For those of us that have not yet, or will never, take the plunge into human parenthood, there’s someone just as important that we have to take care of: our dogs.
A little over one third of house holds in the United States have a dog, and all of these households know that grooming for dogs makes everyone happy.
After all, our dogs feel things too. They overheat, they don’t like getting the tangles out of their hair, and they scream just like us when their nails break.
Here are three things to consider when choosing a doggy daycare for your precious pooch.
1. Is cage-free boarding is right for you?
The idea of cage-free boarding seems glamorous – just a bunch of puppers running through a field, throwing their tennis balls back and forth and begging the overseer for treats. But each dog has its own personality, and interacting with other dogs might be difficult for them. I know my 10 lbs. Shih-poo likes to pretend she is a ferocious wolf, and that would get her into trouble in a cage-free boarding situation.
If you have adopted a shelter dog, it might have poor socialization skills due to past trauma. You can’t blame him for what terrible humans did to him, so it’s best not to put him in a situation where he might hurt other dogs or himself. If you have a small dog, it might be better to keep her away from the giant doggos that might accidentally step on her. Your dog is unique, so search for the caretaker that is right for him or her.
2. Do you need your doggy day care to have grooming for dogs, too?
Us puppy parents live busy lives. If you want to utilize your time wisely, consider finding a daycare for pets that also offers grooming for dogs. You won’t have to schedule an extra appointment or go out of your way to the doggy barber shop. If your pup sees a specific human for his daycare needs regularly, he’ll probably be comfortable with that person cutting his hair and trimming his nails, as well. That way, you can drop your puppy off to play with his best puppy friends, and he’ll come home happy and looking sharp, too.
3. Do you need to consider specialized puppy care?
Just like humans, some dogs have special needs. We can’t communicate with our dogs as well as we can with human children, so it’s best to find your dog a place they can succeed in the beginning. If you have a rescue pet with anxiety and fear, you might want to look for a smaller shelter with calmer dogs. If you have an old pup who doesn’t move like they used to, you might want to avoid a shelter with a lot of energetic puppies. If your dog has special dietary needs, you should find a doggy daycare that will make sure your dog’s feeding process goes smoothly. You might even need to look into small dog daycare if your tiny pooch doesn’t do well around big dogs.
Our puppy children matter to us just like our human children do (I am only a puppy mom so excuse my dramatic comparison here). Don’t forget to give your puppy the love they deserve, too.