Dog Daycare or Dog Walker: Which One Should You Choose?

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

Does it make more sense to hire a dog walker or put your pup in doggy daycare? Here are some questions to ask before you choose.

If you’re going to be spending a substantial chunk of your day out of the house, it’s natural that you don’t want your precious pooch to be alone for this time. However, you have a choice ahead of you: should you send your pup to doggie daycare or should you have a dog walker come to your home to spend time with Fido? The choice is a personal one, and really depends on the needs and circumstances of you and your dog. Ask yourself a few questions to figure out which option suits you best.

How Long Are You Out of the House?

We all know about dog years, but what about dog hours?! If you work a 9 to 5 job (or an equivalent amount of hours, anyway), this is a long stretch of time for your dog. He’s likely to become bored and lonely, which isn’t fair on him. In this case, it might be best for him to go into a dog daycare, where he’ll have constant human supervision and canine friends to romp with all day long. If you’re only out for 4 or 5 hours a day, having a dog walker come for an hour or so in the middle of this time would probably suffice. Then your faithful hound will only have to be by himself for a couple of hours in a row.

Does Your Pup Get On With Other Dogs?

This is the main factor that would prevent daycare from being suitable for your dog. If he’s reactive or has any aggressive tendencies toward other dogs, then daycare probably isn’t the right environment for him. Even a friendly dog who’s extremely boisterous or doesn’t have good social skills might not be right for daycare. Sometimes dogs have the best intentions, but end up annoying other canines with their goofy ways. A good doggie daycare facility should carry out an assessment and a trial session before allowing your dog to come for a full day, so you could always see how he gets on. If he’s deemed to be unsuitable, don’t worry, he might be better off in the company of a dog walker.

Is Your Dog Nervous?

Dogs will be dogs and they often like to play rough and generally goof off. Therefore, if you have a dog with a nervous disposition, he might feel overwhelmed in this kind of environment. Most daycares separate dogs by size and age, so if – for instance – you have a small pooch who’s scared of bigger dogs, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, if your pup is generally nervous, it’s likely that he won’t enjoy a daycare environment. In this case, it could be best that he stays in the comfort of his own home and has a dog walker come to exercise him and give him some love, instead.

Does Your Dog Cause Problems When Left Alone?

Some dogs have a hard time being left home alone, whereas others are happy to snooze away until you return. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you may notice that he destroys your belongings, constantly barks and howls, or urinates or defecates while you’re out. While it’s a pain for you, it may also annoy your neighbors and is clearly making your dog unhappy. This kind of dog would probably benefit from spending time in daycare so that he doesn’t get anxious and upset when you’re not in. However, a dog who is perfectly content being alone should be fine with a visit from a dog walker part way through the day.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

The Best Coffee Table Books About Dogs

A picture says a thousand words. And these photographers have lots to say about dogs - beautiful pictures that will give you a new perspective on pooches.
Rev Up Your Ho-Hum Walks With Dog Parkour

Turn your surroundings into a doggie playground. Parkour is a fun way to to burn your dog''s energy and teach polite leash walking skills.
Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is attentive enough to be almost intrusive at times. They like to a part of anything that''s going on, and enjoy playing in water.
Zebra Finch

The Zebra Finch has all the traits of a perfect pet bird - they''re ease to care for, have a lovely personality and can be found almost anywhere.
What You Don’t Know About Addison’s Disease In Dogs

Were going to go over Addisons Disease in dogs, so you can better understand it and help your dog live a normal, active life.
How to Tell If Your Cat Is at a Healthy Weight

In order to live a long, healthy life, cats need to fall within a certain weight range that varies on height, age, and body size.
Spectacled Parrotlet

If you''re looking for a pet that doesn''t need much space to be happy- the goofy Spectacled Parrotlet is the ideal choice for you.
Bolognese

A companion dog in every sense of the word, this small breed will be stuck at your side. Forever curious, the Bolognese want to always be with you.
Top 10 Dog Breeds With Allergies

There are some breeds that are more susceptible to having allergies. We''re going to go over the Top 10 dog breeds with allergies.
Karelian Bear Dog

The Karelian Bear Dog is a Finnish dog breed that has many Spitz-like characteristics. Tts background in hunting game gives it an independent streak.
Recall Alert: Fromm Gold Pate Dog Food

Fromm Family Foods has voluntarily recalled 3 of its canned dog foods due to possible elevated levels of vitamin D, as it can be toxic at high levels.
New Puppy Checklist: What You Need Before You Bring Him Home

Do you have everything you need for your puppy? We put together a new puppy checklist of essential itmes you should have before your furry addition arrives
Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

There are more than 250 species of Lake Tanganyika cichlids that have been identified, in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Best Small Dog Sweaters

Small dog sweaters keep our tiny companions warm and toasty when the temperatures drop. Read on and find a perfect pick for your precious pooch!?
Teaching Your Puppy To Walk On A Leash

Whoa there puppy! Before we can go for a walk, you need to learn to walk on a leash. Unless you’re lucky enough to live on hundreds of acres of secure,…