How do you reconcile a full-time job with having a dog? Dog daycares promise a solution. However, the topic divides dog lovers. What some see as the ideal accommodation for their four-legged friends, others condemn as irresponsibility. Whether a dog daycare is suitable for you and what you should consider are discussed here.

Dog Daycare: Detrimental to the Relationship with the Dog?

For many dog owners, daycare seems like the perfect solution to their daily dilemma. However, not every dog lover endorses dog daycares. Even experienced dog enthusiasts express concerns. Critical voices, such as dog trainer Martin Rutter, particularly criticize a loss of bond between owner and dog. The criticism makes sense: spending very little time with your dog makes it challenging to build a relationship with them. While your furry friend needs contact with other dogs, not every dog feels comfortable in a larger group permanently.

Whether a dog daycare is the right solution cannot be answered categorically but depends on several factors. Despite all the obligations that daily life brings, you should always consider what is best for your dog. After all, you know them best.

How to Recognize a Good Dog Daycare

Have you already decided on a dog daycare? We have gathered the most important tips to help you find the ideal daycare for your four-legged friend.

The Idea Behind Dog Daycares

You are likely familiar with the problem from your own experience: if the dog cannot accompany you, and there’s no one available to watch them, the furry friend has to stay alone. For two or three hours, that’s okay, but entire workdays are too much even for the calmest dog. Many dog lovers forego having a dog to spare them daily long periods of solitude.

In recent years, an offering has emerged to address the dilemma of working dog lovers, aiming to reconcile having a dog with a job. Dog daycares aim to put an end to the conscience conflict faced by many dog owners since their four-legged companions no longer have to be alone in the mornings. While you attend to your professional obligations, your dog goes through their daily program—up to five days a week.

The concept is similar to that of a daycare center for children. During your absence, your furry friend is cared for and attended to alongside other dogs. Typically, you drop off your canine companion in the morning at the dog daycare and pick them up after work. Some facilities offer an additional pick-up and drop-off service for an extra fee. This option has real advantages if the daycare and your workplace are not conveniently located on the same route.

Comprehensive Care for the Workweek

The hours of dog care are tailored to an average workday. Typically, you can drop off your furry friend no earlier than 7 a.m. and pick them up no later than 6 p.m. Exceptions are not ruled out—provided they are discussed in advance and compensated accordingly.

Some providers distinguish between half-day and full-day care, each billed differently. You can also determine the number of days your dog attends daycare. If there are days when you return home early or find other ways to cover, you can incorporate that into your planning. However, there is often a minimum number of days per week that must be booked.

Pay attention not only to the care times but also to the pickup times: in some daycares, there is a kind of rest period around lunchtime during which dogs cannot be picked up. If this period coincides with your quitting time, it could be inconvenient.

Keep in mind that you cannot rely on your daycare for the entire year. Dog caregivers also need vacations, which they usually implement as business holidays. During this period, the facility is closed, and you must look for alternative care.

Which Conditions Your Dog Must Meet

The answer to whether your four-legged friend is suitable for daycare depends primarily on your dog’s temperament and condition. Whether big or small, every dog breed is generally welcome. Ultimately, the daycare management decides on the acceptance of your dog. Several conditions must be met for this.

In addition to basic obedience, your furry friend must get along with other dogs. Otherwise, there would be constant problems within the group during care.

It is essential that your dog:

To protect against unforeseen costs, daycare operators always secure themselves with the owner’s insurance coverage. For this reason, you must provide proof of dog liability insurance for your dog’s admission. This insurance provides necessary coverage, even outside of daycare, in case your dog causes property damage or injures someone.

Apart from sick dogs, there are several other “special cases” that may not be readily accepted by every daycare. To prevent unintended pregnancies, mature male dogs are usually required to be neutered. Female dogs often should not be in heat. Pregnant females are also often not accepted in many daycares.

Some providers also offer the service of individual care—such as for socially incompatible or sick dogs. This exclusive service is billed accordingly at a higher rate.

What the dog daycare provides and the costs you’ll incur

For a 5-day care period, you can expect to pay at least $250 per month on average. What your dog receives can vary greatly. The majority of daycares offer a mix of free play and nap times, walks, and other activities. Typically, your dog stays with the pack throughout the day. Depending on staffing capabilities, some daycares allow additional individual extras to be added, including activities tailored to your dog’s preferences, such as fetching, as well as individual training for obedience. Vet visits can also be arranged by the daycare team for an additional fee.

The number of dogs admitted to a daycare can vary significantly. Anything from 10 to 50 dogs is possible. The group size depends on the available space and staff. With a larger group, sufficient spatial separation options are important.

The costs for daycare can vary widely. This is influenced by regional factors and the individual scope of the dog sitting, i.e., the daily program. Assuming a full-day, 5-day care, the lower limit is around $200 per month. However, depending on the daycare, costs can easily be more than double that amount.

Make Contact and Visit the Daycare

Once you’ve found an appealing daycare, you should get an idea of the facilities and the team. Each daycare handles introductory appointments in its way. Some providers initially only invite the dog’s owner, while others also want to meet the furry guest directly.

If both sides are interested in admission, a trial day follows. This day not only reveals compatibility with the existing group but also shows whether your dog adapts well to the situation and finds its place in the group.

Trial and error: Once you have gained initial experience with a dog daycare, you can evaluate the results. Is it going well, or do you notice negative changes? No solution is eternal, and there are always alternatives. We are confident that you will make the right decision!