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Doggy Day Care


westiemum
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As many know I'm in the house-sit-from hell at the moment. So to help the westies, break up their week and help my sanity they've been going to doggy day care - once or sometimes twice a week usually on Thursdays and sometimes on Tuesdays - and they really love it!!

Mac takes full advantage of being the elder statesman of the group - he gets to have a grandpa nap in the middle of the day, lying all over the lovely Alexandra!!! I've snuck in early a couple of times to see how they are doing through the window - and Andy and Sarah just love being with the staff and the other dogs. And andy's confidence is growing by the visit.

And they are all exhausted when they get home - I have three snoring westies on bed at the moment - dinner then bed! Sounds like a bunch of toddlers home from child care!! I'm really pleased with this arrangement - not cheap but it seems to make such a difference to them.

Any one else using commercial doggy day care? smile.gif

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Just not something I would use.

Entire male Dally is targeted by 98% males that we meet. Although he is adored by the girls and brilliant with puppies I would never trust that someone would follow my instructions not to put him with ANY boys.

I suspect Em would be horrified. She has next to zero value for other dogs and would rather work flat out or curl up on the couch. She loves Zig and is quicker to play with other Spaniels (and Labs if they understand her playing style) but would prefer to play (ie train) with me.

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How long and many visits did it take for you to notice a difference Ams? Andy is a very timid puppy farm rescue whose been going since before Christmas - and he's really blossoming. Couldn't be happier with the socialisation and care they all receive. thumbsup1.gif

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wave1.gif TSD - not sure about other places but this place doesn't take any undesexed dogs. And yes I hadn't thought of that but yes I'm sure there are dogs which aren't suited/ wouldn't enjoy it. Lucky that my three seem to really enjoy the company and activitythumbsup1.gif
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We had a shocking experience with Hairy Hounds in Melbourne and I swore off them altogether.

Recently we desexed Gus and I didn't want Rosie jumping all over him and enticing him into zoomies while under the influence so we took a chance on Urban Paws in Yarraville, I probably came off pretty nuts, I filled in the form and wrote a small essay on her nervy issues, the guy who runs it was fabulous. I got a tour and got to meet the dogs, I got shown everything and it was spotless, met the carers and he sat down to have a chat about how best to manage her. We walked in the door after an extensive phone convo and my heart sank he was a guy, she can be funny about guys. He ignored her totally and just threw little bits of chicken when she sniffed him and by the time I left she was all over him, it was really a breath of fresh air from the last place, who dragged her off when I went in and I wasn't allowed to see anything or talk to anyone and the same happened on the way out.

The other great perk was that they put her behind a fence to sniff and say hi first to pick up on any issues, anyone who does have issues gets an awesome day indoors and in their own grassed run. I can't speak highly enough of them and they've totally restored my faith. I got text updates and photos all day, photos of her walking by the river, playing and napping, she looked so happy and I really was expecting a nervous, pee soaked wreck like when I picked her up from Hairy Hounds, but she wiggled out and danced around happy as a clam, I got a full rundown of her day and it made life a lot easier.

Edited by Steph M
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wave1.gif TSD - not sure about other places but this place doesn't take any undesexed dogs. And yes I hadn't thought of that but yes I'm sure there are dogs which aren't suited/ wouldn't enjoy it. Lucky that my three seem to really enjoy the company and activitythumbsup1.gif

Yes I had to strike a number of boarding kennels off my list as they insisted that group exercise was the only way to go. Fortunately I found somewhere that only ever runs dogs from the same family together and insists on feeding them separately.

Glad you found somewhere good Steph!

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How long and many visits did it take for you to notice a difference Ams? Andy is a very timid puppy farm rescue whose been going since before Christmas - and he's really blossoming. Couldn't be happier with the socialisation and care they all receive. thumbsup1.gif

She only went for a couple of visits. She had really heavy wrinkling on her forehead which pushed everything into her eyes and she just couldn't see. After multiple surgeries she needed some heavily managed play with other dogs as she had missed out on litter interaction. Once I knew she hadn't been adversely affected and was happy to moderate her play style to that of the other dog she was allowed to go with the foster parents to a local dog park.

