not ready for day care?

jax · Puppy Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 17 Fur Kids: jax

our weim, jax, is 5 months old and was very shy/skittish around other dogs when we first got him at 8 weeks. we've been working hard on socializing him and letting him play at the park with dogs we trust or with our neighbor's dogs. he loves playing with them and will go for an hour straight.

my husband's out of town this week and i can't get home from work during the day so we decided to take jax to doggie daycare for at least one day so he wouldn't be crated all week. he's been doing really well at the dog park/beach/park or anywhere we encounter other dogs.

the place is near where i work so i dropped by today after lunch and my heart almost broke - he was sitting all by himself between a chair and the fence, tail and head down, and if another dog came by he just flattened against the ground. i interrogated the techs that work there and they claim that he was playing with other dogs, just not when i was there, but he looked completely miserable and I didn't see any playing. the guy that was outside with the dogs was hosing down the ground and jax is scared of the hose in general so maybe it was that?

but when i picked him up he ran straight for the car and he hates getting in the car.

is 5 months too young for daycare? he seems exhausted tonight so either he really was playing all day or he's emotionally traumatized! i was planning to take him back tomorrow but now i'm not sure what to do - i hate to leave him crated for 10 hours even if he does get a break in the middle. but maybe he'd be happier at home alone. or maybe i'm just being an overly neurotic dog mom. any advice?

milo · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject:

Our five month old picked up some REALLY, REALLY bad habits at her daycare, but she was at a small dog daycare and since we took her out, we figured she was just acting the same as all the crazy chihuahua's...only she is thirty pounds heavier with springs for legs!
I would take your dog back again, especially if you think the hose may have been the issue. If he is tired, he probably played away all day.
Good luck!

Seespotrun · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

When Taren was 5 months we started taking him to day care once a week to help socialize, and get him used to a kennel environment in case we ever had to leave him. The first time we left him he was pacing the fence when we came back, and like you I felt bad for him. The staff said that it is not abnormal, and they need time to feel comfortable and begin socializing. The next time we went he was interacting, and after that, full on play. They make a point of telling me how he interacts and how it went. I come and go at all hours and can see for myself on the cam. My point is, don't give up just yet. Taren was also exhausted when he came home and still is. It is a lot more play and simulation than he is used to with his own kind, his best buddy is a 200 pound Mastiff. All this is new to Jax and he may just need more time to adjust. Tarin has not picked up any bad habits. My only complaint is they make comments on how energetic he is. Rolling Eyes

Christina · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:40 am Post subject:

Funny I read this thread. We just took Sagira to day care for the very first time today. I am undecided if I will take her back. When she was walking out she seemed so scared and she just didn't seem herself. I was wondering if I did the right thing with her as well. I just hate leaving her and not knowing if people are telling you the truth that she had fun and played, etc. They probably tell all the clients that for job security. She has slept all evening though, which I guess is good.

So...I am probably the wrong one to answer your thread.

SirSilver · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

I have nothing but good things to say about Calvin's daycare. Although Mr. Popularity was social from day 1, and he still acts as if I'm torturing him when I bring him home. Like "Mooooommmm, I want to stay and plaaayyy." I would have loved to have him miss me when I dropped him off...but no. He acts mortified when I try to kiss him goodbye. Pfft.

Sounds like Jax just needs a little time to adjust. And being tired is a good thing for weims!!

MayaNewJersey · Young Weim Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 117 Fur Kids: Maya

We take maya twice a week- she PULLS me to the car in the morning and PULLS even harder once we get there. She can't wait to go. I think what helped was I was taking her there for about a month in their training classes so she was used to the place when i actually left her there. I started at about 4 months. She passes out as soon as she gets in the car at night! I think your pup will get use to it as long as the other dogs are all well behaved. My place interviews all dogs first to make sure of their temperament, which is important!
Good Luck- I hope it works out since it is our saving grace!

freespiritmom · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:19 am Post subject:

I would give it another chance and also make them aware of his hose problem.

jax · Puppy Joined: 30 Aug 2008 Posts: 17 Fur Kids: jax

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are not going to take him back to this daycare, due to the staff. I need to rant a bit so please excuse me.

My husband took him back on Friday and hung out and watched for the morning (the daycare area is outside right next to the parking lot and he brought some work to do in the car). Jax was fine in terms of socializing, but we discovered deal-breakers.

First, the dogs don't have access to fresh water (there's a salt water swimming pool) except when the 16-year old kid that works the daycare area sprays the hose in the air. In four hours, my husband never saw them put water out for any of the dogs.

When we signed him up we asked them to feed him lunch no later than 12:30 and to please keep him quiet for an hour afterward. "No problem!" they said. Well, last Tuesday when I stopped by at 1:30 they were just taking him out for lunch. When my husband was there on Friday, he sat there and waited for them to feed him until 1:30 before finally pulling Jax out to take him home and they told him the dog had already been fed and handed him back an empty tupperware! GRRRRRRRR. They did call me later to tell me that oops, they really didn't feed him, but they don't seem to be on top of things.

Finally, it's a doggy thunderdome. Fine, they need to socialize and learn to interact with other dogs but I don't want Jax learning that he should mount everything in sight and hump it TO DEATH the way two of the other dogs were and that no one will bother to stop him. I mean, for an hour, these dogs were harassing another dog, and it wasn't even a female. The only time the kid working there interacted with the dogs was to spray them with the hose (full blast in the face) when any of them started sniffing around the trees that it looks like they just planted. Guess I can tell what their priorities are.

So, we'll have to try to find another solution. It's such a bummer because this place is *beautiful* and bills itself as "upscale" and seems to offer great amenities, but I just don't trust them with my baby!

Seespotrun · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:

Wow, I am sorry your experience has been so negative. I would have pulled him out also. Keep looking, you will find a suitable place. I can not believe with that sort of treatment they stay in business. Shocked

Heather · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:04 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, MANY dog daycares are less than ideal. I work at a great one though. The norm here is to put shock collars on the dogs, crate them most of the time, put lemon juice in the squirt bottles (and aim for the eyes) to break up rough play, employees throw things at dogs, and worse. I would never ever take my dog to daycare without observing there atleast 10 hours. You may not be able to volunteer there and be on the floor with the dogs, but you should be able to watch the employees for as long as you wish. You will know in a short time what is going on.

I'm sorry your experience turned out bad. There are good day cares out there, though I know they are scarce here in the midwest.. not sure about your area.