Dog Boarding vs. Day Care for Puppies

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

If you’re searching for ways to keep your puppy entertained while you’re away from home, you may have considered options like doggy day care and boarding.

Doggy day care can be a great option for pet parents who work and still want their puppy to get positive physical and mental stimulation, explains Sally Grottini, dog behavior expert with JustAnswer. This option is often ideal for social puppies who need a little more exercise and energy management than you can provide regularly at home.

Dog boarding, on the other hand, provides overnight and long-term care when you leave town. Staff at a boarding facility will feed your dog, provide some level of activity, and clean up after them, Grottini says. They may also offer puppy-specific add-on services, like socialization and training, for an additional fee.

Both options can help keep your pup safe and reduce boredom and destructive behavior, but they may also pose some risks based on the facility and your puppy’s age and socialization level.

Read on for tips on choosing the right day care or boarding facility for your pup to make sure they have a positive, rewarding experience.

Is It Safe for a Puppy To Go To Day Care or Dog Boarding?

In general, day care and boarding are safe for puppies who are at least four months old and have all their vaccinations.

Properly staffed day care facilities can also help puppies learn to be around other dogs their size and age and develop appropriate play skills, Grottini says.

That said, day care and boarding aren’t alternatives to training or socialization—good socialization for puppies doesn’t just mean letting them play with other dogs all day, says Paige Gordon, Certified Professional Dog Trainer with SpiritDog Training.

Day care is more like supplementary care and works best if you can’t trust your puppy at home alone yet or you need some help managing their energy.

Watch out for dog selectivity, overexercise, and health issues

As puppies get older, their personalities and preferences can change. Even very sociable puppies can become more dog selective as they become adult dogs.

It’s important for puppies attending day care or boarding to have staff or sitters who can advocate for their boundaries so selectiveness about other dogs doesn’t turn into reactivity around other dogs.

Other possible risks for puppies going to doggy day care include overstimulation and overexercise. Choosing a facility with attentive staff can help you make sure your puppy’s needs are met while their boundaries are protected!

Spending time around other dogs can also put your puppy at risk of developing certain illnesses, like kennel cough. Before you sign up for boarding or day care, it’s important to talk to your vet about possible health risks and how to best protect your pup.

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Benefits of Using the Same Daycare and Boarding Provider

If you think you might need to board your dog in the future, getting them used to day care first can help make that transition a little easier. “We find that puppies who attend regular day care outside of their usual home tend to adjust to boarding faster,” Gordon says.

She adds that it’s a good idea to get puppies used to the experience even if you don’t plan to board them—just in case. “If they’ve been exposed to the situation when young, they have an easier and more stress-free time should boarding needs arise.”

Even so, it’s important to consider whether boarding includes day care or interaction with other dogs. Some boarding facilities will have less interaction and playtime than day care. If puppies can see and hear other dogs without being able to play with them, this can make puppies more nervous or anxious, Grottini explains. You may want to consider adding day care services or finding a sitter who provides and includes day care as part of boarding.

Using Rover for Puppy Daycare and Boarding

A boarding facility or daycare center’s reputation and reviews can tell you a lot about whether it will be a good fit for your puppy.

That said, finding the right daycare for your puppy can be tough if you don’t have a lot of options in your neighborhood. Nearby facilities may not have many reviews, or they may not match your puppy’s needs.

Finding puppy boarding and day care through Rover may be a better option if:

• You want supervision for your puppy without other dogs present. You can find sitters who offer this daycare service through Rover by selecting “accepts only one client.”
• You want someone to supervise your puppy in your home. Scheduled home care, like house sitting and drop-in visits, can help manage your puppy’s potty training and chewing habits.
• Your puppy has a specific routine and doesn’t do well deviating from it. Boarding facilities often have a set schedule and routine that puppies will need to adapt to. Social and outgoing pups may have an easier time adapting, but some puppies will struggle with a new routine.
•  Your puppy is working through crate or separation anxiety and needs constant care. Most experts agree that suspending absences is the best way to prevent separation anxiety from worsening. Puppies who can’t be left alone will need a sitter who can stay at your house the entire time you’re gone.

