What Is Pet Day Care?

While most dogs are agreeable to learning basic rules of obedience if started at a young age, every once in a while a dog and a master just won't be able to come together to find a successful training routine. This can be extremely frustrating for both parties involved. Fortunately, there are many outside sources that can help with this.

The most popular are "doggie daycare" or "doggie boot camps", pet care programs very similar to child daycares. At a dog daycare, dogs are paired with trainers for an hour or two each day and taught basic obedience; sit, come, don't bite the nice salesman. Once the dogs have mastered that, more advanced training is often available.

While not enrolling your dog in daycare is not going to turn them into the undertrained laughingstock of the neighborhood, there are many advantages to doing so. In a doggie daycare dogs are provided with grooming services daily, including, but not limited to, bathing, brushing, nail trimming, coat clipping, and cleaning of eyes, ears and teeth. More in depth procedures, such as cleaning of anal glands, may be available at some centers.

In a society where a disobedient dog may result in them having to be put to sleep, it is very important that all dogs be well trained. Dogs spend time each day with a professional trainer, who works consistently with them on basic obedience commands such as sitting and coming when called. A "doggie boot camp" is available in many locations for pets who have previously had difficulties in training. Many of these animals have been written off as untrainable.

A highly educated staff works with the animals daily, using repetition to teach the dogs basic skill. A high level of success has been achieved through these programs, allowing the dogs to have more time and focus given to their training than is possible with an owner who works all day.

Play time and exercise time are both important components of a canine day care facility. Dogs are walked several times a day, and like children are often given a playground to play on, allowing them to run, jump and climb. Separate faculties are available for both large and small size dogs, with the separation being made at or around twenty five pounds. Puppies have their own separate area, where they are played with, housebroken, and loved.

As with a child care facility, guidelines are established for feeding and napping, with food bowls and sleeping space provided by the day care. Any nutritional or physical needs the dogs have are observed, with any problems discussed with both the owner and a veterinarian. In this way, all parties are involved in a dog's care, and the chances of a dog being cared for improperly are greatly reduced.

A variation on this theme is offered in do-it-yourself pet spas, where owners are encouraged to groom their pet themselves, furthering the bond between pet and human. The spa will provide the appropriate space, as well as a wash basin, shampoo, nail clippers and other grooming equipment. Pet spas can be a wonderful treat for all animals.