Does taking your Lab to day care take the place of a walk? This is my problem: I am having knee replacements on both knees in March 2016....the earliest it can be done.....and because of the knees being so painful, I cannot walk my 21 month old Cooper. He is a normal energetic chap that needs exercise daily so I have been taking him to day care almost every day except for weekends when a friend of mine comes to walk/run him for an hour each day. Does day care equal walking my dog ? I really want to do the best for him and thought this would keep him playing with his doggie friends all day long but also want to make sure I am doing the right thing for him. Thanks for any assurance (or not) that you can give me.
My Otis is my first dog, so I can only give you what I know.... others on here may be much more knowledgable regarding walking vs daycare. I bring him (5 months) to daycare 1-2x per week while I'm at work, and I would say that he gets a huge amount more exercise from spending 8 hours at daycare than from a walk. He plays with other dogs all day, so of course he's absolutely pooped when he gets home and usually just naps all night with breaks for eating, drinking, and going outside to use the bathroom. I would say that they are by no means "equal" because a walk usually involves some training while you're walking and more mental stimulation. I know at my daycare facility there's quite a bit of free play so they're basically just running around playing with each other all day. I would think a daycare day is fulfilling his daily exercise needs and then some....in fact sometimes I worry that Otis is getting TOO much exercise from daycare. For more mental stimulation you can always do lots of short training sessions with him that don't involve you getting up and moving around too much
My friend runs the daycare my maisie goes to twice a week. and she collects the dogs she has and walks them all first thing before they go to daycare. She then manages them over the day, with playtimes, nap times (puppies) etc. Maisie isnt that playful so she doesnt spend all day playing with the other dogs, so im glad she also has the walk. But when murphy used to go to daycare he would be knackered when he returned so for him it was definitely enough exercise for him whether he had a walk as well or not. I agree with newlabpup that he may miss out on some training that he would get on walks and mental stimulatiom but you could def do stuff with him at home that doesnt hurt your knees.
I think that while you're waiting for the op and then recuperating that daycare will be a perfectly good substitute for a walk. Just supplement with little training sessions in the house, when you can manage it (doesn't matter what you train, just anything that will keep him tuned in to being trained and to responding to your cues and being rewarded for it). It sounds to me like you've made good arrangements for Cooper for this period of time. On the days that out dog Obi does daycare he only gets a short (10 min) walk in the mornings and that's only so he'll go to the toilet so the daycare people don't have to deal with it.
As i work in a daycare center it really depends on the dog, some are much more active than others. Some daycare centers also do a walk during the day as well.
I think it depends on how your daycare place works. When Harley is in daycare I either drop her off at 8.30am or they pick her up just after 9am. About 11am they go for a walk for 45-60 mins. They use several different rooms in the house so have downtime at some stage during the day. When they are in the conservatory/garden they some training and a bit of agility. It is a husband (who does my dog walking twice a week) and wife (who used to walk Harley but now concentrates on daycare). If daycare is full she will get 2 walks in the day, one about 10.30-12pm then again 2.30-4pm. They usually pick Harley up first and drop off last to help me out. This week I have been off work with my back so have mixed the week up for Harley :- Monday 1 walk with dog walker, Tuesday 2 walks with dog walker, Wednesday my OH walked her and was home 1/2 day, Thursday 2 walks with dog walker, Friday my OH took the afternoon off and walked her. Today I managed a 40 min slow walk with her. I found that by doing all of this and a few short training sessions at home worked well and tired her out. I think by having plans in place it will make it much easier for you. Harley is just over 2, so not much difference than Cooper.
Thanks All. I know when Cooper comes home from day care (I pick him up) he is nackered......all he wakes up for is his dinner and going out to do his business. So maybe I shouldn't worry as much as I do. Training at home is a great idea....dont have to be walking to do some training. Day care does not walk them but have enough dogs that they play all day and, what I am told, Cooper playts A LOT all day! I have put out inquiries for a dog walker and have one coming tomorrow to meet with Cooper and me. She would walk him one hour in the morning every day that he does not go to day care. Would then take him to day care two days a week. I know we all worry about our pups and they are probably quite happy and content but we want the best for them. So I feel MUCH BETTER regards day care vs walk, specially when one is unable to walk them. Have a great Sunday!
