Category: Daycare
The Cost of Doggy Daycare: Is It Worth the Bark?
Being a pet parent comes with its fair share of responsibilities, and one of them is ensuring that our furry companions receive the attention and care they need. But with our busy lives, finding the time to give our dogs the love and engagement they deserve can be challenging.
That’s where doggy daycare comes into play, offering a solution for pet owners seeking a safe and enjoyable environment for their four-legged friends.
1. What’s Doggy Daycare All About?
Doggy daycare is a service that provides supervised care and socialisation opportunities for dogs during the day.
These places offer a range of activities, including playtime, exercise, training, and even grooming. Doggy daycare centres are staffed with trained professionals who ensure the safety and well-being of our furry pals.
2. Factors That Influence the Costs of Doggy Daycare:
The cost of doggy daycare can vary based on several factors:
- Location,
- Amenities offered,
- Staff-to-dog Ratio, and
- Any additional services provided.
Typically, larger cities and areas with a higher cost of living tend to have higher daycare prices. Fancy facilities with spacious play areas, indoor pools, webcams for pet monitoring, and personalised attention will naturally be more expensive than simpler daycare options.
3. So, How Much Does It Cost?
On average, doggy daycare can range from $15 to $60 per day. This price usually covers a full day of daycare, lasting around 8 to 10 hours. Some places might offer half-day options at a lower rate. Moreover, many doggy daycare centres provide discounted rates for weekly or monthly packages, allowing pet owners to save some bucks while ensuring their dogs get regular socialisation.
At Kip, prices will vary based on which location you visit, how frequently you visit, and how long your dog is at one of our daycares.
4. The Perks of Doggy Daycare
Socialisation: Dogs are social creatures, and regular interaction with other dogs and humans is crucial for their overall well-being. Doggy daycare provides a controlled environment for dogs to socialise, helping them develop better behaviour, improve their communication skills, and reduce anxiety or aggression.
Exercise and Stimulation: Doggy daycare ensures that your furry friend gets plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Fun activities like group play, obstacle courses, and interactive toys help dogs burn off excess energy, keeping them fit and mentally sharp.
Alleviating Separation Anxiety: Dogs with separation anxiety can find being left alone at home distressing. Doggy daycare offers companionship, reduces loneliness, and alleviates separation anxiety, leading to a happier and healthier pet.
Professional Supervision: Trained staff members in doggy daycare centres closely monitor the dogs’ behaviour, ensuring their safety and stepping in when needed. This professional supervision adds an extra layer of security, giving pet owners peace of mind.
If you want to read more about whether daycare is good for dogs, you can check out our other article.
5. Is It Worth The Cost?
If you have a hectic work schedule, travel frequently, or own a highly energetic and social dog, doggy daycare can be a worthwhile investment.
It provides your pet with socialisation, exercise, and professional care in your absence, contributing to their overall well-being.
Doggy daycare offers numerous advantages for both dogs and their owners, providing a supervised environment for socialisation, exercise, and mental stimulation. While the cost of doggy daycare can vary, it’s important to assess your dog’s needs, your lifestyle, and your budget to determine if it’s the right fit for you. After all, a happy and well-cared-for dog is priceless!
Is Daycare Good for Dogs?
So you’ve seen pictures and videos of happy dogs in daycare, but is it right for your dog?
Dog Daycare means your dog isn’t alone – they will also benefit from socialisation, enrichment, stimulation, and exercise!
Many pet parents associate daycare with people who can’t work from home, but it’s not just for them. Doggy daycare provides a safe and fun environment for your dog while you’re away at work or busy with other commitments. Here are some benefits of doggy daycare for dogs:
Benefits of doggy daycare:
1. Socialisation & Social Cues
Doggy daycare is a great way to let your dog socialise with other dogs in a safe and structured environment. Dogs are social animals and need interaction with other dogs to develop their social skills.
At daycare, they’ll meet new friends of all shapes and sizes and also learn how to behave around other dogs and read their social cues. This can help prevent aggression and other behavioural issues that can arise when dogs are not properly socialised.
At Kip, each dog is assessed by temperament, meaning they’ll only be placed with dogs that have a similar vibe to them. This can be especially helpful if your dog is shy and can help them to come out of their comfort zone.
2. Mental & Physical Exercise
Another key benefit to daycare is that your dog will not only get lots of physical exercise, but they’ll also be sufficiently mentally stimulated.
At doggy daycare, your dog will have access to a safe and secure play area where they can run, jump, and play to their heart’s content. This can help them burn off excess energy, stay fit and healthy, and reduce the risk of obesity and other health problems.
At Kip, our weekly activities will keep your dog entertained and get them to think. These activities include activities such as nose work, new tricks, obstacle courses and more. This can help reduce destructive behaviours, such as chewing or digging, that can result from boredom.
3. Scheduled Routine
Dogs thrive on routine, whether it’s at home, or at an external location. By keeping a routine, your dog is less likely to experience stress, and they can learn to adapt better to different environments too. In fact, some Kipsters claim that their dog knows what days are daycare days and can’t wait to get out the door (and into our doors!).
We know the importance of scheduled play and rest too, giving your dog time to chill out and re-energise during the day so they’re not overwhelmed. This will also mean that your dog is constantly supervised to make sure they’re not up to any mischief.
4. Supervision
Dog getting up to no good? At doggy daycare, enjoy peace of mind that your dog will be properly supervised when you’re not around!
Doggy daycare provides a safe and supervised environment for your dog. Experienced staff members are trained to recognize signs of stress, aggression, or illness, and can intervene quickly if necessary.
All our Kipsters are ready to go and above for your dog, making sure they feel comfortable and happy during their visits to daycare (plus, they’re all super great cuddlers!).
Find the right daycare for you
While daycare is beneficial to many dogs, each daycare is different, and your dog will react differently in each environment. It’s important to do your research, ask questions and raise any concerns you may have. At Kip’s dog daycare, we offer site tours, so you can see exactly where your dog will play, and you’ll also receive regular photo updates to ensure peace of mind.