How Doggy Daycare Can Help a Dog with Separation Anxiety

Are you the owner of a dog that despises being left alone?  Maybe he eliminates all over the house when you leave, despite having ample opportunities for potty breaks ahead of time.  Perhaps he chews up furniture, walls, curtains, or whatever he can get his mouth on.  Or maybe he just barks/howls/whines for hours on end until you return.  If this sounds like your dog, then we may be able to help. 

•Cutting the Umbilical Chord - A dog with separation anxiety needs to learn how to cope without you around.  The easiest way for him to learn how to do this is by allowing him to engage in fun activities without you there.  Ideally, if he is distracted and happy, he will forget that your presence is lacking.  This will increase his confidence in his ability to navigate the world around him without his "safety net" (you).  Eventually he will gain confidence and the recognition that you always return for him.  Ideally, this newfound confidence will translate when he is home alone as well.  This will not happen overnight.  But with repetition and consistency, any dog (even an old one) can learn new behaviors.

For a dog (or child for that matter) the ability to confidently separate from his "parent" is an important life skill.  It’s also a good idea for dogs in multi-dog households to practice staying home alone or going places without the other dog to prevent issues if the two dogs ever do need to be separated - for a Vet appointment or a grooming visit for example.

•Socialization - A well-socialized dog is far less likely to be anxious.  A dog that's able to build bonds with other dogs as well as people other than just his owner will be a much more confident and content dog.   An experienced daycare staff will give an anxious dog ample opportunity for supervised interactions that will be positive and beneficial.

•Exercise is important for all dogs but it's especially helpful in minimizing the effects of a dog with separation anxiety.  An anxious dog lacking exercise can wreak havoc on his owner’s home, bother neighbors, or even hard himself.   A tired dog is less likely to notice or care if left alone, mostly because he will just want to catch up on his sleep (most dogs sleep on average about 14 hours per day so extra sleep after a day of activity or excitement should not be cause for alarm). 

•Preparation for Boarding - If you ever plan to travel without your dog, you will want to feel confident that he/she will not became completely overwrought while you are away for an extended period. Spending time at a doggie daycare that also offers boarding allows your dog to get comfortable with the caregivers and the location.   For a particularly anxious dog, having a “home away from home” can be a veritable lifesaver for him as well as his owners.

To find out if doggy daycare in Beverly may be right for your dog, please contact us!

*Please note, some dogs lash out aggressively due to fear and/or anxiety; if this is the case for your dog then daycare would not be an appropriate setting for him.  For fearful dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior towards humans or other dogs we would recommend consulting with a professional behaviorist and/or trainer.

The Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Sending Your Dog to Daycare (and Our Answers)

1)What is the typical dog to human ratio?

        At Dingo’s we typically have 3-4 staff members working for every 9-12 dogs.
 
2)   Do you have an enclosed outdoor area for the dogs?  If yes, how big is it and how often are the dogs brought outside to play and eliminate? 
At Dingo’s we have a 2,000 square foot enclosed outdoor area that is blanketed by pea pebbles and sand, thereby minimizing the amount of dirt and mud your dog can track into your home later.  The dogs are typically brought out at least every hour, more frequently for puppies and younger dogs.   If the weather is nice, we will spend several hours outside because we are all a little happier – dogs and staff alike - when we have ample opportunities for fresh air and sunlight. 
 
3)   Are there separate areas for dogs of different sizes and activity levels?
Because Dingo’s is a boutique doggy daycare, we get to know all of our dogs’ preferences and idiosyncrasies individually.  Certain dogs tend to gravitate towards each other while others may just not “hit it off” (“sometimes one dog sniffs another dog’s but and just doesn’t like what he smells”).   If necessary, we separate dogs based on a number of factors including age, temperament, play style, and activity level. We have the ability to do this because of our separate indoor and outdoor play areas. 
 
4)   What is your vaccination policy?
We require proof of all vaccinations including Bordatella, Rabies, and Parvo.  We also require clients to maintain a heartworm and flea/tick prevention program.   Veterinary records with proof of vaccination should be re-submitted at least once per year.
 
5)   Do you offer rides?  Pickups?  Drop-offs? 
Yes, we offer rides in Beverly, Salem, Hamilton, Wenham, Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant and Marblehead.  For rides outside these areas, please contact us to discuss.
 
6)   Are the dogs ever left alone (unattended)?
Our daycare clients are never left unattended.  However, in the interest of full disclosure we should note that our boarding clients do sleep alone at night.  For clients that are uncomfortable with this set up we also offer a home boarding option.
 
7)   What is your process for vetting new dogs?
For dogs new to daycare, we typically ask the owners to bring the dog over in the afternoon after the Dingo’s “regulars” have had time to run out some of their energy.   First, we will bring your dog into the outside area by him/herself and let him/her sniff around alone.  Next, we will bring out the most established calm and submissive dogs (Dingo is included in this group) in groups of one to two.  If your dog is copacetic with these initial “pack members” then we continue this process until your dog has met every member of the pack.  If any signs of aggression are shown, or if we do not think your dog is a good fit for our particular daycare, we reserve the right to refuse you service.  This has occurred on a handful occasions.  It does not mean your dog is a “bad” dog.  Not every dog is suitable for daycare or your dog may be a better fit elsewhere.
 
8)   What are your regular hours?  Can you accommodate an early drop-off or a late pickup if needed?
Our hours vary based upon the needs of our clients.  We can accommodate a drop-off as early as 7am and a pickup as late as 5:30pm.  If you can not pickup or drop off within that time frame we may be able to offer you a free ride dependent on where you live.
 
