As puppies age, their world constantly expands and changes. For their pet parents, one of these stages may be the introduction of doggy daycare. But with all of the unpredictability of puppyhood, it can be hard to know for those pet parents when their dog is ready for the daycare experience.
If you’re a pet parent in this position, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll explore the signs that your puppy may be ready for daycare.
They’re at Least 4 Months Old
You’ll notice as we go through our list that many of the signs your puppy is ready for daycare are related to passing developmental, training, and social milestones. For that reason, four months is a good age benchmark when you’re considering an all-day care. If your puppy is under four months old, they simply may not have had enough time yet to experience everything they need to before they’re ready for daycare. There are some daycares that specialize in puppies only that will accommodate younger puppies. When in doubt, contact the daycare directly to discuss their policies.
If They’re Older than 6 Months, They’ve Been Spayed/Neutered
At Houston Bark Park, we accept dogs starting at 4 months of age. During that time, dogs do not need to be spayed or neutered. However, we do require dogs to be spayed and neutered once they are physically ready (for most dogs, this is around or after the 6 month mark). This is a common requirement for reputable daycares that prioritize the safety of their dogs.
As puppies approach sexual maturity, it’s not uncommon to encounter negative situations in an off leash environment. Although behavior changes may not be as easily noticeable in intact adolescent dogs at home, they become apparent in daycare settings. The possibility of unwanted pregnancies arises as dogs get older and reach sexual maturity. You can never underestimate the determination of intact boys and girls to find each other (eek).
Additionally, unaltered dogs - especially males - are often singled out by altered males. They are picked on due to their hormonal difference to the rest of the pack. We want to avoid this situation during daycare.
As a pet parent, you know what is best for your dog. We always encourage parents to speak with their vets to make the most informed decision regarding their dog’s spay or neuter. We do not have a personal stance on when the best age is to fix a pet. If your dog is a larger breed, your vet may recommend that you wait until 8 or 12 months before doing the spay/neutering surgery. Although we cannot accept unaltered dogs over six months at HBP, we are always happy to see them back if/when they have the procedure done!
Note The above guidelines apply to daycare. We do offer boarding options for intact dogs at our Energy Corridor location.
They’ve Been to the Vet
Any reputable daycare will want to make sure that your puppy is medically ready to interact with other dogs. This ensures the safety of your puppy and their new friends. A huge part of this is that they’ve already seen a vet and had the following services:
At least one initial checkup, and received all rounds of vaccinations.
Vaccinations for Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella.
We also recommend puppies receive the lepto and CIV vaccinations, but they’re not required at most daycares.
Flea & tick preventative.
These are the bare minimum core services that show that your puppy is ready to interact with others. They’ve been checked out by a vet, they’ve received all their vaccinations, and they’re protected against pets during outdoor play.
They’re Ready for Training
We’re all always learning - humans and dogs alike. Your puppy doesn’t need to be fully trained to attend doggy daycare. However, by four months they should know their name and have begun basic obedience.
Your puppy is at a prime age to start training, but it can be intimidating in a group setting. A great option is our Academy Program at Houston Bark Park. This daycare experience includes enrichment and training activities in a smaller group setting. This is less stimulating than the full dog park, and it also gives puppies valuable time to learn. The academy program is also great for pups who have the basics down and are ready for more training.
Related Content: Explore Academy Programs
They’ve Experienced Short-Term Separation
Daycare is a new experience for both you and your pup. They will be asked to spend time away from you during the day. While we find that most of our dogs love the experience and adapt, it’s still a good idea to introduce your dog to short-term separation before attending daycare for the first time. This doesn’t mean that your puppy needs to have experience alone overnight. A simple place to start is kennelling your dog and spending a few hours apart while you run errands.
They’ve Got Energy to Burn
Does your puppy get the zoomies often? Then daycare may be the perfect solution for them. Doggy daycare is great for younger dogs because they typically are full of energy. Daycare lets them burn off all that energy during the day by running and playing. Beyond just the physical, it also gives them mental exercise.
At Houston Bark Park, we offer several amenities that are designed to give dogs of all ages the opportunity to burn off energy:
Large outdoor parks with plenty of room to run safely. (Lined with turf, so it can be sanitized.)
Splash pads that squirt water, for playing and cooling off.
Bubble cannons that shoot biteable bubbles in big bursts of foam.
Group bonding with other dogs.
And of course, dogs play with each other which not only helps them burn off energy, but it also helps puppies learn and reinforce necessary social skills.
If you’re considering doggy daycare for your puppy, consider our guidelines above. Your puppy will be safest and happiest if they’re emotionally and physically ready for daycare.
If you live in the Houston area, check out our dog daycare services available at three convenient locations.
Houston Bark Park and Daycare is a family-owned doggy daycare and boarding establishment that offers lodging, grooming, obedience training, and enrichment for pups in the Houston area. We have three locations:
Address: 4905 Maxie Street, Houston, TX 77007
Phone: 713. 864. 2771
Address: 710 W 27th Street Houston, TX 77008
Phone: 281. 888. 1428
Address: 3663 S Dairy Ashford Road Houston, TX 77082
Phone: 832. 328. 5844
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