Our faithful companions depend on us to provide them with a healthy and fulfilling life, but sometimes our responsibilities require us to leave them alone at home. Thankfully, there is a solution that can help our dogs live a better life and keep our pocketbooks full.
If you have a dog, you’ve probably heard of doggy daycares and wondered whether they are worth the expense. I am here to tell you that they are definitely worth it and if you can commit to taking your dog to daycare even 1 or 2 times a week on a regular basis, you will prevent a variety of complications and keep your wallet happy in the end.
A typical day at daycare for your dog will involve interacting with trained professionals, interacting with various breeds, sizes and temperaments and playing with other dogs. The first thing your dog will experience is learning to cope with being away from you for the day. Many dogs that are left at home by themselves for long periods of time will experience separation anxiety. This can cause them to act out and destroy your valuable possessions. They may destroy their crate or chew up shoes, furniture or sometimes even the wall of your house. These damages can lead to the loss of hundreds of dollars, not to mention if your dog injures itself in the process. We all know how a dog injury can end up costing far more than we anticipated. By taking your dog regularly to daycare, they will learn to deal with the separation from you in a positive way and more than likely, they will not continue to show signs of or develop separation anxiety in the future.
Teaching your dog to interact positively with other dogs can be a challenge. At doggy daycare, your canine companion can learn how to interact with numerous dogs in a safe and controlled environment. In the future, this repeated social interaction will keep them from being aggressive when meeting new dogs. They will be able to walk with you and interact with various dogs along the way. A dog that lacks canine social interaction skills may be aggressive and can possibly even attack other dogs. This can lead to you being held liable for your dog’s actions and being financially culpable for any injuries, fines, or lawsuits. By preventing this, you can save yourself thousands of dollars in the long run.
Additionally, when your dog is comfortably socialized in a daycare environment they also gain more confidence and generally become better suited to interact with a variety of people- namely strangers, children, other dogs and friends. The value in this is not priceless- its thousands of dollars when you consider the amount spent in boarding costs when friends and family are not available to take care of your “difficult” dog. If you’re still not convinced of the cost savings- think about an unavoidable event that you want to be at: a niece’s wedding, a funeral, a graduation- having a socialized dog will give you piece of mind in the long run. You can even travel with your pup and have them stay at a local daycare (as long as they pass the temperament test).
The best advantage of taking your dog to daycare is the health benefit to your dog.
Running and playing with the other dogs and daycare attendants is some of the best exercise your dog can get. While it may seem like a simple thing, the health benefits are long-lasting. Dogs that go to daycare salivate more thereby reducing the bacteria and other debris build-up on the teeth build up. Regular dental cleanings cost upwards of $800 in cities like New York. Many dogs suffer from obesity and joint-related issues as they start to age. If they can exercise at daycare even just a couple times a week, it will help to improve their health and keep illnesses at bay. They will avoid gaining weight, developing diabetes or heart issues, and their bodies as a whole will hold up better as the years progress, saving you hundreds of dollars on potential vet bills and medications.
Taking your dog to daycare at least 1 or 2 times a week will definitely save you money in the long run by preventing injuries, damages, court costs, and vet bills. A typical dog daycare will cost anywhere from $15 to $40 dollars a day depending on your location and the facility, however, this is just a small cost in relation to the possible bills that you could face by not taking them. Be sure to ask for daycare packages for half and full days which can save you money in the long term. In the end, how can we honestly afford to not our dogs to daycare?
Abi Pennavaria is a dog mom, avid vet volunteer, and co-author of Saved By The Bark blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for dog owners of all breeds.
