Can Puppies Go to Dog Daycare in Melbourne?

If you’ve just brought a little, fluffy best friend home, you’re probably very excited. Not only will you be puppy-proofing your home, but you’ll be thinking about all the necessary things that new dogs need… like socialisation. So when can you take your new family member to puppy daycare? Are there any precautions you need to take first? And is it safe for them?

In this article, we’re going to take you through everything you need to know before you bring your little puppy to dog daycare so they have a fun and safe experience.

Can Puppies Go to Dog Daycare?

All doggy daycares are different, so it’s important you check with them first. In general, however, puppies can go to puppy daycare when they’ve had their major vaccinations. These include rabies, DHPP and Bordatella and some also require the canine influenza jab. This is to ensure that they and all other pups at the daycare stay healthy and disease-free.

It’s also really important that puppies start to socialise with other, vaccinated dogs. It’s best to do this with dogs of a similar age or known and friendly older dogs that don’t mind taking a young one under their paw.

This is essential before bringing them to puppy daycare in Melbourne as it ensures they’re used to being around other canines and have learnt the basics of doggy behaviour.

Always monitor your puppy when introduced to new dogs so that excitable play and unknown behaviour don’t result in injury.

All good puppy daycares will also require that you keep sick dogs at home, to prevent the rest of the group from coming down with anything. They may also insist that your pup is housetrained (although the odd accident can be expected)!

Can All Puppies Go to Puppy Daycare?

All puppies are different. Factors such as their breed and unique experiences can affect the stages of puppy development. Even if your pooch has had all their vaccinations and you’ve started safely socialising them, they might not be the perfect fit for a puppy daycare. 

At The Dog Dazzlers, all our dogs are really important to us – both old and new, which is why we carry out thorough dog daycare assessments.

These aren’t to establish whether your pup is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ but rather how they would fit in with the other dogs in our care. We get to meet your puppy and slowly introduce them to some of our older pooches, in a controlled environment, to see how they interact.

If we do think your puppy is a great match, you can rest assured knowing that all other pups that join our pack will have to go through their approval process too!

What Are The Benefits of Puppy Daycare?

Dog daycare has been proven to be good for so many grown pups and it’s the same for puppies.

• Socialisation. This is one of the most important benefits of doggy daycare. Puppies get to play and learn from other dogs, encouraging them to become well-rounded adult pups. It also helps them get used to new environments, smells and people. They learn appropriate behaviour and how not to become anxious in new situations.
• Regular Exercise. All pup parents know how important exercise is, especially in short bursts for little puppies. They need to use up all that energy so they spend less time chewing on your slippers! Puppy daycare helps to keep them active by playing and running around after older dogs. You’ll be surprised how happy and tired they are when you come to pick them up at the end of the day!
• They’re Not Alone. Puppies require a lot from their owners and it can be pretty demanding. Enrolling them in daycare ensures they’re cared for, so you can go about your day. Leaving puppies alone for long periods of time can lead to undesirable behaviour such as separation anxiety. But, when they’re at daycare, they’ll be socialising with other dogs and people, helping to develop their skills and behaviour.
• It’s Fun! Puppies love playing and we have plenty of fun games and toys for them to enjoy. They can run around after older dogs and also relax when they need a little break. As well as keeping them safe, it’s really important that your pups enjoy spending time with us.

Can Teenage Dogs Go to Dog Daycare?

Dogs enter adolescence at around 6 months. Just like with humans, it can be a difficult period for pup parents. They seem to forget a lot of the puppyhood training they received and can be a little moody.

At this stage of their development, routine is really important – which is why doggy daycare is a great idea.

Our experienced handlers will positively reinforce good behaviour and discourage unwanted teenage tantrums. Being around older and more mature dogs can help many pups during this period, especially when it comes to learning desirable behaviour.

What Should You Look for in a Puppy Daycare Facility?

Daycares must carry out thorough pup assessments to ensure the pack dynamic doesn’t change too much with the addition of a small and excitable puppy.

It’s also essential that all handlers are experienced with different breeds and different ages. Puppies have different requirements from older dogs at daycare and each dog should get what they need. 

The facility should also be purpose-built for dogs and handlers so there’s space for interactive play and a designated area for rest and relaxation. Of course, it also needs to be clean and with the latest equipment to ensure your dog is stimulated and safe at all times.

Ready to Enrol Your Dog at The Dog Dazzlers?

There are so many benefits to bringing your puppy to The Dog Dazzlers. Unlike some other puppy daycares in Melbourne, our facility has been built with dogs in mind. It’s large and there are several different pens depending on how your pooch is feeling that day. They can run around the playpen or curl up and enjoy a nap if they need a bit of quiet time.

Our handlers are experts and doggy lovers, so will make sure your puppy acclimatises well to being away from you. We also have state-of-the-art equipment and toys to ensure your pup gets enough mental stimulation.

It’s the perfect way to help them learn and develop whilst making friends and having fun! Get in contact with the team at The Dog Dazzlers to book your puppy in for their first day at daycare!