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From the first day I worked at a Dog Daycare to today, my main focus has been to help dogs in the best way I know how. ADVOCATE FOR THE ONES WHO CANT SPEAK.
Since leaving the Dog Daycare Industry a short while ago, I've spent my time reflecting on the many situations I was put in, witness to and a part of. Unfortunately most of these situations or better yet "learning experiences" where extream and something no one should have to go through.
**WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES OF DOGS IN THIS WRITE UP**
If not the first day, within the first week of working at a Dog Daycare I was witness to and had to break up a dog fight. I was scared. I didn't know what to do or how to handle the situation. My question at the time was, why did the dog fight happen to begin with?
My training within the first week had absolutely nothing to do with dog interactions, how they communicate, their body language or what/and how to avoid/break up a dog fight. What it did consist of however was, how to operate/maintain a vacuum, how to vacuum/mop the floors, change buckets, checklists ect. Basic upkeep which is fine but what about supervision of the dogs? Thats part of my job also and what I see as more important! After going with the flow within this Daycare and learning the operations, I realized why the dog fight/s happened. Why all the other situations happened. The business was set up to run like a high performance, quantity over quality circus. Accepting every dog no matter the behavior or neutered state, having untrained staff or simply not enough staff, an unsafe building structure and kennels, and the worst of all, no transparency within the business and most of these industries. (Why would a Dog Daycare tell you how your dog is actually behaving while there when they can lie to keep you in their pockets! Literally!)
So this is why that dog fight happened. I was untrained and didnt know what to watch for, or even what kind of dogs where in daycare for that matter. The supervision was unequal to the amount of dogs. The 2 dogs where male, intact and had issues with eachother in the past. The dogs where not separated but instead in the same play area together. All is a recipe for a fight unfortunately.
How can a Dog daycare avoid something like this from happening? DOG DAYCARE REGULATIONS!
The FIRST thing a new staff member should have to do is take training on dog body language, how they communicate and interact in pack settings. Then they should be able to view a daycare pack and watch how things operate. STAFF TRAINING is so important!
Male and female dogs should not attend daycare if intact past 1 year of age or unless behaviors arise while in Daycare prior to. Females should not attend daycare while in Heat. THESE DOGS GET BUGGED! Dog Daycares usually dont have a separate area just for your intact dog and will pick anywhere to isolate your dog if they are having issues but want to keep you around for business. DOG ASSESSMENTS should be required prior to any dog attending daycare. You should also be able to get truthful and honest updates on how your dog is at daycare. (Do they enjoy being there? Do they really want to be there? Is it the best option for your dog?)
Overall having to experience a fight within the first week of this new employment was traumatizing. Only learning the wrong things along the way, almost set myself up for failure, so how should we expect our dogs to do in the same environment?
These are just a few of the Regulations needed in this Industry! But the reasons WHY these regulations are needed is the bigger picture here.
Dog fights shouldn't happen, dog to dog incidents are on the rise. Dogs do/have biten staff out of fear, lack of staff training. Staff to Dog incidents happen (but tend to never be reported due to legal action issues) Dog's shouldn't be in daycare if they're sick, scared, stressed, completely exhausted, underweight, overwhelmed, anxious, generally uncomfortable or not fit for daycare.
What goes on at dog daycare, stays at dog daycare. Together we can change this! I want the best for your pets! To me its never been about money. Seeing your dog happy and safe under my supervision with a daycare business is what I considered currency in my life. Your dog deserves happiness just like you do!
Please, if you have a dog, had a dog, know a friend with a dog, a family members dog, see dogs in your community, they may take their dog to daycare at some point in its life. Help me in making it the SAFEST place for your beloved 4 legged family member!
(CONTEXT: Ear puncture, bleeds heavily.) Dog fight at a dog daycare causes this lab to have a wound on his neck/ear. One of my first photos ever taken while working at a Dog daycare.