The pandemic brought a surge in pet adoptions, with far more dogs going into homes than in a typical year, and a sharp rise in puppies bought from breeders alongside it. Many of those dogs spent their first months with someone home all day. As owners returned to workplaces, veterinarians saw the consequences: dogs who had never learned to be alone, and who had missed out on training and socialization along the way. That transition was stressful for dogs and owners alike, and it’s still worth thinking about whenever your household routine is about to change.
What is your plan for your dog?
A dog who has lived side by side with you nearly every hour of the day will notice when that stops. If your working pattern, school schedule, or hobbies are about to change, it’s worth planning ahead for how your dog will spend that time. Dogs need proper healthcare, good nutrition, physical activity, and mental stimulation—and someone has to provide all four on the days you aren’t there.
Six Ways Doggy Daycare Can Help
Dogs are social animals, and sometimes our lives are too busy for us to give them all the attention and stimulation they need. Many dogs thrive on time with other dogs and dog-loving people. Daycare gives your dog the chance to develop social, physical, and mental skills over time, particularly if they attend regularly. It isn’t right for every dog, but for the right dog it offers real benefits that carry over into home life.
Six benefits of doggy daycare are:
- Building social skills with people and other dogs
- Getting used to time away from you, which can help with separation-related problems
- Exercise that relieves boredom and helps prevent destructive behaviors
- Company through the day instead of being home alone
- Mental stimulation from enrichment activities and puzzles
- A genuinely fun day of play, indoors and out
What Can Happen If My Dog Does Not Adjust Well To Being Alone?
When dogs lack appropriate exercise and social stimulation and are left alone with built-up energy or nothing to occupy them, unwanted behaviors can develop. Excessive barking, house soiling, destructive chewing, injuries from attempts to escape, and separation anxiety can all occur. And the last thing we want to see is for you to have to rehome your canine companion.
What is Separation Anxiety?
When you bring a new puppy or dog into your household, it’s essential to teach them house-training and good manners around chewing and barking. Most dogs learn these things readily.
Separation anxiety is different, and it isn’t a training failure or misbehavior—it’s genuine panic. An affected dog changes their behavior as you prepare to leave, and the distress usually begins within minutes of being left rather than building up over hours. Signs include pacing, trembling, drooling, and the behaviors listed below.
Some of the things that dogs with separation anxiety may do are:
- Urinate or defecate, even if they are fully house-trained
- Bark or howl persistently
- Chew things other than their chew toys
- Dig and destroy bedding or furniture, often at doors and windows
- Injure themselves trying to escape from a crate or a room
One important distinction: a bored dog left alone too long will often chew or dig too, but it tends to happen at any point in the day and the dog is otherwise relaxed about you leaving. A dog with true separation anxiety is distressed from the moment you pick up your keys. It’s worth telling us which pattern you’re seeing, because the two need quite different approaches. Genuine separation anxiety usually responds best to a structured desensitization plan, sometimes alongside medication, and punishment always makes it worse.
Is Dog Daycare Right For Every Dog?
Daycare is an excellent option for many puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. Most dogs socialize well, enjoy playing with other dogs, and love the staff’s attention. They come home tired and relaxed, and are happy to go back another day.
Some dogs don’t enjoy it, though, and daycare is a poor fit for dogs who are reactive toward other dogs, very fearful, elderly and easily overwhelmed, or recovering from surgery or injury. A dog with true separation anxiety may also find a busy daycare environment stressful rather than reassuring. In those cases, a dog walker who comes to your home and works with your dog one-on-one may be a much better option.
If you do try daycare, look for a facility that assesses each dog before enrollment, groups dogs by size and play style, keeps sensible staff-to-dog ratios, provides quiet rest periods rather than non-stop play, and requires proof of vaccination for every dog on site. Ask what their protocol is if a dog is injured or becomes unwell, and expect a good facility to have a clear answer. Your dog will also need to be up to date on vaccinations, including kennel cough, and on parasite prevention before their first day.
It is worth setting your dog up well from the start, so they can become the family member you were hoping for.
Some of the things you can do to ensure your dog is well-adjusted are:
- Socialize your dog well.
- Teach them appropriate home manners.
- Schedule plenty of exercise.
- Practise leaving your dog for short periods well before any significant change in your routine, and build up gradually. Giving them a favorite treat or toy as you go—in their crate, if you use one—helps them associate your leaving with something good.
- Plan and budget for the times you will be gone.
Plenty of owners use dog walkers or daycare even when they are working from home. If you have any questions about what might be the best option for your dog while you’re at work or elsewhere, don’t hesitate to give us a call for recommendations.