Dog Community

Doggie Daycare

Posted : 10/11/2006 11:14:52 AM

Hello. What are you thoughts on doggie day care? Worth it? Waste of money?

We have a 9 month old pup, my husband comes home for lunch and walks her so it isn't an issue of her being alone all day. We like the idea of giving her the opportunity to play with other dogs but that may have to be a weekend/out in public thing for now.

Bob Schlick

Posted : 10/11/2006 11:35:39 AM

I am having the same issue. Around here, 1 day of daycare costs $27. That seems rather high to me, but it may be worth it if it calms my dog down, and allows me to not have to go home at lunch to let him out.

My dog is 5 months old.

Krista DeBellis

Posted : 10/11/2006 11:51:54 AM

I would say overall worth it. I live in Wisconsin and where I took my dog it was $17/day. We took him on Fridays and when he got home, he was dead tired. He'd eat dinner and sleep til the next morning. The exercise he got and the socialization was great for him. I could not provide that for him just by taking him for walks. The down side is that he kept getting viruses, which may not be from day care but from dog parks, etc., but our dog isn't the most healthy animal so we stopped taking him temporarily. But I would say it is worth the money and the risks of getting sick outweigh the exercise and socialization they receive.

Eric Mies

Posted : 10/11/2006 12:34:13 PM

Wow - $27!?!?! I guess I'm really lucky - I was paying $9.50 and am now paying $11. What kmarie said about illness is true I think, they will have more of a chance to get sick - but I'm talking a cold/cough, not cancer so I don't think it's a huge issue. We don't keep our kids from going to school and really when you think about it, at the hieght of cold and flu season, a school can be a germ factory.

I think what is more improtant is the socialization and excersie they will get. My friend has a golden and he pays $17 for a dog walker to give her a one hour walk - which is great but it's no where near the same levl of excercise od playgin with other dogs and most days she is allone so no socialization.

Terri

Posted : 10/11/2006 12:39:44 PM

I take my boys to daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have a package that makes it $32/day for the two of them. I can drop them off at 6:30am and pick them up by 7:30pm, which allows me to work and then run errands without worrying about them. They feed them lunch and have supervised activities all day.

I definitely think it's worth the money. They get their much needed doggy play time and when they get home they are exhausted! And I don't feel guilty leaving them in their crates on the other days, because they're so tired already. Of course, we still take our daily walks and get lots of exercise outside of daycare.

RKimball

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:17:14 PM

Thanks for your feedback. The doggie daycare we were looking into charges $20 per day. We'd probably send her twice a week. Something to think about anyways... I also feel that if we started sending her it would be a forever thing, do you know what I mean? And I don't necessarily want that. I just think she needs the outlet for her energy at her age. I always thought doggie daycare was silly, now look at me!

mudpuppy

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:31:00 PM

we decided some time ago that it was cheaper to just get more dogs.

sallya

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:40:44 PM

I wouldn't leave my dog with dogs I don't know.

Eric Mies

Posted : 10/11/2006 1:55:52 PM

I always thought doggie daycare was silly, now look at me!

I agree - when someone suggested it to me I actuallylaughed. Then I had ot go away on business for a few days and my wife wasnt; abel to comehome lunch - it started is a solution to a problem and has become a normal thing.

With that said, it aint a bad thing tho....

inne

Posted : 10/11/2006 8:09:40 PM

When I start working, Louise will go to daycare at least a few days a week. A good daycare can be fantastic.