The Essentials of a Dog Daycare Checklist
Just like parents wouldn’t send their child to school without their lunch and book bag, dog owners should pack a daycare checklist for their furry friend. This list will help ensure your dog has everything they need while staying at the boarding facility.
Many dogs have medical needs and require medications while they are away from home. Bringing these medications is crucial for their comfort and safety.
1. Feeding
When selecting a dog daycare and boarding facility, tour the premises for safety precautions like non-skid flooring and the ratio of dogs to staff members. It is also important to find out how they will communicate with you during your dog’s stay – if they offer daily reports, emails, remote webcams, and/or monthly updates.
Ask about their feeding and bathing procedures, including whether they have indoor or outdoor potty areas and what times the dogs are fed and taken for bathroom breaks or walks. Maintaining a pet’s normal routine is essential to reduce anxiety during boarding or kennel stays.
Bring some of your pet’s favorite toys and bedding items to make their stay more comfortable. Some facilities provide beds, blankets, and/or crates for dogs to feel safe during boarding, but bringing your own can help ease your dog’s transition. Just be sure the crate is machine-washable and clearly labeled with your dog’s name. You will also want to bring cleaning supplies, such as poop bags and stain remover spray.
2. Walking
Dogs need to be walked and exercised, just like people do. This helps reduce boredom, which can lead to destructive behaviors. It also ensures that dogs are well hydrated.
Walks are also a great time to teach the dog a new trick, such as fetch or obedience training. This reinforces the training and gives them something to look forward to when they return home.
If the facility has outdoor play areas, make sure dog kennels near me to tour them and that they are clean and safe. Look for fenced in areas, outdoor water features and a cleaning schedule. Also, ask the daycare if they offer outdoor time for potty breaks. This will help prevent lobby accidents and reinforces your dog’s at-home elimination routine.
Ask about the staff-to-dog ratio at the daycare. The lower the ratio, the more individualized attention your dog will receive. A good ratio is one staff member for every 10 dogs. They should also have clear lines of communication with pet parents to provide updates and answers to questions.
3. Medication
Dogs with behavioral issues can have trouble adjusting to a new environment, such as a boarding facility. Find out whether your daycare can address any issues by working with you on a behavior modification plan. This could include short, controlled separations at home that can be used as a training tool to help overcome separation anxiety or fear while your dog is in care.
If a dog requires medication during their stay, make sure your facility has a system in place to administer it. This could include pill boxes, pill pockets or syringes with clearly written instructions about dosage and schedule. It may also be helpful to keep a log of the time medication is administered for accountability purposes.
Finally, a dog’s stay at daycare can be more pleasant if they have a few familiar items with them, such as a chew toy that smells like their owner. This can reduce their stress and help them settle in more quickly.
4. Cleanup
Cleanliness is critical to maintaining the health and safety of all pets. Pets and humans are susceptible to disease when contaminated surfaces remain unwashed or improperly disinfected. Proper cleaning procedures include washing with a detergent, followed by disinfectant. A soiled area left for too long can produce ammonia, which affects the eyes and respiratory tract of animals and humans.
It’s important to ask about the facilities and staff if you’re considering daycare or boarding. Tour the facility, observe staff-pet interactions and make sure the environment feels like a good fit for your dog.
Check for fresh water, clean bedding, and enough room for each animal. Housing too many dogs in a small space can lead to behavioral issues. It’s also important to inquire about how they keep in touch with owners, such as through daily reports or remote webcams. Also, ask if they compost or otherwise recycle pet waste. This can be a greener alternative to landfills and helps to reduce the spread of germs.