My malinois has separation anxiety and although we have gotten it better we are possibly considering daycare. I checked out a few and one just scared me shitless with the sheer amount of dogs and number of staff, one was a lot better but smaller but seemed more well run. I know some dogs hate daycare but she loves other dogs. My main thing is staff to dog ratio and never being unattended for a second. Also staff knowledgeable in dog behavior. Safety such as double gates, high fences etc is very important to me, I have a crazy fear of her escaping ever. Any other questions I should be asking? Good or bad experiences anyone?

You will NEVER be told the truth about what your dog does when you're not there. I worked at one and do not suggest them.

I also worked at one, I didn't like how there was only two of us and 30-50 dogs which I now realize is a high ratio. of course I asked if I would be informed and they assure me I would be, but who really ever knows. I would hate for her to be bullied, she doesn't know how to react the couple times its happened I stepped in immediately. she truly believes every dog is going to be nice to her coz I try to make sure of it, I love how great she is with dogs.

The one daycare that seemed good well the guy and I got into a bit of debate discussing if they allowed bully breeds which they don't and that's fine, he called them fighting breeds and said some of them have lock jaw, I was like um nope they don't, he was like well some do..i was like uh nope none do actually. anyway I thought it was weird the owner of such a successful business truly believed something as outlandish as that.

The idea of doggie day scares scares the heck out of me more then doggie parks.

There are just so many things that can go wrong with tragic results that I'm surprised that they even exist.

But that's just me......

There are a couple of boarding kennels near me that offer day-boarding where you drop your dog off in the morning and pick it up before the close of the business day. It is not doggie day-care in the typical sense of a big group of dogs.

One of the kennels does offer a small group setting (probably no more than five or six dogs), if you are interested. Or, you can elect to have your dog stay in its own kennel run all day.

Another of the kennels I know of, again, keeps the dogs in their individual kennels, but offers a one-on-one walk with your dog (for extra $$).

You might want to check with the boarding kennels in your area to see if any of them offer something similar. It seems preferable to the dogs-in-a-group-all-day scenario. Of course I'm sure it's more expensive, but it seems much safer for the dog.

Not unlike dog parks as a training ground; my underlying thought would be about what the dog is going to learn and how this environment will most benefit that kind of result.

My dogs have never been to a kennel or daycare. CJ and Bob also haven't traveled abroad in forever. BC has so many wonderful areas to explore and its inspiring having the dogs with us. Wouldn't want it any other way. But that's us.

There are probably some great ones out there, people talk about daycare/kenneling their dogs and they also talk about all the issues they're dealing with but never seem to relate the two.

It's a tough subject at times. An outlet for the owner, thinking their dog is safe and not having to worry about the exercise but they don't really know what that dog is being exposed to all day. Not something I would or could ever take a chance on; regardless of how qualified they said they were.

And you know, the dogs may love it. But even if I was to pop out a kid in this day and age (not going to happen) just listening to all parents, I'd probably home school too. So take this for what it's worth.

You said something about separation anxiety. Can I ask how you think this is going to benefit that?

omg just wrote a long response and lost it. Anyway I don't think it will help, I just think during that actual time she will be happier with other dogs then stuck in her crate. They guy said we could start with an hour then half a day etc for dogs like her. im still up in the air, I think maybe trying it out and seeing how she likes it, how she acts when I pick her up, if she wants to go back etc. Shes a pretty sensitive girl lol.

I'm afraid of how an attack can change a dog, permanently. Even being bullied/dominated day after day, with no visible attack ....

I'm with CJ, Cheri, and Betty. I know how tough it is (I really do!), but for me, it has worked out by far the best for me to pay for dog-sitters (bonded, trained) who have come to my house two (sometimes three!) times a day for playing and potty. I have also learned how useful a nanny cam is for knowing exactly what's going on with the dog.






PS
I might consider this: Another of the kennels I know of, again, keeps the dogs in their individual kennels, but offers a one-on-one walk with your dog (for extra $$).

I like the nanny cam idea, thatd so be me with my paranoia. I like the idea of daycare coz shes gone all day out of my house, hence not barking. The way she reacts when let out of her crate, which can include nipping, jumping and clawing, I couldn't expect someone else to deal with that. Shes so much better for me now, I make her sit and stay etc but she still does it to my fiancée.

I like that the daycare I looked at said they don't allow bullying behavior but at the same time to keep an eye on every dog all the time would be impossible and maybe your right, I love how great she is with dogs and I don't want that ever ruined. Ive seen her be scared of a dog chasing and nipping her, I called her to me and smacked the dog with an empty coffee cup to get it away. I don't want her to become scared or god forbid aggressive. she is quite sensitive, if me and my fiancée even raise our voice a little at each other she hides under the table. Plus my anxiety over not being able to personally monitor her might make me mad!

oh god I just made myself so sad by picturing how happy and innocent she is wanting to say hi and play so politely and then gets scared when the dogs a bully and she doesn't understand...ugh so not worth it. I don't know what I was thinking. The whole concept of daycare never made sense to me.