace walking their dog but walks are still very important
• Your dog could pick up fleas from other dogs or an illness like kennel cough

Are doggy day camps good for socialization?

Thank you for those who posted feedback earlier on That Mutt’s Facebook page when I asked for the pros and cons of dog daycare. (There’s no right answer.)

Some dog daycare feedback from That Mutt readers on Facebook:

“I take Sasha to doggy day care either when it’s been too gross to go outside for many days, or I have to work longer than normal. I like it because it wears her out and she gets to socialize with other dogs. I’ve not had a bad experience with our day care, all the dogs go through an eval before they are allowed to participate.” – Michelle K.

“I believe it is an introvert vs extrovert dog question. Some love it, some would not. Gotta be a good place, of course.” – Jana R. from the blog Dawg Business

IN GENERAL:

I see the value in dog daycare for a lot of people and dogs.

It truly comes down to knowing your unique dog and finding the right dog daycare facility that meets your dog’s needs.

What do the rest of you think, is dog daycare a good idea?

Please share this post with anyone considering dog daycare.

-Lindsay & Barbara

*Enjoying this article? Get realistic dog training tips emailed once a week. Click Here

Further Resources:

• When to intervene at the dog park – That Mutt
• Are dog parks a good idea?

Lindsay Stordahl is the founder of That Mutt. She writes about dog training, dog exercise and feeding a healthy raw diet.

Barbara Rivers writes regularly for That Mutt. She is certified in raw dog food nutrition from Dogs Naturally Magazine and the author of three ebooks about balanced raw dog food. She is a blogger at K9s Over Coffee.