The Importance of Dog Daycare and Boarding

Your dog is an important part of your life, but it’s not always possible or practical to spend time with him. Whether you have to leave your dog alone while you work or leave your dog home while you travel, there are options to consider that will keep him safe and happy. Dog daycare and boarding offer solutions for owners who can’t have their dog with them at certain times.

Daycare for Dogs

Since most workplaces don’t allow dogs, it’s common for pet owners to leave them at home while they work. If you’re in this situation and want to prevent your dog from being bored or lonely, consider dog daycare. These facilities give dogs a chance to stay active several hours per day while their owners are at work or busy outside the house. You can sign your dog up for daycare a certain number of hours per week or just on specific days when you know you won’t be around.

Keep in mind that you might also want to look into dog daycare if you work from home. Daycare offers a number of benefits for dogs, such as encouraging socialization with other dogs and helping them stay physically and mentally stimulated. Dog daycare also helps reduce the risk of your dog behaving inappropriately or destructively at home when you’re gone due to boredom.

Boarding for Dogs

If you’ll be away from home for a few days or longer, consider dog boarding as an option. Instead of having to arrange for a pet sitter to come to your home while you’re gone, you can have your dog stay at a quality boarding facility that offers a safe environment and opportunities to play with other dogs. When your dog boards, he’ll have round-the-clock care, plenty of chances to eliminate when needed and the company of other dogs.

Dog daycare and boarding can provide you with peace of mind when you can’t be with your dog due to work or travel. Just make sure you choose a high-quality facility with a caring staff and a clean environment.

Dog Grooming...Not The Same for All Dogs

Keeping your dog’s coat, skin and nails in good condition is an important part of ensuring
that she stays happy and healthy. However, the approach you use for dog grooming isn’t
necessarily the same for all dogs. Your dog’s temperament and personality can play a big
role in determining how to properly groom her. If your dog has any of the following, you’ll
need to adjust your grooming techniques accordingly.

Fearful Temperament

If your dog is fearful, she might give you a hard time about getting bathed or having her
paws handled when you try to trim her nails. If your dog becomes timid about grooming,
even if she’s fine at other times, you’ll have to take steps to make sure she’s more
comfortable about it. This includes staying calm, keeping your voice relaxed and building
a positive association with grooming. You don’t want your dog to see it as a negative
experience. Giving your dog a treat or a toy as a reward or a distraction can help make
grooming more pleasant for her.

High Energy Level

If you have a dog who has high energy levels, grooming can be difficult to do. Your dog
might be too excited to stay still for bathing, brushing or having her nails trimmed. If your
dog is a big one, this can make grooming even more of a challenge. One of the most
effective ways to get your dog to calm down for grooming is to tire her out beforehand.
Let her out in the yard to burn off energy or play with her inside your home. She’ll have
less energy during grooming, which should help her keep calmer for you.

Aggressive Behavior

Your dog might exhibit aggressive behavior, such as snapping or growling, when you try
to groom her. She might do this if she’s highly fearful or if she has a medical condition or
injury that hurts when you handle her. Your vet can rule out health problems and injuries
for you. If her aggressive behavior continues, consider bringing her to a professional pet
groomer for help.

Puppy Boarding Requirements

Boarding is a convenient option for most dogs when their owners have to be away from home, but what about puppies? Since puppies are generally more vulnerable and more at risk of certain illnesses, boarding facilities usually have requirements about age. Find out more about puppy boarding, so you can properly plan ahead for an upcoming trip.

Age Requirements

You won’t be able to board a newborn puppy or one that’s only a few weeks old, but you should be able to find a place for boarding when your puppy is around a few months old. Puppy boarding facilities maintain these requirements in an effort to prevent puppies from becoming sick from kennel cough and other contagious illnesses. Younger dogs have a higher risk of complications from some of these diseases. In general, you’ll find that boarding places require puppies to have at least one round of vaccines before being allowed to stay there. This typically means that puppies around three months old or older can board. If you’re concerned about health risks that your puppy might face while being around other dogs, consider waiting until after her second round of vaccines to board her. Puppies usually get this second round when they’re about four months old.

Vaccine Requirements

For the safety of all dogs that board, dog boarding facilities require up-to-date vaccinations. Your puppy won’t be able to board if she hasn’t had any, but she should be allowed to if she’s had her rabies vaccine and any other required vaccinations. It’s best to check with the dog boarding facility to learn more about vaccine requirements.

Parasite Concerns

Puppies with parasites, such as worms, won’t be able to board. Most boarding places won’t allow dogs to board unless you can prove that your puppy is free of worms and other parasites. This is also done in order to keep all dogs in the facility safe and reduce the risk of parasite infestations. When boarding, you can expect to be asked to prove that your puppy has gone through the deworming process and doesn’t have fleas or other parasites.