Canine Connection

In a society where two-income households are the norm, and people are spending longer and longer hours at work, meeting all of your dog’s needs for exercise and companionship can be difficult. Take a walk through any shelter in the country, and you’ll find many dogs who’ve been surrendered by their owners because they simply didn’t have enough time for them. It’s sad, but the truth is it’s not uncommon for our circumstances to change in the lifetime of our dogs. Stay-at-home moms may return to work, people get divorced and promoted. All of these things may affect how long your dog is left home alone. The good news is giving up your beloved pet isn’t the only answer.

Doggy Daycare centers are cropping up around the country. I know both my veterinarian and the training facility I use offer doggie daycare. My pet sitter also offers a daily dog walking service or trip to the local dog park. If I can think of this many options without really trying, I can only assume that there are more of these places out there. If you feel like your dog could use a little extra attention during the day, check out your local doggy daycare.

Keep in mind that most doggy daycare facilities will have your dog spending a large portion of his day playing with other dogs. If your dog is not too friendly with other dogs, you may do better with a dog walking service. Some questions to ask before leaving your dog in someone else’s care:

• Is the facility licensed and bonded as needed?
• Are all dogs attending required to be up-to-date on vaccinations?
• Is there an area dogs can retreat to if they need a break from other dogs?
• Is the facility clean?
• How many dogs will be there each day?
• How many staff members will be there to attend to the dogs?