How to Prepare Your Puppy for Their First Day at Puppy Daycare
Posted on: 14 February 2020
Puppies are notorious for separation anxiety so be prepared for some whining its first day at puppy daycare. Here, you can learn what you can do to prepare your pup.
Before Your Puppy's Daycare Stay
Your puppy won't be allowed to stay at the daycare (or board at a kennel) until you provide proof that its vaccinations are up-to-date. These include its bordetella and rabies shots. The bordetella vaccine will help thwart kennel cough. The rabies vaccine is required by law.
You will have to drop off or have your vet fax proof of your puppy's up-to-date vaccinations to your daycare or kennel before its stay. You may also be required to pay a deposit for your puppy to stay or board at the facility.
What You'll Bring Its First Day at Daycare
Chances are, this is the first time your puppy has stayed at a dog daycare. Don't be surprised if it gets mega-excited and goes to the bathroom on the lobby floor. Don't worry; dog daycares are used to this. If your puppy is too anxious, it may whine or bark a lot until you leave. It might take it a while to settle down. But it should eventually settle in once it sees other puppies and becomes curious or playful.
Socialization is very important for puppies as they will learn to encounter new people, new sounds and new surroundings. Once it gets used to the newness, it will look around for its toys and blankets from home. Here's what you should make sure it has:
- one or two types of food (it might take a day for it to eat well if it stays due to the anxiety and separation)
- favorite chew toys (and maybe a stuffed animal that it likes to toss around and play with)
- any medications (you should have already discussed any meds with the daycare and fill out any paperwork)
- its leash and second favorite blanket (keep its absolute first favorite at home in case something happens to the one you bring)
- a sock or old tee shirt with your scent on it (to ease any separation anxiety)
Some higher-end dog care facilities will have two-way communication available so you can talk to your puppy and tell it goodnight. It might just be audio or it might be visual. Either way, it should ease the transition for both you and your puppy.
For more tips, contact a local dog daycare service.
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