5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Daycare
By Rae Patterson, Writer and Animal Enthusiast
Dogs bark for all kinds of reasons. Barking is one type of communication dogs have between one another and with humans. But everyone can agree that excessive barking will drive you mad.
A study by Ohio State University suggests nearly one third of people surrendering their pets do so because of behavioral issues. Excessive barking is a common behavior problem listed amongst dog owners, but it is not impossible to overcome.
Dogs, puppies especially, learn good (or bad) behaviors by watching the dogs around them. At Bark + Boarding, we understand that excessive barking is one of those make-or-break issues for a lot of dog owners and we help to greatly reduce this problem by providing a consistent and healthy environment for your dog to practice good behavior.
Practice makes perfect! Bringing your dog to daycare starting at an early age not only trains your dog more efficiently on how to behave, but is the best way to ensure that your puppy gets a Green Dog pass during our daycare evaluation service.
Even if your dog already has a longstanding barking problem, don’t fret! There is still hope for your precious pup. Here are the top reasons why doggy daycare might be the solution for your rowdy Rover:
Good Examples: Even older dogs can learn better behavior more quickly by observing other dogs receiving praise and rewards.
Positive Energy Release: At doggy daycare, your dog will be entertained and exercised all day, making for a happily spent dog when you bring him home.
Making Friends: Another common reason for excessive barking is that your dog feels threatened by the presence of other animals and people. Socialization at a daycare center is a great way to overcome aggression issues.
Hanging Out With the Pack: Some dogs suffer from separation anxiety, whether due to past abuse or simply feeling lonely during the day. Even a couple of days a week at daycare could help relieve your dog’s depression or distress.
Consistency: Any type of dog training or re-training relies on all the humans they interact with having consistent behavioral expectations and following through with rebukes. At a daycare your dog will be supervised by knowledgeable staff who have the skills to work with your dog.
Keep in mind, it’s not just barking to keep an eye on. Sometimes your pet may growl, hide, or nip as a way of finding his comfort zone. At Bark + Boarding we pay attention not only to barking but also to general body language (i.e. a tail between the legs).
While other daycares may instantly reject a dog for seemingly aggressive behaviors, we know the difference between threatening behaviors and nervous behavior and give your dog time calm down and get used to the environment.
That way, your pup first gets acclimated and comfortable with our staff and environment and knows it’s a safe place. Then we can conduct our evaluation at their pace to introduce them to their new four-legged friends!
If you have a question about your pet’s behavior, feel free to email info@barkandboarding.com. If you, your pet and behavior are featured in an article, you will receive $10 off any of our services!