Homer has been going to the same doggy day care since he was 4 months old. I chose the day care even before I found my puppy. When the lady came to visit him as a pre visit to get to know him he curled up under the chair she was sitting on in the kitchen. They've always taken excellent care for him, never let us down even when we change our plans last minute. He stays over with them in their home when we've been away or on holiday. His usual routine for the last four years is that they pick him up at 9:30 am but we have to leave the house by 7:30 in the morning. So he's left alone for up to 2 hours in the morning. He has two walks and is with them and other dogs in their home the rest of the day and dropped off at home at 5:30. I'm usually home by then or before 6pm. His fear and sensitivity to noise has resulted in him getting upset and anxious when he's left alone at home, especially in the mornings. We've tried leaving him in his cage but he escapes, leaving him in the kitchen but then he climbs up onto the kitchen table and on top of his cage, with access to the hall and upstairs he scratches at the carpet to the point it's been shredded. Recently I've been in touch with another dog walking company that does an early 7:30am pick up but then an earlier drop off. They take the dogs to their own field out if town with converted stables for inside space. Leaving Homer for any length of time in the mornings is becoming impossible at the moment. I hope that eventually we can overcome his fear but for now need to reduce all scenarios that cause his anxiety. Hubby can leave for work a bit later from time to time and our cleaner comes in at 8am once a week so I think he should go to the new dog day care for two or three days a week while still going to his usual day care the other days. But I feel so torn by this decision.
Hi I ve been following your other thread on the forum about Homer's fear, and I hope things start to get better soon. In the meantime however may be the change in routine might be good for him. If you and your OH leaving in the morning creates anxiety and its become a bit of a cycle for him perhaps the change in routine a few days a week might be good for him? I am afraid I have no real experience to draw from but have read that sometime dogs (and people for that matter) can get themselves into a bit of routine where they seem to think "mum's gone out I need to therefore behave like this (i.e. in Homer's case become anxious)". Maybe the change may help break the cycle?
I have no practical advice to offer As I was reading through your post I was internally screaming "no, don't change his routine", but then I read Becky's advice and thought "huh, she makes a good point, maybe he would benefit from a complete change in routine." At this stage maybe you've got nothing to lose, but is there any way you could have a quick chat to his specialist and see what he says? Or will he charge you a small fortune for that privilege?
I'm going to visit the new place on Monday as I have two weeks at home with him for the Easter holidays. His usual dog sitter is like a second family for him but I can't expect them to change their entire routine and do a special 7:30am pick up trip just for Homer. They have said they try to pick him up first on their round and as early as they can. My idea is that the new dog day care will be temporary until the summer holidays and only for two days a week. May be the shake up will change his anxiety which I'm sure is now more out of habit that any real fear and the building works behind and up the road will be completed by the summer.
I really hope it helps. It certainly sounds like some of Homer's anxiety is obsessive and possibly a learned pattern. Very difficult for you. What is his behaviour like at his current day care? Does he exhibit any symptoms of anxiety in any given situation?
Mmm, so we're rack from the day care visit. Three large paddock size fields with a converted farmers barn for inside facilities. The main office had views of two fields and the area where dogs would sleep, only if the weather was bad. The man indicated H would be in the furthest field with the big dogs. No structured walks just left to run around in the field. There were some shady trees along the side. Everything was clean and looked well maintained. With a heavy heart and only as a trial I've signed him up for one day a week till the beginning of July, but ready to cancel sooner if it's not right for him.
I can understand the heavy heart, I wouldn't risk it, you don't know if he will get bullied by the other dogs.
Can you look around for other options? I do appreciate that you feel in between a rock and a hard place here, but a free running unstructured day care in a field full of strange dogs, without - it appears - adequate supervision? That sounds like a total nightmare to me. If you have a bit of time, can you have a search round to see if there is anything else?
How many dogs per group? Is there cctv on the fields? I don't necessarily think that unstructured is the end of the world if he's only attending once or twice a week, but I'd want to ensure that the groups are kept small, that the dogs are grouped by temperament and size, that there are cameras for when the staff are not in the area, and that there are enrichment opportunities (i.e. not just an empty field but logs, tree stumps etc). I guess you've got to ask yourself why you're apprehensive - is it normal "first day of school" parental nerves, or did the place leave you feeling iffy? Because if it's the latter...go with your gut.
