It seems more often than not people are posting on social media feeds or inquiring via email how desperate they are to find a place to “socialize” their dog through a dog daycare setting.
Teaching your dog to tolerate and exist around other dogs is only a small part of what socialization truly is. Teaching your dog to value other dogs more than yourself (in my opinion) is not the greatest idea. Money is much better invested (in my opinion) in training your dog and having dog to dog socialization as only a small percentage of the overall socialization. I don’t know about you, but I do not want my dog running off leaving me just because it sees another dog (or human for that matter).
Socialization is teaching your dog to be a part of society. It is teaching your dog to be a well-mannered counterpart at home as well as in public. Socialization includes introducing your dog to different types of people, objects, environments, buildings, sights, sounds, noises, smells, other animals (and yes that would include dogs). But, for some reason people put an obsessiveness on needing their dog to play with other dogs.
Now you might be thinking…why are you saying this, you hold dog daycare! Correct, I do. In a very small and controlled setting where dogs are well known and behavior is being constantly monitored and observed it can be a nice way to allow your dog exercise as well as learn to co-exist with other dogs. Daycare can also be very good for the nervous or fearful dog as long as they are being paired with a neutral dog where they can boost confidence. Daycare is also nice to help a dog get acclimated. Daycare for me does not mean dogs running around like chickens with their heads cut off for eight hours. It takes management and attentiveness to each dog attending. A daycare setting where 30 dogs are under the supervision of one individual lacking experience is not a good idea.
A daycare program can also be beneficial if training is involved or a program that includes other elements of socialization. This could include different people properly handling your dog, your dog being introduced to new smells, sounds, sights or objects. However, if the daycare includes your dog running around on over-stimulation all day…I’d go the opposite direction.