The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between a Dog Walker and a Dog Daycare near me

Hello, I'm Rachel, and my journey with doggie daycare began when I found myself in need of reliable care for my own dog. Through my extensive work at five different dog daycares and my involvement in dog walking and rescues, I have gained valuable experience and knowledge in the field. I understand the importance of finding the right "dog daycare near me" that meets your pet's needs. With my expertise, I can guide you in exploring the effectiveness of both dog walkers and local dog daycares in your area, helping you make an informed decision for your furry friend's care. Let's embark on this journey together and find the perfect solution for your pet!

Plenty of exercise and mental stimulation

✓ Dog Walker: Walking is the most natural form of exercise for dogs, providing both physical and mental stimulation through sniffing and observing their surroundings. Research has even shown that sniffing alone can be just as tiring as walking. Pack walks can also offer excellent socialization opportunities, potentially even better than playtime at a dog daycare.

✓ Dog Daycare: It may come as a surprise to many dog owners, but the reality is that a dog daycare does not always provide adequate exercise for your dog. While the main objective of the dog attendant is to ensure a safe and calm environment for all dogs, this can also mean limiting playtime and interactions between dogs. In fact, daycare staff who are properly trained know that playtime that engages more than two dogs should be stopped for the safety of the yard. As a result, most dogs in daycare end up lounging around rather than playing, and often receive little exercise or mental stimulation.

Socialization opportunities with other dogs

✓ Dog Walker: Socialization for dogs is not just about playing with other dogs. It's about teaching them how to control their greetings and interactions. Dog walking can be an effective way to socialize your dog as they learn to follow your cues on when to approach other dogs. Pack walks can also help your dog learn to behave calmly around other dogs.

✓ Dog Daycare: Dog daycare can offer socialization opportunities for dogs, allowing them to interact with a variety of other dogs and learn important social skills. Additionally, a well-trained dog handler can supervise and correct any negative behavior that arises during playtime. However, it's crucial to ensure that the staff are properly trained to recognize and correct negative behavior in the moment. Without proper training, negative behavior can go unnoticed and potentially escalate into something more serious. When considering a dog daycare, it's important to do your research and understand how the staff are trained to ensure your dog's safety and well-being.

One-on-one attention and individualized care

✓ Dog Walker: Dog walkers are dedicated to providing individualized attention to your dog(s). They take into account your dog's unique needs and preferences, including walking routes, duration, and gear, to ensure that each walk is tailored to your dog's specific requirements. With a dog walker, your dog is guaranteed to receive the undivided attention they deserve.

✘ Dog Daycare: At a dog daycare, the primary focus is on the collective well-being and safety of the dogs, rather than on individualized care. This means that the handler must divide their attention among all of the dogs in their care, which can result in a limited amount of attention for each dog. Additionally, giving too much attention to one dog can cause resource guarding among the other dogs, leading to aggression and unrest in the play yards. While dogs at a daycare may receive some individualized care, such as feeding and medication schedules or add-on services that the owner pays for, the level of personalized attention and care provided by a dog walker cannot be matched.

Longer care hours per reservation

✘ Dog Walker: Dog walks are usually limited to half hour or hour intervals. This means your dog will only be attended to during the reservation time-slot.

✓ Dog Daycare: Dog daycare facilities typically offer extended operating hours, some up to 12 hours per day, which can be beneficial for pet owners who need longer care for their dogs. However, it's important to consider your goals when making a reservation. If you're looking for a service that will provide your dog with both physical and mental stimulation, a dog walker may be the better option. On the other hand, if you just need your dog to be supervised for longer hours, a daycare may be a good solution.

Offers grooming services

✘ Dog Walker: It's in the name. Dog walkers provide walks, not grooming services; otherwise they'd be called Dog Groomers! ✓ Dog Daycare: Dog Daycares will offer add-on services for an extra price. Grooming and training can be among these services.

Better for dogs with high anxiety

✓ Dog Walker: Dog walkers can be a great option for dogs with high anxiety as they offer the opportunity for one-on-one attention and exercise in a familiar environment. A consistent routine with a trusted dog walker can help to alleviate anxiety and provide a sense of stability for the dog. Additionally, a skilled dog walker can use calming techniques and redirect the dog's focus during the walk to help reduce anxiety symptoms. ✘ Dog Daycare: Dog daycare offers socialization opportunities with other dogs and trained staff that can help manage any negative behaviors. However, for dogs with high anxiety, a new and unfamiliar environment can trigger even more anxiety, which can lead to negative behaviors such as excessive barking or aggression towards other dogs. Additionally, some daycares have a high dog-to-staff ratio, which can result in less individual attention and care for each dog. It's important to research and choose a reputable daycare that has a low dog-to-staff ratio and experienced staff who can provide personalized attention and care to dogs with high anxiety.

Better for dogs withs dog-to-dog aggression

✓ Dog Walker: Dog walkers offer private walks, so you don't have to worry about your dog's aggression issues. It's important to choose an experienced dog walker who knows how to handle a dog on a lead when other dogs approach. With a one-on-one setting, your dog can receive the attention and exercise they need without the risk of negative interactions with other dogs. ✘ Dog Daycare: To ensure a safe environment for all dogs, daycares do not accept dogs with aggression issues. While some daycares may offer "private" daycare, this option tends to be more expensive and often involves keeping the dog in a kennel for long periods of time. This can cause your dog a great deal of anxiety that can be avoided by keeping your dog at home and hiring a dog walker.

Cost effective per reservation

✓ Dog Walker: Dog walks are typically less expensive than a full day of daycare. Walks can start at $15. ✘ Dog Daycare: Dog daycares will typically offer packages that can offer you a better bang for your buck. However, even with these packages, a full day of daycare could cost you a minimum of $45.

Ultimately, dog walkers can be a great option for pets who need individualized attention and a customized exercise routine. They are also often more flexible and affordable than dog daycare.

Dog daycare can be a great option for dog parents who feel more comfortable having their dog in a facility with human interaction instead of home alone, and dog daycares may provide additional services such as grooming and training. However, it can be more expensive and may not provide as much individualized attention and exercise. It may also expose your pet to potential illnesses and behavioral issues from other dogs.

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If after reviewing this guide, you feel a dog walker would be a good fit for your dog, book a meet & greet with The BFF Club today! In addition to dog walks, we also offer pet drop-ins and pet transport. We look forward to meeting you!

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