9)   Can you feed my dog a breakfast/lunch/or dinner if requested?
Of course!  We also have a separate feeding area for the dogs whose owners pack a lunch (or breakfast or dinner).
 
 
10) Are you bonded and insured in the event that anything was to happen to my dog whilst in your care?
Yes, we are insured by Business Insurers of the Carolinas, one of the few insurance companies that specialize in pet care general liability. 

Tackling Cold Weather Blues with Doggy Daycare in Beverly

Tackling Cold Weather Blues with Doggy Daycare in Beverly

Cold weather can make people feel down, unmotivated, and depressed. It can do the same thing for dogs.  Doggy daycare can help dogs with the winter blues get back to their cheerful selves.

The "winter blues" or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can be a real problem for dogs. The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a leading veterinary charity in the UK, conducted a study on pet moods during colder months; they found that 40% of people recorded a definite downturn in their dog's moods. The dogs were less playful, less active, and slept longer.The best remedy for SAD is getting more sunlight. This increases serotonin in humans and dogs alike. A dog with a healthy serotonin level is cheerful and easily motivated.

In the winter it can be difficult for dog owners who work during the day to get their dogs out in the sun. But there are a few things  owners can do to combat the winter blues. Try taking your dog for a walk as early in the evening as possible and make sure to get out with your dog during the day on weekends, holidays, and/or days off.   

Another option is to enroll your dog at a doggy daycare that has an outdoor area for the dogs (like Dingo's Dogsitting!) or pay someone to walk your dog during the day while you are at work.  Dingo's Dogsitting has staff members in the Swampscott and Beverly area's able to assist with daytime walks and home visits.

If your dog's mood seems to match the gray sky, make an effort to maximize his time out in the sun.  Contact us at Dingo's Dogsitting to arrange a visit and see how we can help. Your dog may still curl up by the fireplace at night, but it will be from being blissfully tired after a day of play, not from the dreary weather!

How Doggy Daycare Can Assist with Pet Therapy Training

Have you every wondered if your dog could cut it as a pet therapy volunteer? Some time at a doggie daycare (like Dingo's Dogsitting: www.dingosdogsitting.com) may help answer this question for you.  To be clear, a pet therapy dog and a service dog serve different needs.  A service dog assists one person who may have a physical disability or mental condition, whereas a pet therapy dog provides many people therapy by means of physical contact and a variety of other interactions. 

A therapy dog and his handler typically visit people in senior centers, hospitals, and schools.  Depending on the level of comfort between the dog and his “patient”, the interaction may be as simple as a quick pet or nuzzle, or as intimate as the dog lying in bed with a person receiving medical care or someone who may be otherwise bed-ridden due to age and poor health.  Medical studies have shown that pet therapy is proven to provide positive results both physiologically and psychologically for hospital patients and children with intellectual or developmental delays (https://www.uclahealth.org/PAC/Pages/about-us/animal-assisted-therapy-research-findings.aspx)

Visits to a facility can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.  Many times, there will be several pet therapy teams working in the same facility at overlapping times, which leads to several dogs working within close proximity with one another.  As such, therapy dogs must have a calm and submissive demeanor and be copacetic with humans and dogs alike.

Is pet therapy something you'd like to explore for your dog? If so it is important to expose your dog to new dogs, people, and environments regularly.   Regular doggy daycare visits can help with this.

To schedule a “meet and greet” at our Beverly facility or for any other questions about the ways in which doggy daycare can benefit your dog, contact us: 617-590-3721! (http://www.dingosdogsitting.com/#!contact-us/c1ush)

There's A New Dog (Pig) In Town

Dingo and I are used to dealing with clientele of the canine variety, but even she admits that sometimes you have to give credit where credit's due and honor some other members of the animal kingdom. I'm talking about this adorable mini pig Amy, who's breaking into the doggie-dominated world of obedience training! Recently the Seattle Times posted this video of her trip to the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show, where she showed off her agility and obedience skills (http://video.seattletimes.com/4099303648001/)

Amy is still learning, and doesn’t always get it on the first try, but at six months old and fresh out of Puppy Manners class, who can blame her? Plus she’s got the added burden of representing her whole species in uncharted waters. That’s a lot for one little pig! That being said, she heels, retrieves, weaves, and even jumps (or steps) over a mini pig-sized jump.  Little Amy holds her own with her peers, who seem welcoming and perfectly happy to open up the arena to some hoofed competition.

Beyond agility and obedience, Amy blends in well, wagging her tail in an unmistakable show of happiness, and displaying a serious (let’s face it, probably universal) passion for treats. All the dogs among us had better watch out and consider upping their game, because there’s a new face in dog training town, and she’s getting a lot of attention! 

Our trainer, Irene Zimmer of Polite Canines, doesn't have much experience working with pigs (yet) but she can help you train your canine through behavior modifcation tactics and positive reinforcment.  Contact us to get your pup up to snuff!

The whole video’s worthwhile, but skip to the 2:16 mark if you want to see some wonderful dog/pig/human dancing to “Happy” by Pharrell.

It's Not Just What You Say, It's How You Say It

According to a University of Florida study, dogs stayed in place three times longer when owners used petting as a reward compared to when they were only given verbal praise.  Physical contact via nuzzling, cuddling and licking is a language dogs use to communicate with one another, so researchers say, the more "hands-on" you are with your canine companion, the more responsive they will be to your training efforts. So go ahead and show your dog how much you love him with a pet behind the ears, a little belly rub, or Dingo's favorite,  a good scratch above the tail.  He'll love you AND listen to you for it.