How to Prepare Your Dog for Their First Day at Doggy Day Care
Starting doggy day care is an exciting milestone for you and your furry friend! It’s an opportunity for your dog to socialise, exercise, and enjoy themselves in a safe and structured environment. With a little preparation, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free transition. Here are some practical tips to help you and your dog prepare for their first big day at Acres for Dogs.
1. Schedule a Visit to the Day Care Facility
Not essential but if your circumstances permit, we recommend visiting the facility before your dog’s official first day. This allows your dog to explore its new surroundings and become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells. At Acres for Dogs, our team will be delighted to show you around and introduce your dog to our spacious outdoor areas, heated chillout cabins, amazing swimming pools and paddling pools, and dedicated play zones with Acres of lush paddocks. A prior visit can also help reduce any first-day nerves for your pet, and, in our experience, provides a great deal of comfort and peace of mind to owners! When visiting a doggy day care facility, always do so when the dogs are in session to get a clear picture and the greatest peace of mind.
2. Ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date
Keeping your dog’s vaccinations up to date is, of course, vital for their health and that of other dogs. For Doggy Day Care operators, holding proof that all of their guests have current vaccinations is a legal requirement. The mandatory vaccinations required by any Doggy Day Care provider are Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, Canine Parainfluenza, and Leptospirosis. If this seems a little overwhelming, please don’t worry, your dog is almost certainly covered for the above already! All vets in the UK provide the above vaccinations to all their clients. Generally, this is done with two combination vaccines called DHPP and Lepto. At Acres 4 Dogs we also require our guests to be vaccinated for Kennel Cough, which any vet will be able to provide. Although not a legal requirement, in our vast experience operating a Doggy Daycare Centre, we believe it is in the best interests of the dogs in our care.
3. What to Pack
Surprisingly little! In fact, the question; “What to leave at home?” is just as pertinent as what to bring. Acres 4 Dogs will provide you with a Welcome Pack when you enrol for Doggy Day Care, which will have a lot more detail but here are a few of the highlights.
- Most puppies have a lunchtime feed. You are welcome to send this daily or supply us with approximately a one-month supply of lunches, in which case we will let you know about a week in advance when stock needs replenishing. You can, of course, advise us of specific dietary requirements when you enrol.
- Your dog should be wearing a collar (with quick release connector, not a buckle) and a metal ID tag. We will use our own leads when collecting your dog, you will not need to provide this.
- On cold or particularly wet days and depending on the nature of your dog’s natural coat, you may wish to send your dog in a coat. This should be a waterproof coat rather than a fleece, woolly jumper or fashion accessory.
- There is no need to pack toys, beds, blankets or other items. We are all about dogs socialising and playing with other dogs. We have plenty to keep the dogs entertained and many beds for rest.
4. Keep up the Socialisation
Our service is for sociable dogs that are [of course] safe to be around other dogs but also that will benefit from being around other dogs. As you would expect, we see a wide spectrum of personalities from the uber confident, high-octane pups and dogs who hit the ground as if they have been coming for years, to the more reserved and less confident who will take more time, encouragement and nurturing. If your dog is in the latter category, they will benefit from ‘practising’ socialisation beforehand.
5. On the Big Day
Ensure that your dog has had breakfast and has had a chance to relieve themselves before the Fun Bus collects. The first collection can be a bit overwhelming so ensuring the basics are taken care of will give your dog a more comfortable experience.
6. Communicate with the Day Care Team
Share any meaningful information about your dog with the Acres for Dogs team. Let us know about their personality, preferences, or any concerns you might have. The more we understand about your dog, the better we can cater to their needs and ensure they have a positive experience.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for your dog’s first day at doggy day care doesn’t need to be stressful. With a little planning and support, your dog will soon settle in and enjoy their new adventure. At Acres for Dogs, we’re dedicated to creating a welcoming and stimulating environment for your furry companions. Whether it’s their first day or they are joining the ten-year club, we’re here to make every visit tail-waggingly brilliant!
At Acres 4 Dogs, we understand the owners can feel anxious when their best pal starts at Doggy Day Care. Afterall, we have been enrolling dogs and pups since 2010, there is very little we haven’t seen before! If you feel the need to pick the phone up and check in, you are very welcome. Our friendly team will be delighted to talk to you.
