Should I Be Worried About My Dog ‘Making Friends’ At Dog Daycare

Doggie daycare is becoming more and more popular. So many people have to work for long stretches of time, and they do not want their dogs to be alone. Therefore, they choose to bring them to daycare. As with daycare for children, one of the major components is the socialization aspect. Should you worry about your dog’s ability to make friends at daycare? Well, it depends upon the individual dog.

Dog Aggressive Behavior
Now, if your dog seems to have trouble getting along with other dogs, whether they be pets of your neighbors or the regulars you see when going out for your walks, your dog might have trouble making friends. Of course, some roughhousing is usually normal, but they should not be hurting one another.

Food or Toy Aggressive Behavior
Does your dog show signs of food or toy aggressive behavior? If your dog becomes a little bit aggressive when you take his or her food or toys away, then getting along with other dogs may be a problem. Essentially, your dog seems to have trouble sharing possessions, and this is an issue when the dogs are running around and happily trying to play with one another.

Your Dog is Very Anxious
Anxiety is a serious problem for both people and dogs, and it can lead to a of other issues. If your dog is not used to doggie daycare, he or she may become very nervous on the last drop off day. Your dog might think that you are never coming back, and wind up acting out on the other dogs as a result. Gauge how your dog acts when you are away from the home, and this should give you a good idea of how he or she will react at daycare.

Fortunately, training is a wonderful tool that can be used to help your dog become more sociable and to make some pals at daycare.