[Dailydrool] Doggie Day Care

[Beverly Szaton]

Doggie Day Care is the dog park without the owners there. Poor Daycare not
only does not have owners but has a staff of young, inexperienced,
idealistic people who are shocked when one or two dogs turn out to be
unsocialized Cujos, even tho Momma insisted little Duffy is just an angel.
Good day care screens the dogs ahead of time and puts each dog into a
carefully crafted group.Staff can read dog body language and are not fooled
by the owners, who may honestly believe that Duffy would never try to eat
that Cocker Spaniel cowering in the corner. Nor are they fooled by the dogs.
There is safety equipment available for breaking up fights quickly and a
ratio of people to dogs that insures this can be done. Adds for carpet
cleaners notwithstanding, there are no "inside voices" and often, a problem
sharing.

I have not worked at PetSmart. I have run a kennel. We do not put dogs
together because of the risk but I also know several people who have kennels
who offer daycare. The staff is the most experienced on the property, with
good reflexes and an intuituve understanding of pack dynamics. This is not
something to do lightly, and while I am sure PetSmart's parent company has a
thick folder with protocols and directions and rules and regs, it is no
substitute for years of handling dogs. I have interviewed at PetSmart,also.
I was over-qualified.

Many day care facilities are great, but check them out carefully ahead of
time. PetSmart is a corporation. They really have little experience with
hands-on dog care, and many of their employees are neophytes at it as
well.Everyone has to start someplace, but I suggest day care is not a good
spot. If you want to board your dog there, fine-- that they can probably do
it. When it comes to day care, Caveat. Loving dogs is no substitute for
experience. If this ruffles feathers, my apologies.(There are some
experienced folks at some PSmarts, I am aware of that as well.)
MomPerson to Nigel, Llewis, Mitchell, Zelda and Cooper, who don't even do
well at the dog park.
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