Daycare for dogs is becoming more and more popular across the nation. The daycare facilities range from very small 1,200 sq ft facilities to expansive warehouse facilities, to indoor/outdoor facilities, some of which have multiple acres for the dogs to run. Fees range according to the size of the facility, the services offered, and geography. Orange County, California has an average per day fee of $35.00, while Orange County, FL has an average of $18.00 per day. Many facilities also offer pick up and drop off services for those pet owners who must be at work before or after the facility opens or closes.

Dog daycare is an excellent way to exercise dogs, especially large dogs. Many dogs whose owners work full time are cooped up most of the day. Some of these dogs are in a crate all day. Then when the owner arrives home, exercise can be as little as a brief walk outside to eliminate. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity, lack of overall fitness, mental boredom, and behavior issues.

A dog that has spent 8 hours playing with other dogs comes home exhausted. A tired dog, like a tired child, goes to bed without a fuss and sleeps through the night. This avoids the dog "bothering" the owner continuously asking to play, and the owner becoming frustrated, or ignoring the dog. This can also prevent some problem behaviors that arise from boredom and excess energy.

Dogs that are introduced at a young age to dog daycare have better social skills. These dogs learn how to interact with other dogs. Normal dogs that regularly attend dog daycare view most other dogs as playmates, until the other dog signals otherwise.

Additionally, dogs that regularly attend daycare learn independence from their owner. These dogs are exposed to other humans, and can become less likely to view strangers as a threat. Also, normal dogs may be less likely to develop separation anxiety.

Dogs that are exposed to multiple environments, and many social situations, tend to handle new situations in a more confident manner.

Many daycare facilities also offer 24 hour daycare, or overnight boarding. This is an excellent option for pet owners as the dog already associates the facility with good things. Leaving the pet overnight is less traumatic for the dog, and the owner. The pet is exhausted after playing all day, and falls asleep more easily then when being boarded in a typical boarding kennel. The owner feels less guilty about leaving the dog at that facility knowing this. Also, dogs often get couches to sleep on at night, in their own room, rather than being caged. All this is much more positive for the owner as well as the dog.

Another nice service some facilities offer is the ability for the owner to check in on their dog by going to the web site and viewing live action video via webcams. Whether an owner is at work, or on vacation across the country, the owner can see their dog and be assured their pet is OK by going to the daycare's website.

All these aspects of daycare for dogs help the owner form a stronger bond with their pet because the pet causes fewer "problems" for them, and is "less work without the guilt". The dogs go to sleep when they get home, and the owner feels they have done a good thing for their dog. This is a positive feeling instead of the owner getting frustrated with the dog because all it wants to do is play and the owner is tired from work and wants to be left alone.

Dog daycare can also be a form of social interaction for the human. A dog daycare may have birthday parties for the dogs celebrating birthdays during the month. Dogs develop dog friendships that can lead to play dates set up by the owners. Daycares often have pet of the month contests, and many offer training classes, flyball, and agility. These are all ways the owners can interact with other pet owners, while the dog is also benefiting.

There are things to watch out for, however. The wrong daycare can lead to serious behavior problems or injury. Owners should tour the daycare and watch the staff interacting with the pets. The following items should be noted:

. Is there a staff person watching each group of dog's playing?
. Does the staff person stop dogs whose interactions are getting out of hand?
. Does the staff person clean up immediately after a dog has eliminated? Are the dogs separated into groups based on their preferences (who gets along) rather than just size?
. If dogs spend time outdoors, are they rotated inside to cool down?
. Is there shade provided outside?
. Adequate water?
. Supervision outside?
. Is there adequate supervision for the number of dogs in a group?
. Is the flooring an adequate surface for the dogs to safely run, play and jump, while being able to be sanitized? Is the floor tile and too slippery for the dogs?
. If your dog goes outside to play at the facility, what is the outdoor area like? All dirt? All dirt play areas send dirty dogs home. This leads to the owner having to give the pet a bath as soon as it gets home. Who feels like doing that every time the dog goes to daycare? There should be adequate sod or mulch and good waste removal habits by the staff.
. What are the requirements for a dog to spend the day? Is the dog evaluated for ability to play well or aggression? Vaccinations current?
. Does the staff of the facility actually understand dog body language, play, aggression, etc. and is the staff able to read signals well enough to prevent injury?
. Is your dog happy to be there? If your dog is going regularly to the facility, and is not excited to go inside when you arrive in the parking lot, then you need to find another daycare. The first couple visits the dog may be hesitant at the reception area. However, the dog should start to interact after a few minutes of acclimation. A good facility will introduce a new dog only to a group of dogs that are known to play very well with others, and who do not have social issues.

In summary, the right dog daycare facility can prevent dog weight problems, increase the dog's ability to interact with others, work the dog's mind as well as muscles, enhance the dog's overall wellbeing, prevent behavior issues, and strengthen the bond between the dog and its owner