pet daycare and separation anxiety in dogs

If your dog is a social creature and loves to be around other dogs and people, daycare is a great option to give him time away from the home and help socialize him. Daycare can also give you peace of mind that your best friend is safe and happy during the day while you are at work, school, or running errands. Daycare can also keep your dog from becoming bored and destructive while you are gone. However, there are a couple of instances when your dog should skip the trip to daycare and stay home. 

Your Dog Is Sick

If your dog is showing any signs of sickness, you should keep him home from daycare. Due to the very nature of doggie daycare -- running, playing, wrestling, and tons of close contact with other dogs all day long -- germs and illnesses are very easily spread from one dog to the next. Keep your dog home as a courtesy to other dogs and their owners, but also as a courtesy to your own dog. Doing your part to cut down on the spread of illness at the daycare will also keep your dog from passing off an illness that will get passed back to him.

Another Dog Is Sick

Most doggie daycares require all dogs to be vaccinated against kennel cough before they are allowed to attend. However, the kennel cough vaccine only protects against a few strains of kennel cough; a dog can still get sick from another of the dozens of strains of the illness. If you have been made aware that another dog is coughing, sneezing or has a runny nose, consider keeping your dog home for a few days (or a week to ten days if possible), to give your dog the best chance of staying healthy and free of this annoying illness.

Your Dog Isn't Feeling Playful

If your dog is just not feeling playful, you should probably keep him home from daycare. Just like people, dogs have their own unique personalities. Some days, your dog just may not feel like socializing or playing with other dogs. Sending him to daycare likely won't make him magically "snap out" of his mood. It may make it worse and end with a scuffle with another dog or a snap or bite. Keep your dog home, let him decompress, and then take him back to daycare when he feels like seeing his friends again.

For more information and tips, talk with different doggie daycare and boarding facilities, like Crossroads Pet Resort.