Are you getting your pup ready to head off on their adventures? Check out these helpful tips.
Making the choice of a dog daycare provider is an important decision for both you and your pup. To make things as stress-free as possible during this search, we’ve put together eight tips to make it as smooth as possible for both of you. At Red Lantern dog daycare Training, we recognize the important role dogs play in our families. Our mission is to ensure your pup and you both enjoy every moment of life together by providing them with the training needed for success.
Have Your Pup’s Medical History Ready to Go
Before any vet visit with your pup, make sure they have all necessary information ready.
Before your pet goes to daycare, they should receive confirmation of current vaccinations. Furthermore, the daycare must know whether your dog has been neutered or spayed before six months old; if not, they won’t be allowed entry until then. Finally, daycares cannot verify if you’re using tick, flea and worm preventative treatment; they will assume that is the case. So be sure to start their regimen today so they are ready for daycare!
What Safety Certifications Should You Look Out For?
Though the daycare may not have a veterinarian on staff, its employees must know how to respond in medical emergencies and provide basic first aid for your furry friend. Make sure the daycare staff members are first aid certified and CPR certified.
Examine Cleaning Protocols
Your pet is more vulnerable to illness when there are many other pets nearby. Therefore, it’s essential that the daycare you select adheres to stringent cleaning protocols each day.
Preparing for an Assessment
If your dog is going to daycare, the staff must conduct an assessment prior to entry. A day of orientation should begin on their first day so a thorough assessment can take place without you present. Just like with children’s daycare, when someone’s not with them all day they must assess how your pup reacts when you’re gone – this gives us the chance to find out as much about your pup so we can provide him with the best care while you’re working.”
Every dog daycare has an individual assessment process. A good one will look for several things, such as your pet’s reaction to being locked in his crate or not liking certain parts of his body; and how your pup interacts with dogs of various energies, temperaments sizes genders and types. Staff members should share their findings with you at the end of the day so you can benefit from what they’ve observed.
Practice
Daycare is an indoor dog-friendly park, so we recommend taking your pup to an outdoor version before signing them up for daycare. If they’re not contented with their experience there, chances are good they won’t enjoy it as much at their daycare facility.
It’s also an invaluable opportunity to observe your dog’s interactions with other pets. Dogs that haven’t had much exposure don’t understand dog language at first, but after playing and socializing for a couple days, they begin to pick up on it. With more exposure at daycare, your pup may even begin understanding appropriate responses!
What’s Included
Some dog daycares provide grooming facilities and discounts on services for frequent attendees. Make sure you ask what’s included!
Daycare schedules can differ drastically between facilities. Some are highly structured while others are more relaxed. When selecting a daycare for your pup, make sure they have plenty of playtime and rest time; otherwise, your furry friend may become frustrated or grumpy due to being overextended.
They will become physically and mentally exhausted. Daycares offer dogs the opportunity to play with each other under supervision for most of the day. Some facilities even provide indoor agility equipment where dogs can climb on and slide down; smaller daycares may allow dogs to walk within smaller groups. Your pup will stay busy and active all day long; burning calories while running around. By the time he returns home, they’ll likely be completely spent.
Inquire About Meals
Food sensitivities and allergies in dogs are unfortunately quite common, so daycares must be mindful when feeding their canine clients. Some facilities don’t even allow dogs to eat anything at all! Dogs receive plenty of fluids throughout the day. If your pup requires multiple meals during the day, be sure to discuss this with the manager beforehand.
Top Tips for Training
- Avoid Distractions – Always begin lessons to learn new techniques in a quiet room of your home away from any distracting factors.
- Break up training into short but frequent sessions to prevent your pup from becoming overwhelmed.
- Be patient. Just remember, dogs learn differently than us, so don’t get frustrated if your pup can’t pick up on basic commands right away.
- Always conclude your session with something your dog is familiar with, so that the experience ends on a positive note.
- Train your pup with joy – it’s the ideal way to get to know them even better!