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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