When dogs go to daycare, they have playmates for companionship and social interaction. There is constant supervision to prevent any destructive behavior, as well as social interaction to help a timid dog gain confidence. The activities encourage your pet to exercise while he or she has fun. And you can be assured that your dog will have his or her feeding and medications provided to them on time. Young dogs can develop excellent canine skills and manners, while a tired, well-exercised dog is usually a well behaved one.

Some dogs may not do well in day care. Age seems to play a bigger role on acceptance of the day care environment than does breed. Many dogs of “difficult” breeds do quite well if they start attending day care early in life (4 to 5 months). The herding breeds need specific, structured activities. They tend to spend the majority of their time at day care trying to control the other dogs and their activities. The herders also have a tendency to be overly toy-protective. In general, there is too much chaos in the environment for herder dogs to deal with.

Additional dogs who may not appreciate the day care environment include:

• Dogs having high-arousal tendencies (pit-bulls, Rottweiler’s, some terrier breeds, and mixes thereof). They often go after anything in their path when there is any type of disruption in the environment.
• Dogs with true separation anxiety. Many owners think the solution is to leave them with other people and dogs when the owner cannot be around. This doesn’t work. The dog is usually attached to that specific person and will continue to display severe anxiety in day care (panting, pacing, and whining). These dogs cannot be consoled or distracted by other people or dogs. They seem blind to the activities around them and are usually focused on finding an escape route.

Many older dogs do really well in day care. They’re relaxed, play games with the other dogs, and have fun. These dogs are a much needed asset in regards to fairly and appropriately correcting younger dogs and teaching them good canine skills.

Some dogs need a forced rest and will become tired and cranky (and less tolerant of other) unless crated for a nap. It’s a huge plus for day care staff if the dog is comfortable and happy in a crate, thereby allowing the pet to take stress-free breaks. Almost all day care facilities use time-outs of various lengths (depending on the dog) to calm dogs down and curb unwanted behaviors.

The day care center you choose must have a staff that’s knowledgeable in dog behavior and especially in reading canine body language. Dog play may sometimes look extreme-even violent-to people who are not familiar with normal dog behavior. People have been seen reprimanding or even correcting an older, higher-ranking dog for disciplining a younger (usually adolescent), lower ranking dog, thereby confusing both dogs. There are very few actual “fights” where blood is drawn. It’s imperative that the day care staff be able to tell the difference between normal and inappropriate (or potentially dangerous) canine behaviors. It’s simply not enough for them to love dogs. The staff must understand them.

• Keep commands simple. Words ending in a clearly enunciated constant are best. Utter them just once for a maximum effect: Most dogs have excellent hearing and remember a word for up to two minutes. If they don’t respond, it’s not because they don’t hear you- it’s that they aren’t listening!
• Teach your dog new words. Dogs can understand hundreds of words, but each should be linked to a specific object or action. Dogs can’t understand complete sentences, but they’ll pick up on your tone of voice (happy, sad) and respond accordingly.
• Listen closely. Many dog owners say they can tell by the tone of their dogs bark whether a friend or a stranger is approaching the house.
• Look into his eyes. Rapid blinking is a sign of nervousness or deep thought. If you just gave a command, he may be deciding whether to obey.
• Read the “writing” on the wall. Dogs use urine to communicate. It may indicate territoriality, possessiveness or hostility. If you notice where he marks, you may be able to understand and address his concerns. And if a dog nudges you in the crotch, he’s just trying to know you from your scent.