01/02/2017
Outside Daycare/Playtime Facilities...
While I do mention other facilities, I have never made actual recommendations on doggie playtime or daycare facilities for when I am not available. For the safety of my clients, I will no longer even mention other facilities in the area. I have been informed of serious issues that cause me to have concern for your dogs at these facilities. Improperly trained staff while also being understaffed for the number of dogs in one area have resulted in a few serious dog fights. Just because the state's minimum requirements are more than 20 dogs to 1 person does not mean that's how you run a safe business. The safety of your clients AND your staff should be more important then your bottom line. ONE person is not able to break up a dog fight in these places and creating the environment that they have has resulted in 2 dogs that I personally know in two separate facilities being severely injured due to being attacked and that's just in the last week.
Fights never "just happen". Fights happen because of failing to intervene when the dogs involved are giving out warning signals. There are so many signals that are given by dogs prior to an attack or fight and working in a kennel and daycare facility when not properly trained on Canine Communications leads to dogs and people getting seriously hurt.
When people ask me for recommendations, I have always given warnings just as I have always given warning for dog parks. There are so many variables that need to be considered and addressed for the safety of everyone.
Yes, a facility that completes behavioral/temperament assessments is a plus, but what training and knowledge does the person completing the assessment have on Canine communications and ethology to ensure they're allowing "safe" dogs to participate? And how often does a dog get reassessed (if at all) since anyone who actually knows anything about dogs knows that responses to stimuli can change for any number of reasons.
The same questions about training, education, and certifications need to be asked about all staff who interact with any animal at the facility.
24 hour Web Cams??? Great! Except for the facts that they don't show 100% of the facility or 100% of the behavior of the dogs or staff. I've personally watched those cams, some for hours, while helping to diagnose problem behaviors that have developed in dogs that participated in group "playtime/daycare" at those facilities. On those live feeds, I've witnessed dogs resource guard toys, beds, and even the staff. I've seen dogs being harassed, bullied, even bitten without any intervention from the staff and sometimes bullied or harassed on the part of the staff. I've also watched improper sanitization of the areas after a dog goes to the bathroom. And that's all from the supposedly best facilities in the area.
Do your homework. Tour the facilities. Find out the training and experience all staff members have who interact with the animals on any level. Do they hold (or have they ever held) certifications that have tested their knowledge and experience??? Get as much information and details as you can about the facilities, owners, staff. And if there is any concern what so ever, no matter how small, move on.
Find out as much as you can about the other dogs in the group your dog would be in. How many of them are regulars?
Watch those web cams for several weeks. Observe as much as you can and ask about behavioral concerns you might have noticed. You'd be surprised what you can learn by watching those live feeds especially with the regulars.
These same tips and concerns are always mentioned when I'm asked about boarding facilities. However, not actually coming in contact with other dogs means that while yes you'd prefer to have someone with knowledge about Canine communication caring for your dog, it isn't as imperative as it would be with playtime and daycare. I have boarded my own dogs in the past and thankfully have never had any major problems with boarding them. Luckily, I've found an AMAZING pet sitter here in Williamstown and have not had to use a kennel in the last 5 years. I have several pet sitters that I can recommend as far north as Pemberton and as far south as Cape May that I know. Most are also dog trainers that I have mentored. All of them I personally and/or professionally.
The biggest difference between our daycare and most other facilities is that I have worked with and know all of the participants. I personally match playtime participants with others to ensure everyone gets along, is safe, and has fun. There are always at least 2 people supervising the dogs at all times and we have no more than 2 daycare dogs on any given day. Because we only have 2 dogs per day for day care, we have a wait list for day care. Any playtime participants are also current clients. Owners are required to stay for playtime if their dogs are not scheduled daycare dogs for that day meaning more eyes and ears to supervise.
