The Pet Care Services Association defines dog daycare as follows:

An organized, controlled and monitored environment, in which a group of friendly dogs, from multiple families, can interact and play throughout the day in an enclosed building or yard.

Scheduled activities will depend on the individual daycare facility; but typically there is a rest period where the dogs may nap during the day, which may be in individual housing. The purpose of dog daycare is to provide stimulation, exercise, socialization, and in some cases training for a dog that might otherwise be left home alone during the day. The owner of the dog receives peace of mind knowing their dog is being cared for by experienced professionals and will be just as tired as they are at the end of a busy day.

The goals of the dog daycare section are:

1. To serve as a resource for Pet Care Services Association members on daycare specific topics and issues.
2. To serve as a resource for the dog owning public on daycare selection.

The Pet Care Services Association daycare section was responsible for developing the standards for dog daycare facilities which are now incorporated into the Pet Care Services Association Voluntary Facilities Accreditation Program. The VFA Program is recognized as the international source for pet care standards and is used as a guide by many states and cities throughout the US. For a copy of the Pet Care Services Association Daycare standards, please contact us.

Resources on Daycare

Dog Daycare Handbook and two videos, Dog Daycare Seminar: How to Own and Operate a Dog Daycare and The Dog Daycare Business are available for purchase from the Pet Care Services Association General Store.

Pet Care Services Association members can check out the PSJ Online for articles on dog daycare. This year there will be an article in every issue focused on dog daycare topics.

Join the Dog Daycare email group. Although not endorsed or sponsored by the Pet Care Services Association, this group has been in existence since 1998 and has over 1,200 members. You will find a support group of experienced daycare operators that are willing to share their experiences and knowledge. The main site also contains photos, shared files on daycare operation topics and databases of resource information.

Members and non-members are invited to submit their questions and comments on dog boarding issues via email to our Dog Daycare Section Chair, Robin Bennett, at robin@dreamdogproductions.com.