If you’re at the point in your dog parenthood where you need to start sending your dog to a doggy daycare, ensure you take the time to choose a good one.
While not all dogs benefit from doggy daycare, those who do will thoroughly enjoy their time with other dogs. However, even these dogs won’t benefit from an overcrowded, unregulated, unsupervised space that uses correction or punishment tools.
Most dog trainers are wary of doggy daycares, as the bad ones can significantly worsen your dog’s behavior issues. So, what makes a doggy daycare good or bad? Pay attention to the red and green flags described below.
The facility uses correction/punishment tools or dominance-based approach
Red flags to watch out for include the use of corrective collars (e-collars, prong collars), squirt bottles, and shaker cans, yelling at dogs, and physical corrections (pushing, pinching, strangling, pinning down). Also, be wary when terms such as dominance, pack leadership, and respect are used.
Why it’s a red flag: These approaches are outdated and not used by modern dog trainers or veterinary behaviorists. They go against the latest science and can result in long-term behavioral issues.
What do we want instead: Look for a facility that states they use force-free, positive reinforcement-based methods.
Things to ask your doggy daycare: How do you deal with dogs who misbehave? What rewards and corrections do you use?
Too many dogs, too little room, and too few staff.
Red flags:
- the space is too small
- it is too overcrowded with dogs;
- it is loud and rowdy and there is no space for dogs to chill away from the action;
- dogs are unsupervised or there is not enough stuff, so fights and roughhousing happen a lot.
- there is no separation between dogs of different sizes, energy levels and play styles
Why it’s a red flag:
For many dogs, being stuck in a small space with other dogs is stressful and way too overwhelming. The lack of space and dogs of different energy levels lumped together will end up constantly bumping into each other and eventually engaging in conflict, fighting, and territorial aggression.
Lack of dog handlers supervising dogs will end up with dogs getting into accidents, fights etc.
What do we want instead:
We are looking for a doggy daycare with multiple spaces (yards): several play areas, chill areas, etc. We also want a facility that separates dogs by size, age, energy level, etc.
Additionally, it’s important to us that there are enough staff members who consistently supervise dog interactions and have the ability to prevent potential conflicts before they occur. i.e., ideally 1 handler per 5 dogs.
Things to ask your doggy daycare: Do you have a limit on how many dogs you accept? How many dogs do you have per square footage? What is the ratio of dogs per handler? How are dogs supervised? Do you have an area for dogs to rest and chill? Where is the play area? Where is the chill area?
Video: An example of a daycare that had issues with the dog-per-handler ratio, as well as poorly trained staff who didn’t understand how to deal with dog fights and complicated situations in a force-free way.
Untrained Staff and Lack of Protocols
Red flags include:
- Staff not being trained to work with dogs using force-free methods; a lack of understanding of dog body language;
- Absence of established protocols for breaking up dog fights or other accidents; lack of first aid training;
- Using harmful methods such as yelling, kicking dogs, pulling or choking by the collar, and chasing around.
- A place with low wages that primarily hires young, most likely seasonal staff. Young, inexperienced, underpaid employees are less likely to be trained and provide quality services.
Why it’s a Red Flag:
For a trained professional, any dog fight or escalated situation is obvious before it even happens. By the way dogs approach each other, look at each other, or act (aka body language), we can predict whether the encounter will be positive or negative. Almost all fights can be prevented if the handler can read the dog’s body language and follow an established protocol on how to interrupt this type of situation.
What We Want Instead:
Dog handlers in the facility are trained using force-free methods. They are trained to watch and understand canine body language and behavior. There are protocols in place for each situation (dog fights, rough play getting out of hand, dogs not listening, etc.).
Things to Ask Your Doggy Daycare: How is your staff trained? How do you deal with shy and sensitive dogs? How do you deal with dog fights? Is your staff trained to read the dog’s body language? Is your staff trained in CPR/FirstAid?
Another video example is a doggy daycare, which has quite a few dogs for a small space and there isn’t much for the dogs to do. Unless this facility has another area for the dogs to hang out, this is unacceptable. They also use improper corrections with the dogs, but at least they have more than one handler, which is a good thing.
You are not allowed to tour the daycare facility during operational hours
If for any reason the management refuses to show you the facility (claiming they are too busy or they don’t want to distract the dogs, etc.), this is a huge red flag.
Why It’s a Red Flag:
If a facility is safe, clean, properly fitted, and not overcrowded, there is no reason they wouldn’t want to show it to you. They want you as a client, so they should be interested in showing you how cool their place is. If they deny touring the doggy daycare during work hours, that means they don’t want you to see something that might make you unhappy.
What to look at when touring the facility
Is it overcrowded? Are dogs supervised? How many dog handlers are with the dogs right now? Is it clean? Is it safe? How small/big is the space? Are dogs separated into groups based on size, play style, etc.? What are the different areas for dogs to interact with? Is there a rest area? Is the rest area separate from the play area?
