So you've made the decision to send your dog to doggy school, great! Here are some tips to help you in the search for a responsible and professional facility.
1. The visit
Not all daycares are created equal so make sure you take the time to make a visit and personally check where you will be sending your dog. Are the dogs friendly and social together? Are the staff happy and knowledgeable? Is there plenty of space for the dogs to explore?
2. Questions
Make sure you have a list of questions to ask your guide, they should be happy to answer any questions. Here are a few examples:
Are dogs separated by size?
What is the handler to to dog ratio?
What is your emergency procedure?
Will my dog be left alone unsupervised?
3. Puppies
Ensure that they have adequate procedures in place to deal with puppies and understand that pups need rest and managed play. Do the puppies have a clean and safe space to rest? Is there enough enrichment for them? Are they left to play uncontrolled all day?
4. Policies & Procedures
Check if they have any procedures in place if there were to be an emergency like a bite. A responsible daycare would have taken all the details necessary and have the procedures in place to deal with such an incident.
5. Referrals
Ask for personal referrals from family and friends, turning to your close friends and family will usual yield great results!