Doggy daycares often have a high number of dogs in one space, making it challenging for staff to manage individual behaviors effectively. This environment can lead to:

• Reinforcement of Unwanted Behaviors: Your dog may revert to bad habits from being around other dogs still practicing those bad habits, such as excessive barking or jumping.

• Lack of Consistent Training: The absence of structured training during daycare hours can cause your dog to ignore the commands and behaviors you’ve worked hard to instill.

Dogs are some of the most trainable creatures on earth. Their brains want to learn, and their environment relevantly shapes what behaviors become stronger and which behaviors weaken.

We know dogs are incredible learners, but dogs rarely learn good habits from other dogs. In a daycare setting, dogs are often allowed to interact freely, which can result in:

• Negative Social Interactions: It only takes ONE traumatic incident for your dog to develop serious fear or reactivity issues. Then there's the undesirable behaviors dogs can learn from their peers, such as mounting, resource guarding, and rough play.

• Overstimulation: A chaotic environment can exacerbate hyperactivity. Why would your dog be calm at home if they're accustomed to spending their days amongst the chaos of 10-40 other dogs?

Think about it: If your dog got to play with every new dog they ever saw at daycare...wouldn't they get a little frustrated on the walk when you don't let them say hi to every dog they see? Oftentimes, dog reactivity starts with a dog who gets to play with other dogs all the time.

A crowded and noisy daycare often increases a dog’s reactivity:

• Heightened Anxiety: Constant exposure to high-energy situations can make your dog more anxious and reactive, leading to stress-related behaviors like excessive barking or growling.

• Reduced Focus: The overstimulating environment can make it harder for your dog to concentrate, making future training sessions more challenging.

Doggy daycare facilities, particularly larger ones, can pose risks to a dog's physical health due to the potential spread of diseases and infections. In such environments, dogs are often in close quarters, making it easier for illnesses like kennel cough, canine influenza, and parasitic infections to spread rapidly among the dogs. A high-stress environment with constant interaction with strange dogs can weaken a dog's immune system, making them more susceptible to a myriad of health issues.