What are the downsides of dog daycare?

Your dog may not enjoy it. It may be overstimulation and noisy. They may learn bad habits from other dogs. It can be expensive. Very young dogs may find the environment too much. If you have an older dog, you may need to consider if it’s the right environment if there are lots of other younger boisterous dogs. Your dog’s personality is also a consideration, do you like being amongst lots of other dogs.

As a behaviourist, I have witnessed first-hand, how some dogs develop undesirable habits and behavioural issues as a result of attending daycare. These are some of the main issues I come across: Poor Manners, when socialising young dogs, we ideally want them to meet adult, balanced dogs, but in a daycare setting it is more common to find high energy, bold dogs who do not appear to care whether play is initiated in a polite manner. Impressionable young dogs who get a response to their rambunctious approaches only learn that running towards and wrestling with other dogs is the way to get engagement. Transfer this to the weekend, when the owner is taking their dog out and they come across other dogs: recall becomes non-existent; excitement levels rise as you try to call your dog away; and if the other dog is anxious or doesn’t like their space invaded, a fight could start, potentially creating long term aggression issues. Constant excitement and stress can be too much for some dogs to handle, for those dogs who are naturally nervous or a little highly strung, this environment often exacerbates the problem and manifests in excessive barking and other issues when in the home environment. Developing bad habits is another issue, dogs who get all their reinforcement through following behaviours initiated by their doggy peers, often pick up bad and unacceptable habits. I have seen many times, when normally well-behaved dogs develop behaviours, such as jumping up, barking, and even becoming aggressive towards a visitor. Relationship breakdowns can also occur, whilst the convenience of daycare is crucial for a busy household it can present a real problem and breakdown in the owner’s relationship with their dog, if their dog only experiences reinforcement and fun away from their owner, through other dogs, this is where they will look for fun and will often appear non-plussed with your presence. Just because it may seem like fun, please consider your dog’s personality and stage of their life before sending them to regular periods of daycare. A good daycare should provide a well-managed environment that mitigates the risk of behavioural issues and also have a proprietor who has a sound knowledge, or specific training, in all aspects of canine body language.

Most dogs don’t want to be there. They either hide in a corner or cry at the door for 8 hours, and I mean a full 8 hours. The dogs that actually want to be there typically start fights all day and spend at least an hour on “time out” which is necessary to literally make sure no lives are lost. When I go in to work every day it is an extremely dangerous environment for the dogs and the humans. On average I break up at least 3 dogs fights a day, sometimes I get bit, another dog gets injured, and sometimes there’s a trip to the vet/hospital. You won’t hear that your dog is extremely stressed and anxious, or that your dog spends most of the day off to the side because they’re aggressive. Not every dog is meant for daycare regardless.

Going into a noisy and unfamiliar environment where there could potentially be 10 or more other dogs can be overwhelming and even downright intimidating for some pups. Some dogs need one-on-one care to be completely happy and comfortable. But when they stay at a doggy daycare facility, they’re just 1 dog in a room full of them. The level of supervision varies. The professionalism and attentiveness of staff can vary from one daycare facility to the next. Some dogs find it overstimulating. The constant excitement or stress of a busy daycare facility can be a little too much for some dogs to handle. For those dogs that are naturally nervous or a little highly strung, daycare will often not be the best choice. Risk of illness. While reputable daycare facilities have strict health and vaccination policies in place, there’s still a risk of illness — for example, kennel cough or fleas — spreading at a daycare facility. Developing bad behaviors. There’s a chance that your dog may pick up some undesirable behaviors from their doggy daycare peers. Expensive. Another factor to consider is the cost of doggy daycare. If you book your dog in for a visit 5 days a week, you’ll be faced with an expensive care bill.

For some dogs, the high-energy and social nature of doggy daycare can be overwhelming. Dogs that are anxious, shy, or easily stressed may not enjoy the bustling environment or constant interaction with other dogs. Despite efforts to maintain cleanliness and enforce vaccination requirements, doggy daycare environments can still pose a risk of contagious diseases. Dogs coming from different households can potentially transmit illnesses to one another, even with proper protocols in place. With multiple dogs playing together, there is always a risk of accidents or injuries. Rough play or altercations can occur, resulting in bites or scratches. If you have specific training goals for your dog, sending them to daycare regularly may disrupt your training routine. Doggy daycare can be an additional expense to consider. The cost varies depending on the facility, location, and services provided. Not all dogs are compatible with the daycare environment or the other dogs present.