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Steph your place sounds like mine - I got a tour as well and there's a window where you can watch everything that's going on. I think they thought I was crazy as well - I wrote a book on Mac, his surgeries, needs, reduced vision, deafness. Andy was the guinea pig - he went first as he was the one who originally I thought really needed the socialisation and supervision ( he was becoming a problem barker at the house-sit). Then once I was confident they were receiving very good card, I enrolled Mac and Sarah. They always arrive home exhausted but happy. Even after I finally get into my new house I think I'll keep it up once a week. smile.gif

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1396608777[/url]' post='6455317']
1396607576[/url]' post='6455288']

How long and many visits did it take for you to notice a difference Ams? Andy is a very timid puppy farm rescue whose been going since before Christmas - and he's really blossoming. Couldn't be happier with the socialisation and care they all receive. thumbsup1.gif

She only went for a couple of visits. She had really heavy wrinkling on her forehead which pushed everything into her eyes and she just couldn't see. After multiple surgeries she needed some heavily managed play with other dogs as she had missed out on litter interaction. Once I knew she hadn't been adversely affected and was happy to moderate her play style to that of the other dog she was allowed to go with the foster parents to a local dog park.

Sounds line it worked well Ams. thumbsup1.gif

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Oh and another thing I forgot to mention - we've had an insanely hot summer and of course no air on at the house-sit-from-hell. So for days over 35 or so it was good to know they were supervised and in aircon through the heat of the day. Yes for my guys first visits I got and email report during the day which I really appreciated. smile.gif

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Oliver went to doggy day care to try and socialise him . He loved it .

I think it helped with his anxieties with other dogs but he really didn't play just followed other dogs around

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Edited by MTD
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You SA guys, can you name the place you're talking about?

Dog City Day Care at Kent Town is where I go. I believe there is another good one at Ashford (?) which one of my work colleagues uses and she's very happy there too.smile.gif

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Thanks westie :)

There's one at Keswick called doghouse (at the top end of Anzac Highway), perhaps that's the one your friend likes, near Ashford I think.

Edited by wire
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I work in one and love it and my dogs love coming to work with me. not every dog is a daycare dog, but I have seen it help a lot of dogs with confidence issues. one was a rescue, who had been an abused street dog from Taiwan, she was terrified of life when she first came, she is probably one of our most rough and tumble dogs now, doesn't even bother to wait for the gate to open when she arrives, she just jumps into her play yard and goes to town wrestling with anyone willing lol. she had been terrified of big dogs before...her best friend is my dog, Gypsy..a Heeler/GSD.

Edited by cali
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I work at two :)

I would not hesitate to recommend one of them to ANYONE with any type of dog. They are fabulous catering to individual dogs' needs, and it is fully airconditioned, the staff are excellent and all the dogs seem to blossom. They play movies for them during the day, have games, put tunnels or play structures out and it is fully mopped 4 times a day. The set up and toys are all on rotation so it is different everyday. Even the nervous dogs come out of thier shell!

The other, i work in the grooming salon, and i do not feel as confident recommending them. They do not mistreat the dogs or anything like that, however the staff interact with them much less, it is not airconditioned and can get very hot. Not kept as clean and some of the rowdy dogs are left in with the quieter ones, which i do not really like as it could get messy and it seems to freak out the quieter ones. It is definitely not value for money like the first. They also discriminate against breeds which i also do not agree with, an individual dog basis is much better. Considering they have some not so friendly dogs of other non-bully breeds..

Happy to share details of the places if anyone is Brisbane wants to know :)

ETA: i have only taken my dogs once, and it was at the second place. I never took them again as that day no one was constantly supervising them. I didnt feel comfortable with that.

I think Deniki would love the first place (LOVES dog parks), Kokoda would learn to love it- though not for the social aspect i feel, and Henry is very socially impaired, so it would take a lot i think to get him to play with other dogs. He'd probably like the treats they give :laugh:

Edited by denali
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