How Long Should Puppy Be In Daycare
How Long Should Puppy Be In Daycare
Blog Article
How Long Can Dogs Stay in Daycare?
Many pet owners are concerned about how their dogs will adjust to a daycare environment. It is normal for some dogs to take a while to settle in, especially if they have not been to daycare before.
Providing your dog with their favorite toy, or a blanket that smells like home may help them feel more comfortable. Also, packing their own food can reduce the risk of digestive issues.
Puppies
Young dogs have a lot of energy to burn and thrive in an appropriate, well-run daycare setting. But this youthful enthusiasm is a double-edged sword, because puppies aren't yet able to self-manage long bouts of play and often need help from humans to pause and take breaks.
Puppies should be at least 12 weeks old and have their initial round of adult vaccines before starting daycare. They should also be crate trained and comfortable being left alone in a safe, crate-sized area for short periods of time.
If your puppy is nervous or shy, you may want to consider starting them in a smaller group or in an individually-supervised playroom until they're more comfortable. This will ensure that they are not overwhelmed and allows you to monitor their progress. Many puppies become more comfortable after a few days at daycare and enjoy their new surroundings. They are tired when they get home, which prevents destructive behaviors like chewing and barking.
Adults
Adult dogs that have been socialized and have good basic obedience commands can probably safely go to daycare most of the time. However, they may not benefit from it as much as a young dog would. Some older dogs may even get too tired at daycare due to their age and energy levels.
Keeping an open line of communication with your daycare provider is key. They should be making continuous behavioral assessments of your adult dog in the environment. If your dog is anxious and going through a fear period, over exposure to other dogs in a chaotic, high energy, uncontrolled environment will only breed that anxiety and reactivity and may not improve it at all.
Health is also a major factor in determining how many days your dog should be at daycare. Dogs with recent injuries or in casts or cones should not be sent to daycare. Older click the up coming web site dogs with poor health may also not be able to cope with the high energy level of daycare.
Seniors
Dogs are at their most vulnerable and susceptible to illness as they age. Keeping daycare to a minimum reduces the risk of disease or infection and allows your dog to spend more time doing activities that you enjoy together.
As your dog gets older, they may have different feelings and tolerances about their environment. An open line of communication with the daycare staff can help you assess your pet's needs as they change.
Many facilities offer an evaluation or trial visit for first-time attendees. This gives the staff an opportunity to observe how your dog reacts to the environment and determine if they are a good fit for daycare.
Special Needs
Dogs with special needs like missing limbs, blindness, deafness, insulin dependency and even emotional scars from abuse may need to avoid high-energy play in order to rest and recuperate. In these cases, limiting daycare to a few days per week or avoiding it altogether is usually best.
A good daycare facility will have a comfortable room for rest time and a staff that can provide quiet environments when needed. They should also be able to accommodate food and water schedules, mobility aids and other items you might need to keep your dog happy and safe.
Remember that adopting a special needs dog is a full-time and lifelong commitment. They will need your love and devotion just as much as a healthy dog but they will likely require more financial commitments (visits to the vet, medications and treatment), time commitments (extra care during recovery) and emotional and physical commitments (doctor's appointments and rehabilitative training). They are still dogs though, and deserve to live their best lives with you.