Benefits of Dog Daycare: The Ultimate Guide to Dog Daycare Services

Let’s be honest – for most dogs time not spent with their owners is time wasted! But some of us don’t have the luxury of being at home with our beloved pet 24/7 and it can be difficult juggling 9-5 office life with being a pet owner. Fortunately, dog daycare offers an excellent solution for busy pet parents who want their dog to stay active and social while they’re away (and not chewing the furniture or engaging in any other pesky bad habits!). In consultation with expert PETstock vet Dr Nick Emerton and Diggiddy Doggy Daycare Manager Whitney King, we’re counting the benefits your dog gets from daycare, and explaining why you should consider enrolling your dog.

What are the Benefits of Dog Daycare?

1. Burns off Excess Energy

Do Dogs Exercise at Daycare?

Dogs need their exercise to stay healthy and happy – but with our busy schedules it’s sometimes not possible to walk your dog each day. Dog daycare takes the stress out of the situation by providing the care and facilities for exercise and playtime. Our daycare services are equipped with a fully supervised 300m² indoor playground with equipment, treats and toys – allowing your dog to stay active, run around and burn off excess energy.

An hour at the leash-free dog park is great. But a session at doggy day care is a next level good time for pooches. And the benefits go well beyond fun.
PETstock Vet Nick Emerton

2. Great for Pet’s Social Skills

Dogs are pack animals, and they thrive on interaction with other dogs and people. Dog daycare provides a supervised environment where dogs can interact, play, and build their social skills.

Dogs are highly social animals. Whilst they adore the companionship of their human family, people are busy and can’t be around all the time. Besides, dogs need and enjoy the company of other dogs on a regular basis. The opportunity to socialise through playful interaction and sniff new friends is a very enriching experience for any dog.
PETstock Vet Dr Nick Emerton

Socialisation is crucial for dogs of all ages (and particularly important in early puppy stages to prevent the development of anti-social habits). It helps improve their overall social skills with dogs and humans alike, reduces anxiety and aggression in social situation and builds resilience in new environments.

Whilst most dogs are keen to interact with other canines, good citizen behaviour is something they need to learn with guidance, training, and experience. Regular sessions at doggy day care provides an excellent platform for social education.
PETstock Vet Dr Nick Emerton

3. Reduces Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a common problem amongst dogs who spend large portions of the day on their own, or dogs whose owners work full time. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety are more likely to engage in undesirable behaviour – like excessive barking, toileting inside and destroying furniture, floorboards, carpets or other household items.

Some new puppy owners call us and ask if we’ll take their dog 5 days a week because their pup is destroying the house. - Whitney King.
Diggiddy Doggy Daycare Dog daycare provides a stimulating environment where your dog can safely interact with other dogs and receive attention from trained team members. This helps reduce separation anxiety, as your dog is no longer left alone for extended periods of time.

There are some dogs that struggle with being left alone. Separation anxiety is not only distressing but can lead to panic and escape-driven behaviour. Doggy day care is a safe and stress-relieving environment for dogs that worry.
PETstock Vet Dr Nick Emerton

4. Keeps Your Dog Supervised and Safe

We hope you’ve not been unfortunate enough to return home to see your dog has dug their way out of your backyard, scaled your neighbour’s wall or jumped over your front fence to make a made break for freedom (hey, it happens!) – but if you have, it’s an awful experience!

Dog daycare offers a safe environment where your dog will be supervised all day – meaning they can’t engage in these Houdini-like exploits, and you have peace of mind throughout the day.

Additionally, PETstock affiliated dog daycares have protocols in place for emergencies, so you know that your dog is in good hands.

FAQS About Dog Daycare

What does a typical day at a dog daycare look like?

A typical day at a dog daycare includes structured playtime, exercise, and rest periods. PETstock affiliated dog daycares have set schedules for feeding, playtime, and rest, which helps maintain routine and structure.

What are the requirements for enrolling my dog in daycare?

Your dog will undergo an Admission Behaviour Assessment (ABA) which will determine their suitability for daycare. Your dog will also need to be up to date with their vaccinations, and they will need to be de-sexed. You’ll need to supply proof of this. This is for the safety of all dogs participating in daycare.

What age is best for dog daycare?

There is no one answer to what age is best for dog daycare. It’s true that socialising young dogs early is good for their social development, but it’s also true that older dogs can be brought into daycare later in life and still benefit from the experience. Your dog will go through an Admission Behaviour Assessment (ABA) which will take their age in account and determine their suitability for daycare.

Do dogs like daycare?

A lot of dogs love daycare – but daycare is not for every dog. It depends on the personality of the dog in question, and how they respond to social stimuli. While daycare is generally beneficial for socialisation and development, it may not be suitable for nervous or anxious dogs. Daycare is a highly stimulating environment which may prove to be too much for some dogs. It’s a good idea to start dogs off small and leave them at daycare for shorter sessions before building them up to full days at daycare.

For a young puppy, who is still developing both physically and mentally it’s so important for us to guide the owners in the responsible direction of not overstimulating their dog. Generally, we can find a happy medium and by putting their dog into daycare for a couple of days a week. The owner finds that their dog is much more relaxed, more receptive to training and learning new things once they’ve had an outlet for their excess energy and learn boundaries and social cues from the handlers and other dogs in the centre which translate to activities outside of daycare.

• Whitney King from Diggiddy Doggy Daycare- Whitney King from Diggiddy Doggy Daycare

How much is dog day care?

PETstock affiliated daycares have a number of different packages to suit your needs – which come at different price points. We offer single-visit passes, and the options go all the way up to value packages which include 50-visit passes! Prices depend on the package chosen. Find further information here.

Can you take dog to daycare every day?

Whether you take your dog to daycare every day depends on the personality of the dog in question. Some dogs will love going to daycare every day, while others would benefit from having rest days in between. Your dog will go through an Admission Behaviour Assessment (ABA) which will determine their suitability for regular daycare.