How to Introduce Your Puppy to Day Care and Boarding

When it comes to daycare or boarding for the first time, there is a lot of overlap. These tips can help you prepare your pup for a smooth transition:

1. Visit the environment first

When introducing your puppy to day care and boarding, Gordon recommends visiting the facility or sitter’s home for a tour first to help your puppy get used to the new sights and sounds.

2. Purchase add-ons or request a sitter who provides one-on-one attention

If you want your puppy to get some extra attention, Gordon suggests purchasing any add-ons they have available throughout the day, like 1-1 handler time or frozen treats. You can also request your puppy get nap time to help them stay energized for their day, Gordon adds.

3. Prepare your puppy for lots of noise

If your chosen facility is a little loud, this could overwhelm more timid pups.

Gordon recommends preparing your puppy with a YouTube playlist of dogs barking or a doggy day care facility. Play it at a quiet volume while giving your puppy a tasty treat and lots of praise.

4. Watch your puppy for signs of overstimulation or overwhelm

Grottini recommends always reading reviews about day care and boarding facilities before signing your puppy up—and then paying close attention for signs of stress or overwhelm once they start attending.

Grottini explains these signs include:

• Hesitancy to go into the building
• Tail tucked between the legs
• Pulling back on the lead
• Lip licking
• Panting

If you notice these signs, chat to the provider and ask if there’s anything you can do to help your puppy feel more comfortable. Keep in mind, though, that not all facilities are right for every puppy.

A high-energy puppy might love a busy day care full of other dogs, but a more sensitive puppy will probably do better in a smaller, more personalized setting. Once you’ve found the right place, you’ll probably find your puppy is always excited to visit!

FAQs for Evaluating Day Care and Boarding for Puppies

Puppies need a little more care and structure than adult dogs, especially when away from home.

To make sure your puppy stays on track with their training and confidence building, ask your sitter or facility:

Do you offer a trial period?

An assessment or trial period can help make sure your puppy will fit in at the facility.

Grottini adds that very young puppies may be fearful of new places, so it’s best to visit facilities first with your puppy before leaving them there.

Will you let me know how my puppy behaves?

It’s a good idea to ask what kind of details the facility will send about your puppy’s behavior with new dogs, people, and places. For example, you might get a text message, photo update, or verbal explanation when you pick up your puppy.

What kind of routine will my puppy have during day care or boarding?

Day care should have periods of play and rest throughout the day. Boarding routines vary by sitter and facility.

Some puppies may find pre-set routines hard to adjust to, especially if they have a very regular schedule. If you want more personalized care, in-home boarding or house sitting may be a better option for your pup.

What vaccinations does my puppy need? 

Puppies under six months old may still be vulnerable to illnesses and diseases if not fully vaccinated.

If your puppy doesn’t have all their core vaccinations, you may want to consider in-home boarding or house sitting and search for sitters who accept only one client at a time.

Are you familiar with puppy body language?

It’s important to make sure your sitter or facility staff can recognize signs of understimulation and overstimulation and tell the difference between a stressed puppy and a playful puppy!

Being able to recognize these signs is incredibly important when caring for puppies. High-energy puppies can burn off excess energy at day care, but too much activity can easily lead to feelings of overstimulation or stress.

Staff members should know how to help a puppy relax and rest when necessary.

How often do you clean the facility?

You can ask how often your puppy’s quarters will be cleaned before you commit to boarding, but you can also take a look around at the open areas when you visit.

Along with verifying cleanliness, you’ll also want to check that the environment is puppy-proofed to maximize your pup’s safety during their stay.

How do you verify whether other dogs are comfortable around puppies?

Some doggy day cares and boarding facilities will accept dogs of all ages, but not all dogs enjoy being around puppies. It’s important to make sure any facility you choose has procedures in place to prevent potentially harmful interactions.

How does staff handle possible illness?

Puppies are still building up their immunity, and they can have a higher risk of common dog diseases like parvovirus, distemper, and kennel cough.

Day care and boarding staff should have strict protocols about how to protect puppies in case any other dogs show signs of illness.