‘Boring’ space and lack of mental or physical enrichment
I hate to break it to you, but playing with other dogs for hours is not what your dog needs. Most dogs enjoy multiple activities: exploring and sniffing around, running and chasing, digging and chewing, as well as solving mental puzzles.
Red flags for the doggy daycare facility include a barren space that looks like the worst dog park; a space with nothing for dogs to do, except chase or play with each other.
Why it’s a red flag:
Dogs get into trouble when they are bored. If they are surrounded by dozens of dogs in an empty, boring space, the trouble they will likely get into is fighting or learning bad behaviors.
What do we want instead:
We want fun things to happen to our dogs during their time in the expensive doggy daycare: multiple areas with different activities, different surfaces, several play areas etc.
Things to ask your doggy daycare: What mental or physical enrichment you provide besides dog play?
Check out this example, they have separate areas for large and small dogs, and handlers not only superwise but also provide enrichment for dogs. It is a little bit loud in the facility and that can be stressful for some dogs, but a scheduled downtime is very helpful.
Multiple dogs showing stress & anxiety signals
You visit a doggy daycare and see dogs cowering, low postures, tucked tails, panting, whale eyes (wide eyes showing the white part of the eye), pacing – these are red flags for a dog being overly stressed, anxious, and overstimulated.
Why it’s a red flag:
Most dog’s bites and fights happen when dog’s are anxious, fearful or stressed (and not because they are alphas ;-). So if you see lots of anxious dogs in a closed space, you are guaranteed to see dog fights. Regular fights might lead to dog developing aggression and fear towards other dogs.
What do we want instead:
Handlers in doggy daycare are trained to recognize anxiety in dogs, and they have ways to give those dogs space to decompress and relax away from a stressful environment.
Things to ask your doggy daycare: Ask to come and watch other dogs interact before brining your own dog. If you see too many anxious and stressed dogs, this daycare may not be the best option for you.
All Dogs Accepted Without Assessment
Facilities that accept all dogs without prior assessment are more interested in maximizing profit rather than providing a safe and quality environment for their canine clients.
Red flags include not inquiring about your dog’s health history, proof of vaccination, behavioral issues, bite history, play style, etc.
Why It’s a Red Flag:
A truly professional facility will separate dogs into groups based on size, age, temperament, energy levels, and play style. Without an assessment, all the dogs are lumped together, and some dogs may suffer as a result.
Dogs with behavioral issues might not be ideal candidates for doggy daycare. If the facility genuinely cares about the dogs’ wellbeing and safety, they will inquire about bite history, whether the dog is reactive or fearful, or whether they have any health issues (as health issues can potentially cause reactivity towards other dogs).
What We Want Instead:
We desire a place that cares about its clients’ well-being and hence screens dogs before accepting them and, if necessary, refuses some dogs and refers them to a veterinary behaviorist or dog trainer.
Things to Ask Your Doggy Daycare: What is your screening process? Are you required to show proof of vaccination? Do you accept dogs that have a previous history of biting? When was you last case of kennel cough in the day care?
Look at This Example in the video: This is a dog being introduced to the doggy daycare in a safe manner. This should also be part of the evaluation to determine whether the dog is safe and comfortable enough to be in a daycare to begin with. In this video, the dog showed lots of stress signals (panting, tucked tail, air snapping, pacing, avoiding other dogs, etc.). If this dog repeatedly shows the same behaviors, she is not a good candidate for daycare and might even become reactive towards other dogs if left unsupervised there right away.
Your dog doesn’t like it or acts strangely before or after
Red flags:
- Your dog doesn’t want to stay in daycare or go back the next day
- When you arrive they are not excited to greet handlers and avoid staff
- After a day in daycare, when you pick up your dog, doesn’t seem relaxed and tired, but instead aroused and antsy
- Your dog acts strange or their behavior changes in general
Why It’s a Red Flag:
After a day in a good doggy daycare your dog should be tired, relaxed and happy. If they show any signs of stress (being restless, panting a lot etc) that means either they didn’t get enough rest during the day (especially if the place is loud and small) or maybe there were too many dogs bugging them or handlers didn’t treat your dog nicely.
Other Important Red Flags
- There is no scheduled downtime
- Lack of structure in general (how is playtime monitored, how many dogs per playgroup, etc.)
- No set schedule and routine (play vs rest time, feeding time etc)
- Play area is not separated from the chill area.
- There are no dog beds and areas for dogs to chill.
- Extremely low wages for staff.
- The place is dirty or smelly.
- Staff who can’t explain cleaning and emergency protocols.
- Not asking for proof of vaccination.
- Lack of understanding of communicable issues/diseases.
- Only indoor play area.
- Small dogs mixed with large dogs.
- Defensive attitudes when you ask any questions.
- Lack of video reports or posting to social media.
- Now web cam available for clients to watch their dogs
- Are they covering the vet bill if dog gets sick while in daycare
If you are looking for a force-free day care facility in San Francisco, check out Godogpro.com. If you are looking for private pet sitting in SF & San Mateo county and want to work with me, check my pet sitting services pages.