One of the best ways to assess any product or service is to ask those selling or providing them questions, and that applies equally when the service you are considering is dog day care. As a dog owner who cares deeply for their dog, no doubt you will be keen to find a dog day care that is friendly, has your dog’s best interests at heart, and can provide them with plenty of opportunities to socialise with other dogs, have fun, and get lots of exercise.
There are not an insignificant number of boxes that any potential dog day care centre has to tick before you decide your dog is going to attend, and rightly so. Choosing dog day care should not be done on a whim and without proper research. So, to help you narrow down any options for dog day care centres you have, and to discover more about any you may pinpoint as the one you will choose, here are seven key questions which you should ask each of them.
What training/qualifications do the staff have?
You want to be assured that people caring for your dog each day know what they are doing so this is why you want to know what qualifications and experience staff have. Most dog day care centres are happy to tell you, and indeed many openly advertise this information as it is a strong selling point.
What are the medical/inoculation requirements?
You want to ensure your dog’s health will not be at risk, so it pays for you to check that any dog day care you are considering has strict requirements for the dog attending being inoculated, spayed/neutered, and to have had flea/tick prevention treatment.
Is there a trial/assessment before committing?
This can benefit both the dog owner and the centre as both can assess whether the dog will be a good match for dog day care and vice versa. It is also a great opportunity for you to evaluate the centre’s facilities and see the staff working with other dogs to witness just how well they interact with them.
Are the dogs separated based on personality/type/size?
This might not be relevant in smaller centres but for those who have 30 or more dogs each day, it is. For those larger centres, the normal practice is to divide the dogs into smaller groups, often based on size, type, or personality so that they all receive sufficient care and attention, and that incompatible dogs are not placed together in the same group.
What activities are available for the dogs?
Key in your choice of dog day care centre will be what facilities and activities there are. The more activities which are available, the more your dog will be mentally stimulated and the more opportunities there will be for them to get lots of physical activity to keep them fit and healthy.
Does the dog day care centre have insurance?
A reputable dog day care centre will have all the necessary insurance policies, but it makes sense for you to confirm this with them. Insurance relating to accidents in the centre, medical treatment, including emergency veterinary care, plus public liability insurance should be the absolute minimum for any dog day care centre.
What are the centre’s emergency procedures?
Although extremely rare, there is always the possibility of an emergency and as such you want the reassurance that the dog day centre has robust protocols in place to deal with them. This will include emergencies related to fire, accidents such as a severe injury, or a serious medical condition occurring.