Doggy day care and professional dog walkers offer a vital service for many caring owners who are unable to fulfil all the needs of their beloved pet. Dogs need to be walked and kept stimulated so if an owner needs to work long hours and the dog is left alone then sending them to a doggy day care centre or out for a walk with a professional dog walker is a good way to fulfil these needs. So how do you choose which doggy day care centre or is right for your dog?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does your doggy day care centre have the correct licences for your area?
- Does your doggy day care centre have public liability insurance?
- Do they hold relevant qualifications in dog care and welfare?
- Do they hold qualifications in canine first aid?
- Do they use reward-based training methods?
- Are you asked to fill in a detailed registration form, which includes you and your vet’s emergency contact details?
- Do they ask you to provide proof that your dog is up to date with all its vaccinations including kennel cough?
- Do they provide an initial assessment to make sure your dog fits in with the other dogs in their care?
- Do they ask if your pet is neutered?
- Are you allowed to look around or go out for a walk before committing your dog?
- Are you happy that your dog will be well provided for with food, clean water, shade, activities, and toys?
- What is the maximum number of dogs that your dog will be walked with and are you confident that the walker can maintain proper control of a group that size?
- During transport will your dog be suitably restrained in a crate or car harness?
- How long will your dog be transported and walked and will your dog ever be left unattended in or outside the vehicle?
- Has your dog suddenly shown wary or aggressive behaviour towards other dogs or people?
- Has your dog begun to pull badly on the lead and show excitable behaviour?
- Does your dog seem withdrawn and you feel that their behaviour has changed?
- Has your dog received unexplained physical injuries?
- Is your dog no longer excited to go out for a walk?
Not all dogs enjoy being with lots of other dogs in a busy environment especially if they are getting on in years, have a medical problem or are nervous souls. They may prefer to stay at home with someone they know popping in at lunch times to say hello and to let them out into the garden.