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Ok a really dumb question lol. How do I find a decent day care for a puppy. Was so excitd when I got little Alex than reality set in. I will need to find day care and have my husband pick him up after work, or I won`t be going to Jamaica this summer. Not a happy thought...
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
I see you are in USA I use the day care periodically and I got a referal from their vet, so try a vet. The poster Peasie will prolly step in and give you some hints soon as I am pretty sure I read where she said she uses a Day care of her dogs and she is in the USA. good luck
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
Thanks so much Stormmey...Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
keesha what area of the US are you in?If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.orgComment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
I am in Calif Kia...Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
if you do a search on doggy day care in your area you should find quite a few.If you don't fight for what you deserve, you deserve what you get.
We are > Fossil Fuels --- Bill McKibben 350.orgComment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
I would suggest that you go armed with information to find the best situation for your dog that you can. Google the name of the facilities that you have available. You may find some info there but do be aware that some of the reviews may be tainted for one reason or another so you want to make more than one visit in person, unannounced. Go as a potential customer, not with an appointment.
<span style="font-weight: bold">CLEAN!</span> The place should be clean to your satisfaction what you offer at home...
Large dogs and small dogs should be kept in seperate quarters. The mixture of the two can lend to the smaller dogs in a vulernable position should a personality conflict occur. Dogs have personality conflicts pretty much the same as people do and the little ones will never win over a large breed.
Young dogs should not be just thrown into a situation with older more experienced ones and left unattended.
Daycare as a whole is a wonderful thing, but a problem with some of the daycare situation as I saw it, and I did see an episode with Victoria Stillwell on this is that some dog owners will substitute quality time that they should be spending with their dog with the day care.
For example:
Doggie goes to daycare/owner goes to work. Both doggie and owner are tired at the end of the day and neither seems to interact with each other at the end of the day. I heard "he's tired at night and just wants to sleep". Well, that's great and all but there is then something missing from the equation...dog and owner need to do some interacting and learning together for a fulfilling relationship.
Doggie daycare is the greatest thing since human childcare as far as I can see...but it cannot be taken lightly.
You can also find boarding facilities for Alex when it is time to travel. This might figure into your plans for daycare. Some places are daycare only and some are full fledged boarding/daycare facilities. If you are lucky to find both in one place that would be so great as the dogs really do bond with regular caretakers.
As far as frequency of daycare is concerned, I wouldn't do it 5 days a week. If you cannot trust Alex to roam your home for a whole day alone unsupervised, then I suggest you confine him to a crate on the occaisoal day he might not go to daycare. The routine needs to break up some or the routine will seem mandatory to Alex. Home confinement will teach him some barriers for when you do want to leave him and he will be used to it and the whole thing may not be so traumatic. It will also be easier for him to adapt to other situations....I call subjecting the young ones to every situation I can "bomb proofing" them. They can and will adapt to whatever comes their way and that is a goal you should strive for.
Dogs are such creatures of habit.... and on the other hand are so very adaptable!Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
Do you have a relationship with a good groomer yet, I like HOME baby sitting situations and there are a lot of people out three that do it. They usually advertise on the BB of groomers etc. Try looking in the ads and visit their home and see how it is.Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
Nanook and Marilyn thanks you so very much for taking time to help me with suggestions. I would not leave until June and by then Alex will be 8 months old. The ideal situation would be to have someone come into my home. That seems ridiculous as what would they do for 8 hours lol. I have never had anything this tiny. He will be 5 lbs as an adult. I wonder also how long would be too long to leave him. Although if I do out of home care my husband would pick him up in the afternoons after work. Some how I think I am doing everything wrong lol. He does not like to be alone so I have taken him everywhere with me. When I first got him he would go in his crate for short periods. Now I put him in just to get him use to it and he will cry the whole freaken time even if it is only 45 min.Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
Do you have a friend you can get to come and stay at your home when you are away? It's nice to have your place watched over as well. I do this since I have a multi dog house and I like knowing someone is here. I house/dogsit for a couple of friends as well.
That said...you do really need to be the "alpha" here. Little Alex is doing a find job of manipulating you! You need to be the boss. It's not good for him or you for him to feel like he is the boss. He needs to look up to you as alpha.
Feed him in his crate, have a soft blanket in there and some toys and goodies. Give him his treats in there. It can become his little den, a place he loves. really!
If he starts crying in his crate, cover it with a blanket or a towel or whatever. If you come to his aid even ONE TIME...you have then taught him that if he cries you will come.
Think of it this way. If you ever want to be able to leave him and go anywhere...and have him not drive everyone within earshot crazy...he needs to learn.
Lord knows it ain't easy having to be the alpha boss...those eyes combined with the soft or loud whining sound is not easy to walk away from!
Little Alex is a real sweetie and by doing these things you will be doing him a huge favor because as I see it, you will be occasionally leaving him at the groomers too. I see dogs traumatized by being left for those couple of hours and some will sit and cry the whole time. It doesn't have to be that way...
Also, as long as I mentioned grooming. Alex is going to need a few visits a year. You can start doing things that will make him be a joy to groom...or do nothing and hope he doesn't act out when you leave him.
The earlier the better. Even if it is just a bath and brush. If you are not doing your own toenail clipping, you can usually walk in to a grooming shop and they do it cheaply, 5 bucks here.
Anyway, the toy breeds are notorious for being horrible to trim nails. The toy breeds also need toenail trimming more often than most larger breeds, so it's best to get them used to it young. A fantastic thing for you to do is get Alex used to you messing with his feet. When he's sitting in your lap and you're petting him, play with his toes, rub them, hold his little feet...talk to him and make it a game. As long as he's in your lap, get him used to being brushed. He'll have a 50 or 100 grooms in his lifetime might as well make it pleasant for him and the groomer!Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
Thank you again Nanook for all your suggestions. i really need them. He is just too adorable but will grow into a holy terror if I don`t get a handle on things soon....Comment
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Re: on lol. How do I find a decent day cDay care for a puppy
yeah ... what everybody else said
and, btw, didn't anyone around here inform you that it is "against the law" to
start a thread about little Alex without including at least one new photo of him?
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