When it comes to finding a daycare facility for your dog, it's extremely important that you ask the right questions. Some amenities may look nice to the human eye, but in reality these typically have little or nothing to do with the proper health, safety and care of your precious companion. We strongly encourage you to refer to these questions, and any others you may have, as a guide when interviewing a dog care facility.

1. First Impressions:

• How does the facility smell?
• Does it appear clean?
• Is the facility climate controlled?
• Does the facility allow you to show up unannounced to look around?

2. Staff:

• Who's watching your dog?
• What formal training have they received?
• Who provided that training?
• What type of first aid training have they received? By whom?
• How does the staff interact with the dogs?
• What staff-dog ratios do they maintain?

3. Daycare:

• What does your dog do while at daycare?
• How are dogs assigned to play groups?
• How much play time does he/she receive?
• How much rest time does he/she receive?
• How much time does your dog spend in a crate or stall?
• On what type of surface is your dog spending the day?

4. Procedure:

• How much does the facility learn about you and your dog before accepting you as a client?
• What are the facility's temperament testing procedures?
• What are the facility's emergency protocols?
• What emergency supplies does the facility have on-site?
• How does the facility recognize the signs of a stressed/injured/sick dog?
• What are their procedures for handling such situations?

5. Quality: After hearing answers to these questions, ask one more:

• What am I paying for - Does this facility properly provide for the needs of my dog?

The Houndry is climate-controlled.  Your dog will always be comfortable.

A facility should always welcome walk-ins. If you are told that you need to schedule a time for a walk-through, or are turned away, you should immediately ask them (and yourself) ‘Why?’ At The Houndry, we are extremely proud of our facility and welcome unannounced visitors.

On the surface, watching over dogs at daycare may seem easy. But the reality is, dogs are very intricate, social and communicative animals. At The Houndry, our entire staff undergoes continuous training under the guidance of Animal Behaviorist, Mick McAuliffe. His custom-tailored program teaches us the proper techniques of pack management, canine communication behavior, calming signs, stress signals, and more. We also incorporate the use of basic command and response techniques that serve to develop a connection between staff and dogs as well as reinforce the training you already work on at home. All of our staff members also complete a course in canine first aid as administered by the American Red Cross. 

Something you will see quite often is a facility boasting of its membership in the various boarding and daycare trade associations. While these acronyms can create the impression of exclusive accreditations, the truth is they are little more than window dressing for sale to any facility wishing to sign up and send in a payment; there is no oversight. It is important that dog care facilities support the many shelters and organizations out there doing the truly difficult work. But don’t assume that membership in any of these societies in any way reflects on the quality of dog care you will receive.

Always ask a dog care facility what staff-dog ratios they maintain. And just as important, ask them why. The City of Chicago has recently determined that play groups should maintain a ratio of no more than 15 dogs per staff member. It should be clear by the way a facility explains its policies as to whether it truly adheres to personalized care, or if it is merely toeing the line set by local ordinances.

One of the most important things to notice at a daycare facility is the actual surface on which your dog will be playing and spending most of its time. Concrete is commonly used because it’s inexpensive and easy to hose down. Not only is it a porous surface, but even when properly sealed, concrete is the harshest surface on which your dog can play. Its un-giving nature is hard on your dog’s joints and bones, its slippery surface can lead to injuries and laying on concrete for extended periods can lead to severe skin calluses, or lesions, called hygromas. Also known as pressure sores, hygromas occur over areas of the body that are subject to pressure that irritates the bursas, causing them to become inflamed and thick. They are caused by lying on a hard surface, and tend to occur in dogs kenneled on cement floors. Over time, these sores can ulcerate and become infected, making them more difficult to treat.

