Doggy Daycare or Pet Sitting: Which is Right For You?

Every pet owner with a busy schedule that takes them away from home for long hours knows the balancing act of making sure their pet has a caretaker while they’re away. An ideal situation is having a local solution you can call on at a moment’s notice for pet care–and this can come in many forms. For dog owners, the choice is usually between a doggy daycare or someone who will come to your house for pet sitting and walking. Which option is best?

There are many personal reasons to consider when choosing between doggy daycare and pet sitting such as schedules, proximity to a daycare, commutes, etc. Those may ultimately be your deciding factors, but we’ll bring up some other, pet-centric considerations here to help make the right choice for you and your pet.

1. How social is your dog? Clearly doggy daycare and a pet sitter visiting your home will be two very different social situations for your dog. If your dog likes to play with other dogs for hours on end, doggy daycare may be the right choice. On the other hand, if your dog prefers to take it easy or doesn’t play well with other animals–having a pet sitter come to your home for a solo visit is probably the right way to go.
2. Does your dog adapt well to new environments? Dogs can have varying levels of anxiety as they age, and this can be most profound when they are in new environments. For some dogs, a familiar face and a routine based around their home is a better option than bringing them in contact with perhaps different employees and playmates on a weekly basis. On the other hand, some dogs thrive in the dynamic environment of a daycare.
3. Does your dog have any other health concerns? No matter the amount of care a doggy daycare can promise in order to avoid a one-size-fits-all environment for a dog, sometimes specialized care is beyond their capabilities. In extreme cases, the routine of pick-up and drop off at daycare can even be too much for a dog who is recovering, aging, or in poor health. A pet sitter is probably a better option for a dog with specialized health concerns, because a completely custom care schedule and routine can be developed.
4. How long are you usually gone? For extended periods of absence, it may just be too much alone time for a dog, even with a pet sitter dropping in often. Not to mention, it could be logistically impossible for a pet sitter to stay in your home for many days on end. In this case, a doggy daycare or boarding option is probably the way to go. Pets do indeed get bored, and separation anxiety can also start to wear on them over a long period of time if you aren’t seeing them in the evenings or on days off.

If pet sitting seems like the best option for you, please visit our pet sitting page for more info!