Dog Community

Doggy Daycare question

Posted : 1/28/2007 12:14:11 PM

Winston recently went to doggy daycare for the first time. I like the staff a lot . . . they are very proactive with the dogs and really interact with all the animals constantly.

I do have a concern though and wanted some feedback . . . its regarding the facility itself. Its a large indoor play area, the dogs have plenty of room within the facility and they have constant access to a fenced in area outdoors. Granted the outdoor area isn't even large enough for Winston to get up to full speed in a run, he can trot back and forth and at least go to the bathroom.

Here's my concern though . . . . the floor INSIDE the facility is the equivalent of a spray on garage floor. Its non-porous and gets cleaned with bleach, but it is VERY slippery for the dogs. On my first visit to check out the place, I watched dogs slip and slide all over the place, paws shooting out to the side, scrambling to get back up and get a running start. Its like they were on ice . . . .

Isn't this very bad for a dog's joints? I don't plan on bringing winston there very often . . . its more of a last resort for when the wife and I have studying to do an no time to play with him.

seashell

Posted : 1/28/2007 5:40:53 PM

I am knid of hoping someone will answer this as I am curious too. My house has hardwood floors everywhere so Abbi is always sliding all over the place.

Shohin

Posted : 1/28/2007 6:38:19 PM

We've got hardwood too, but for some reason he doesn't really slip and slide. Probably because he moves more slowly in the house (its a small house).

Stephanie Book

Posted : 1/29/2007 12:16:09 AM

It does sound like it could be kind of dangerous, if the dogs are slipping and could fall and maybe crash and hurt themselves. It would be better ( but quite expsensive, I'm sure!) if they had rubber mats of some sort put down on the floor. Both training facilities I've gone to have these, and they're very nice. Easy to clean, easy on the dogs and people, good traction, etc. I don't suppose there is anything you can do as far as getting them to put in mats though! However, that probably wouldn't stop me from taking my dog there every once in a while (if it wasn't a long -term thing) to play and all of that.

Shohin

Posted : 1/29/2007 12:22:46 AM

I'm thinking more in terms of long term joint damage (e.g. hips, elbows, shoulders, etc.) . . . . but the falling thing is a concern too.

Stephanie Book

Posted : 1/29/2007 12:23:42 AM

Hmm....well then, I can't be of much help there. It might, but I don't know for sure.

spiritdogs

Posted : 1/29/2007 7:35:41 AM

There are two sides to this issue. One side says that because the dogs can't get up much traction, they don't get a running start to do much damage to one another, as in body slamming, etc., and it makes them more wary of causing trouble with another dog (as in "if Fido fights back, how do I get away fast enough). The other camp says that dogs could fall, and have injuries from legs flying out from under. Personally, I know one newly-opened facility that has floors like yours, and desperately wants matting asap. And, I know another facility that has (gasp) tile floors, without any non-skid paint, and has no intention of changing. I guess my feeling is that it is just as likely for dogs to get injured on either surface, or any other surface, for that matter, and that just the act of allowing dogs to play with other dogs puts them at somewhat of a risk. So, probably up to you.
My preference is for mats, but having run play groups for years, I can see both sides of this issue.

diane303

Posted : 1/29/2007 12:11:11 PM

The daycare that we go to has a special floor made up of interlocking mats. There is lots of round-edged, plastic play equipment in the room that breaks up the floor space so that it would be pretty impossible for a dog to put much force into body slamming other dogs or running full force. The attendant keeps a hard eye open for any rough activity and issues "time outs" if it gets to be too much. There are also nooks and crannies in the equipment for dogs to get away from the others if it needs a break from the action. They luff it!