Another surface commonly used is the recycled-rubber equine mat. Since these were designed for use in barns and stables, they don’t provide any protection against liquid permeation. Their sole purpose is to soften the steps of a 1500-pound animal. Canine claws quickly wear away the surfaces of these mats, and they are vulnerable not only from above, but also through the seams left between the individual mats. This allows liquids to permeate into and underneath the play surfaces, allowing bacteria (and the resulting odors) to thrive. At The Houndry, we have installed a SportImpact floor similar to those found in high-end health clubs and even the Chicago Bears workout facility. The benefits of this impenetrable surface are that it absorbs the impacts of play and it doesn’t allow liquids to get through. Bacteria do not have the opportunity to grow in, on or under the play surface. Not only does our SportImpact floor provide a cleaner, safer environment, but it also means your dog won’t go home smelling like a zoo. We encourage you to come in and see (or smell) for yourself.

Daycare should involve much more than just dogs running around together in a room. Dogs should be matched up in groups according to compatibility. It is important that staff members interact with the dogs, providing focus and stimulating them through play and also with basic commands. Equally important to play time is ensuring that dogs receive adequate rest. It’s great to exercise your dog, but a dog that spends several hours at daycare needs to stop and rest from time to time. We ensure that dogs receive regular rest times, which helps to minimize the likelihood of over-exertion, injury or stress. And unlike other facilities, our rest times don’t rely on crating your dog. Ambient adjustments allow for dogs to rest and relax in an open environment, like at home, rather than being isolated in a crate.

Be cautious of any facility that is too quick to accept your dog as a client. This tells you that they are more concerned with their own bottom line than with the health and safety of the dogs. How much background do they ask for on your dog? While many have had their dogs since puppy-hood, there are an equal number of owners who adopted adult dogs from shelters. It is imperative that dogs entered into a daycare facility undergo a thorough medical and background screening, as well as a proper temperament test. This should involve much more than a daycare manager looking over your dog and determining that they seem OK. At The Houndry, our temperament tests are as thorough as possible, spending several hours with each dog in as many different situations as possible. We check for food and toy aggression, one-on-one behavior, asset possessiveness, group behavior as well as how the dog behaves on its own. We ensure that every dog that enters into daycare belongs there and will benefit from a daycare environment.

You should always know what your facility’s emergency procedures are, and what their level of preparedness is. Ask to see their first aid materials. Ask what kind of first aid training their staff has received, and under whose guidance. And it’s also important to find out what type of protocols they have in place for any situation that may arise, such as:  illness, minor injury, critical injury, canine distress, and others. And if you really wish to challenge them, ask about their evacuation plans.

All Houndry staff members are trained by the American Red Cross in canine first aid. As per the recommendations of the Red Cross, we maintain proper first aid “emergency” kits wherever dogs are present. Whenever a dog begins showing signs of illness (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) we quarantine that dog to assess the dog’s condition and to minimize the spread of any possible illnesses to other dogs. In the unlikely event of an emergency, we have a triage protocol in place that prioritizes the immediate care of the dog and stabilization of any possible injuries he or she may have sustained.

Because of the playful nature of dog daycare, the chance of a dog sustaining an injury does exist. You should ask your dog’s caregiver how they know that your dog hasn’t suffered any injuries while in their care. If they tell you it’s because they’ve had a staff member watching the dogs all the time, then that isn’t good enough. Part of our policy is to regularly inspect all the dogs by hand, looking and feeling for any potential injuries that may have happened in our facility. We also use the opportunity to look for potential conditions, bumps or lumps a dog may have for which the owner was unaware. All of this is part of the service that comes with your daycare at The Houndry. Which leads us to pricing. When you look at the cost of daycare, calculate what your true cost is. Many facilities make extensive use of ala carte pricing, which means your actual cost can escalate very quickly. What many facilities label as “specialized” services we believe should be included. Charging extra for cookies, playtime, comfortable beds, one-on-one attention or whatever else they can think of is a cheap way to play off of a dog owner’s devotion or guilt. 

It has become cliché in the dog care industry to claim services that rival you, the owner, in lavishing love and attention on your beloved companions. This is why we strongly encourage dog owners to inform themselves as much as they can when selecting a dog care facility by asking the right questions. At The Houndry, our care and dedication go far beyond mere words. We know that the moment you walk through our doors you will see how the quality of care at The Houndry is truly second to none. It’s time to “Unleash the good life” for your dog.

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