You adopted a puppy because you have room in your home and love in your heart. However, it's tough to communicate to your pet that you need to leave him at home five days a week to go to work. You've worked on training him to be alone during the day (and even considered getting a second dog to keep him company), but if your gut tells you it just might not be enough, is there another option? Is puppy day care a good option for your pet?
Similar to day care for babies and children, a day care for your puppy is a place you can bring him during the daytime to be cared for while you're not around. These facilities often have structured activities, free play time, and quiet areas where pups can escape for a nap.
A dog day care is different from pet sitting or kennel boarding. Pet sitting usually consists of one person watching only your dog or a small group of pets, in your home or theirs, for as little as a few hours to a few days at a time. Boarding your dog is usually a multi-day, overnight option for situations like a vacation or a home renovation.
Even if it's just for a few hours a day, it's important to make sure a dog day care is a good environment for your pet. Consider places that allow for an initial assessment. If you simply drop and go, you'll never know what the day care is like while you're away. But if you bring your pet with you to check the place out, you can see him interact with the staff and other animals. There should be enough room for all dogs to play, and the facilities should be clean.
You can also ask who will be watching your pet while you're away. There should always be a human "pack leader" and assistants to help and socialize the animals. Look for places where the human-to-dog ratio is no higher than one adult to every ten to fifteen dogs (one to five is even better if possible, says The Bark).
Before attending a dog day care, your pet should be trained well enough to answer commands. Some facilities may even require proof of an obedience training before welcoming your dog. Many groups also need confirmation from your veterinarian that your dog is up to date on common vaccines, such as rabies and distemper.
The initial assessment will help your pet understand the environment before the big day, so there's not too much prep you need to do. If your schedule can accommodate it (and the facility allows) you may want the first day or two to be half-days. This will help your dog understand that you're not ditching him with the new cool humans and other fun dogs, and that you'll be back later. This can be especially important for young puppies that may have separation anxiety or former shelter dogs that may be fretful when dropped off in a strange place. See if you can stay for a little longer in the morning to play with your pet and make him feel more at ease.
One of the biggest reasons to send your pet to doggy day care is to let him socialize and release energy! When you pick up your pet at the end of the day, you want to see that he's happy, healthy, and tired. All facilities plan their activities differently, so choose one that you like best. Some may have free play all day, while others may schedule structured activities. At the end of the day, ask for a report on your dog's activities if you aren't already given one. Some puppy day cares will even text you a picture of your pet at play mid-day.
Similar to a children's day care, the staff should be providing you with reports of how your dog's day went. They'll be able to point out if there are any questionable interactions between dogs or if anyone needed to be separated. The facility should also enforce a strict stay-home-when-you're-sick policy (yes, pets get sick too!), and if another dog is showing signs of an illness, such as kennel cough, they should alert you right away.
However, accidents do happen, and it's important to know that the business where you leave your pet has insurance and is bonded. Since your pet cannot speak for himself and you aren't there to witness any issues firsthand, you don't want to be responsible for medical bills or property damages. A facility with video monitoring should make the top of your list, though it isn't necessary.
Most importantly — relax. Your pet is going to love puppy day care and you will, too!
Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
Supports energy & beautiful coat. Helps keep immune system, joints, heart & kidneys healthy
Low calories & L-Carnitine help promote ideal body weight, support healthy mobility & maintain heart function
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin dry dog food is gentle on stomachs while nourishing skin & promoting a lustrous coat.
Beef & Barley Entrée with great taste and precisely balanced nutrition to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Chicken & barley entree with great taste and precisely balanced nutrition to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day one
Over 70% of dogs lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition. Delicious food in a small bite size.
A delicious complement to the nutrition of Science Diet Small Paws 7+ dry dog food
Tailored nutrition for less active adult Small & Mini dogs requiring a low calorie food to help maintain a healthy weight & lifestyle. Specially made with nibble size kibble.
Supports digestive health, nourishes skin and promotes a lustrous coat
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin dry dog food is gentle on stomachs while nourishing skin & promoting a lustrous coat. In a delicious small bite size
Science Diet's breakthrough nutrition supports ultimate digestive well-being & healthy microbiome for dogs age 7+
Fewer calories for less active large breed dogs
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health, tailored for unique needs of Small and Mini puppies
18% lower calories vs. Science Diet Adult
Clinically proven kibble technology to reduce plaque & tartar build-up, specially designed for small & mini dogs
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Get helpful advice on basic care requirements to keep your aging dog healthy and happy in his golden years.
While getting a dog to take a pill can be tricky, learn valuable tips for helping them to take pills, liquids and other medications without a fuss.
Learn what to do if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, including determining where they were sprayed and tips for getting the skunk smell off of your dog.
Learn how to manage feeding two dogs at once, including why separation is important and tips if you have one dog that tries to steal the other dog's food.
First-time foster parents: Learn about the process of fostering a puppy or dog, including how to prepare, challenges & rewards that come with it.
Explore your options for boarding or kenneling your puppy when you travel. Learn what you should and should not do here.
Learn the types of gastroenteritis in dogs, the various ways symptoms that can show up, treatment options and when it's serious enough for a vet visit.
Discover the best tips & tricks for removing pee stains and odor from carpet, including stains that are recent vs. those that have set in for some time.
Luxating patella in dogs, or kneecap displacement, is a common orthopedic disease. Learn the different stages of this condition & how it's usually treated.
Learn when braces can be an option for dogs, like when a dog has severe bite or teeth alignment issues, and how they can help dogs chew & eat normally.
It's common for dogs to eat faster than humans, but learn why exactly some dogs might eat too fast and any health issues that can come up because of it.
Learn how to train two puppies at once with these tips. It's a challenging undertaking, but possible with hard work and love.
Concerned that your dog is sleeping all day? Learn how many hours dogs should be sleeping and why things like age have an impact on his sleeping habits.
Aging is a part of life, and it is no different in dogs. Learn to detect the signs of aging in your dog, so you can be prepared to help ease the transition.
Does shaming your dog have a positive effect, or are you just encouraging more bad behavior? Learn more about how he interprets feelings of guilt & shame.
Learn how to stop your dog from begging at the dinner table, and understand how it can help contribute to his health.
Learn more about if female dogs can have periods, when they can happen and a lot more about their estrus cycle.
Are you wondering why dogs lick their butt? Learn why your dog might be licking their butt and how you can help them find relief from their discomfort.
If you're looking for an easy way to create healthy, homemade dog treats for your dog, try one of these 2 recipes from Hill's Pet Nutrition.
Are you looking for a way to keep your dog safe? There are many options for dog enclosures, and it's important to know what to look for.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
©2025 Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U.S. only; registration status in other geographies may be different. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool