Baby, It’s HOT Outside!

A CASE FOR INDOOR, CLIMATE CONTROLLED DAYCARE

City dog, country dog—sure the outdoors is a fun place to romp.  Yet, with the extreme changes in New Jersey seasons, it might benefit you to think twice before leaving your pooch outdoors for much longer than few-minute walks.  Just the same, you should consider this too when you entrust your beloved pooch to a daycare facility.

            CONSIDER:    Spring.  Summer.  Fall.  Winter.  Whether at home or at doggie daycare, your pup is at the mercy of a sometimes harsh Mother Nature whenever he is outdoors. Of course, he also relies on you and the care takers you retain to safeguard his health and happiness no matter what environment you place him in.  During summer and even spring, a few extra minutes of exposure to glaring sun or oppressive heat and humidity can lead to doggie dehydration.  Or perhaps a tender paw irritated or burned on hot pavement or stone.  Not to mention insect bites or the dreaded tic embedding itself in his skin.

            The same goes for the elements that proliferate during the colder months. Both short coated and long coated dogs are susceptible to discomfort, and even illness or injury, in raw or frigid weather.  Did you know that dogs can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia?  Paw ‘burns’ alone can result from icy cool grounds (rocks, pavement, etc.) as much as they can from surfaces that are super hot. And the aches and pains of arthritic pups can be exacerbated in damp and cold environs.

            The above examples illustrate several of the risks your dog can encounter in an outdoor environment, including the exterior play areas that some daycare facilities provide. Yet, opening doors to the outside (especially for any period beyond a few minutes) means upping the ante in terms of your precious pup’s exposure to hidden (and perhaps not-so-hidden) dangers to his health.  So, while initially it can appear that the facilities with outdoor play areas are preferable, simply contemplate all of the options before selecting a daycare in which you feel wholly comfortable leaving your cherished canine.    

            ASK YOURSELF:  As a doggie daycare client, you might say to yourself, ‘Sure, we’ve got a handful of days of ideal weather here in NJ, but, what about the rest? When daycare staff leaves my pooch outside on those days, is he in danger in any way, shape or form?’

            Next, ask yourself, ‘How many hours or even minutes is my dog left outdoors?’ ‘What elements is he being exposed to?’ ‘Is he 100% supervised during that time?’ and ‘Is water provided for the entire duration that he is outside, as it should be?’

This is where a year-round climate controlled daycare facility might turn out to be a more favorable option.  You may conclude that the best bet for your doggie is an environment in which the unpredictable elements of weather are taken out of the equation; and that an indoor, temperature -- and humidity -- controlled daycare is the way to go.  (Better yet, if that facility is cage-free.)  

                To each his own in matters of choosing daycare facilities.  Of course, dog-loving owners always wish for a venue—and staff-- that promote the safety and well-being of their precious pets.   Therefore, when comparing daycare facilities, it’s helpful to note that, no matter what the season or weather report on a given day, your dog can certainly reap all of the benefits of exercise and socialization in an indoor, open atmosphere where nothing is left to fate.  Morning to and through the night (for those boarding,) your precious pup has freedom to move about and play in a healthy, open space.  No extreme temperatures, no humidity, no dryness and no insects.  Nothing left to chance means less stress for you and your dog.  And clearly, staff supervision is key.  You can then proceed with work or your own forms of play, satisfied that your pooch has a WOOF over his head in a comfy atmosphere all year round.

                 In the end, whether you leave your dog in an outdoor or indoor daycare facility—or one that offers both—just make sure to ask yourself a few essential questions and be sure that you are comfortable with the answers you receive. 

VISIT PUPS@PLAY on FaceBook OR at www.PUPSDAYCARE.com !