Stop any dog professional, enthusiast or owner on the street and ask them for advice. You’ll get an earful about anything, from the best food to feed them to how much exercise they need a day. So who do you turn to when it comes to what your dog will be doing while you’re out of the house? This is one of the most important decisions you’ll be making for your dog and the only one qualified to help is your dog trainer or behaviorist.
There are many dogs that benefit from a day at daycare, but maybe not as many as you might think. Just as there is only a small percentage of humans that want to be surrounded by other humans all day, every day; the same rings true for your best friend. What makes it even more confusing is that many of the behaviors exhibited when a dog is feeling over stimulated and anxious, are often mistaken or completely over looked.
Have you ever heard somebody say, “He just bit her one day, there was absolutely no warning..” What should be added to this exclamation is the admonishment “..that we could see.” The majority of daycares are staffed with wonderful, dog-loving people. This, however, does not make them qualified to read the situation like a dog trainer or behaviorist can. Even if they truly believe your dog is having the time of its life every day, they are often not capable of seeing the truth.
One of the most dangerous moments, where many daycares fail wholeheartedly, is the introduction of a new dog into the pack. Often, if they have any entry qualifications at all, it’s only to meet a single demo dog. This is entirely unlike being released into a room of other dogs that have a standing relationship. Every time we see it done, it makes us cringe down to our toes. Everywhere a dog trainer sees near misses, a dog enthusiast will be exclaiming, “He’s doing great!”
So let’s talk about your other option, whether you’re in Raleigh, Durham, or Brier Creek: a Packman Dog Walking & Better Behavior dog walker. We even take it a step further than other dog walking companies; you’ll have a trained dog behaviorist working with your dog every day. We still want your dog to get the socialization she enjoys and believe pack walking offers both structure and training opportunities. We consistently reinforce good habits and you’ll be pleased to see a difference in leash manners as well as a tired pup every evening.
If you are interested in an even more immersive experience for your dog, bump it up to our ride-along daycare and training service. His or her day would be spent accompanying our trainers and behaviorists to other clients, swimming in our dog pool, Dognition mental stimulation games, joining in other pack walks and a generous amount of one on one time with their other favorite person, your dog trainer. We’re even happy to provide pick up and drop off, just let us know!
Be cautious about the decisions you make for your dog while you’re away. Do your research, consult professionals and remember that Packman Dog Walking & Better Behavior is always here to help.
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