The Importance of Laying Down Turf Correctly in Doggy Daycares

 With the increased risk of upper respiratory infection during cold and flu season, I have decided talk about what we do to try and keep our facility as clean as possible. One of the most important things we do is shovel all snow off the yards. We never let snow sit very long. The staff gets here at 6am and if the yard is not green, then they are out there before we open shoveling. Why? As pretty as snow is, it is not good for it to sit in a yard full of dogs. The turf we have was installed professionally with a drainage system underneath. When snow sits on the surface for a long period of time, this taxes the drainage system and causes a higher risk of bacteria. Snow also can cause the dogs to slip while running which increases chance of injury. Last, but one of the most important reasons, it makes it impossible to disinfect. The only yard we do not shovel is our biggest yard and that is because it does not get the traffic the other yards do. We only use that yard for a few hours a day and can shut it completely down. The dogs can have a snow day in that yard.

In the past, I have blogged about the bacteria and health risks of dog poop, what to look for in doggy daycares and why daycares should take the collars off of their dogs in the facility. All of these are important health and safety measures. But, I had yet talked about turf in daycares. When turf is laid directly upon the ground without a properly installed drainage system, it becomes bacteria's best friend. Eventually, this can lead to sick dogs....like Kennel Cough.  When you are searching for the right doggy daycare for your furry family member, ask the daycares about how often they clean their turf and how it is laid upon the ground. A good drainage system can not only help with clean-up, but it will also help prevent spores and bacteria from building up within and under the synthetic grass.

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Rest: Why It's Important for Canines

REST! It's underrated. Over the years we have changed our nap schedule numerous times and have learned this is a very important part of the program. All of our daycare options have a nap program. We understand owners want a tired dog after a day of play with their buddies. BUT, it's important that exhaustion is not the only measure of success when you bring your dog for a play session. Our approach to your dog's day in off-leash play is to balance physical exercise, mental activities, and rest periods. All three are equally important components to keeping your dog safe and healthy when socializing with other dogs.

Physical exercise is the most obvious benefit of off-leash play. It's what most pet parents think about when they drop their dog off. But for your dog's health, we also consider it important to provide mental stimulation, which allows your dog to think and use the brain during the day. Mental work builds confidence and self-control in your dog. Like play time, it will also cause your dog to be tired. Your dog will need rest in order for the brain to process all that is learned. This is why we include rest periods as an important component of our health and safety program for your pet. Dogs that get overly tired are less tolerant and more grumpy (just like humans!) which increases risk of injury.

Research studies report that dogs need 12-18 hours of sleep per day. Dogs that require amounts on the higher end of the scale include:

•  Puppies
•   Senior dogs
•  Giant and large breeds
•  Dogs in active households or with extreme exercise routines
•  Dogs that attend dog daycare multiple days per week or are staying away from home for long periods of time. 
•   Dogs participating in sports like agility, fly ball, or rally-o.

Sleep habits of dogs also differ from humans. Napping on and off during the day is a normal pattern for dogs.  We offer formal rest periods during play visits to mirror a canine's normal pattern and to allow dogs to reach deeper sleep levels. Providing a private, quiet area for rest periods allow dogs to reach the restful deep sleep levels they need to stay healthy and happy.

Dogs may take natural rest breaks during our current playgroups, but it is rare that a dog will relax and enter a deep sleep. Most dogs napping in the playgroup are in light sleep and very alert. This allows them to jump up whenever something exciting happens. They do not reach the restful sleep stages needed to keep their brain healthy. In fact, Nineteenth century sleep deprivation studies performed on dogs confirmed degenerative changes in their brains resulted from lack of rest. We include formal rest periods as a part of our play sessions to help ensure the long-term health and mental well being of your dog. Your happy and healthy dog is the most important measure of our success. When it is time to take a nap all dogs will be provided with a quiet, comfortable place to rest. This is a much needed break before starting the next activity. We feel this down time is vital to healthy dogs and helps your dog get used to learning how to relax during the day.