10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Dog Daycare
Table of Contents
Choosing a dog daycare is about more than finding somewhere your dog can spend the day.
For some dogs, daycare can provide companionship, enrichment, exercise and a chance to spend time around other dogs. For others, a busy daycare environment may not be the right fit at all.
The important thing is finding a setting that suits your individual dog, not simply the one with the best photos, the biggest outdoor space or the most five-star reviews.
Before booking, here are 10 questions worth asking any dog daycare provider.
1. Are you licensed?
If you're looking at commercial dog daycare in England, ask to see the provider's licence.
Licensed providers must meet minimum standards relating to areas including staffing, accommodation, animal welfare, behaviour monitoring, health and emergency procedures.
A licence isn't a guarantee that a particular daycare will be the perfect fit for your dog, but it is an important starting point.
What to check
- Is the licence clearly displayed?
- Is the licence holder's name and licence number available?
- What star rating has the daycare been awarded, if applicable?
- Does the number of dogs permitted on the licence make sense for the facility?
The current statutory guidance also requires the licence number to be displayed on a website used for the licensable activity.
Ask:
"Can I see your current dog daycare licence and find out what your maximum number of dogs is?"
2. How many dogs do you care for at one time?
Bigger doesn't automatically mean better.
One of the most important things to understand is how many dogs will actually be together and how many staff are responsible for them.
Current licensing guidance states that each member of staff should have 10 dogs or fewer to care for, while also taking into account factors such as the dogs' age, breed, health, individual needs and the layout of the premises.
However, ratios are only part of the picture.
Twenty calm, compatible dogs in a well-designed environment can be very different from twenty highly excitable dogs in a cramped or poorly managed space.
Ask:
"How many dogs could be here on a typical day, and how many staff members will be supervising them?"
Also ask whether dogs are all kept together or whether the daycare uses smaller groups, individual spaces or different areas.
3. What training and experience do your staff have?
Working with a group of dogs requires more than simply being someone who loves dogs.
Staff should be able to recognise normal canine behaviour and spot signs of stress, fear, pain, illness or escalating conflict.
Don't be afraid to ask:
"What training have your staff received?"
You don't necessarily need to choose the daycare with the longest list of certificates. Look for staff who can explain how they actually use their knowledge when looking after dogs.
4. How do you assess new dogs?
This is a big one.
A reputable daycare should want to know whether your dog is actually suited to daycare before accepting them.
An assessment should give the daycare an opportunity to learn about your dog and give you an opportunity to see how the environment works.
Don't be afraid to ask:
"What does the assessment cover?"
And importantly, a good daycare should be prepared to say no if they genuinely believe the environment isn't suitable for your dog.
That isn't a failure. It's responsible decision-making.
5. Where can dogs rest?
This is something that can easily be overlooked when you're visiting a daycare.
It's tempting to focus on how much space dogs have to run around, but rest is part of a good daycare day too.
Look for:
PLAY → ENRICHMENT → TOILET → REST → PLAY
Rather than:
PLAY → PLAY → PLAY → PLAY
Dogs shouldn't have to remain involved in group activity simply because they're at daycare.
Ask:
"What happens when a dog needs some quiet time?"
6. What are your vaccination, illness and parasite policies?
Putting a group of dogs together means health management matters.
Ask the daycare what they require before your dog attends and what happens if a dog becomes unwell.
Questions could include:
- Which vaccinations are required?
- What happens if a vaccination expires?
- What is your policy on coughing, vomiting or diarrhoea?
- When can a dog return after illness?
- What is your approach to fleas and worms?
- How are contagious illnesses handled?
A good provider should be able to explain these policies clearly.
7. What does a typical day actually look like?
Don't just ask:
"Do the dogs play all day?"
A better question is:
"What does my dog actually do during the day?"
Good daycare should be about more than constant physical activity.
Dogs need opportunities for appropriate social interaction, exercise, mental stimulation, toileting and rest.
A healthy daycare routine might include:
| Part of the day | Possible activities |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Arrival | Settling in and supervised social interaction |
| 🐕 Morning | Play, exploration and social time |
| 🧠 Enrichment | Toys, scent activities or problem-solving |
| 💧 Throughout | Water and toilet opportunities |
| 💤 Rest | Quiet time away from the group |
| 🎾 Later | Further supervised activity |
| 🏠 Collection | Settling down before going home |
The exact routine will vary between providers and that's okay.
What matters is that the daycare can explain how it meets the different needs of the dogs in its care.
8. What happens if my dog becomes ill or there is an emergency?
This is one of those questions you hope you'll never need the answer to. Ask it anyway.
A responsible daycare should have clear procedures for dealing with:
- Illness
- Injury
- Dog fights
- Escape
- Fire
- Extreme weather
- Other emergencies
Ask:
"What happens if my dog becomes ill or injured while they're here?"
You may also want to know:
- Who contacts you?
- What happens if you cannot be reached?
- Which veterinary practice would be contacted?
- Are staff trained in first aid?
- How are incidents recorded?
9. How do you manage behaviour?
This is perhaps one of the most important questions of all. Supervision isn't simply watching dogs. Staff should understand canine body language and be able to recognise when a dog is uncomfortable before a situation escalates.
Ask:
"What would you do if two dogs weren't getting along?"
And:
"How do you handle a dog that becomes overwhelmed or doesn't want to interact?"
Good answers should focus on prevention, supervision, appropriate intervention and individual welfare, rather than simply allowing dogs to "sort it out".
A dog that is constantly hiding, avoiding interaction or showing signs of stress may not be enjoying daycare , even if it isn't causing any obvious problems.
10. How will you communicate with me?
Finally, ask how the daycare will keep you informed.
You should know what happens if there is:
- An injury
- An illness
- A significant behavioural incident
- A change in your dog's normal behaviour
- Something staff think you should know
It can also be useful to ask whether you'll receive updates about your dog's day. But remember: constant photos aren't necessarily a sign of better care.
If staff are spending every minute taking pictures, they're not spending that minute supervising the dogs.
The important thing is that there is a reliable system for communicating anything that genuinely matters.
The biggest question: Is daycare right for my dog?
This is perhaps the most important question of all and it's one that you and the daycare should answer together.
Dog daycare can be a fantastic option for some dogs.
But it isn't automatically suitable for every dog.
Some dogs love the company and stimulation of being around other dogs. Others may prefer a quieter environment, individual walks, home care or simply spending the day sleeping on the sofa.
Your dog's:
- Age
- Breed and temperament
- Social preferences
- Energy levels
- Health
- Previous experiences
- Anxiety levels
- Behaviour around other dogs
- Ability to settle
should all be considered.
The best daycare isn't necessarily the one that promises the most activity. It's the one that understands what your individual dog actually needs.
🚩 Dog Daycare Red Flags
Sometimes what a provider doesn't tell you can be just as important as what they do.
Be cautious if a daycare:
❌ Won't let you ask questions about how dogs are cared for
❌ Can't explain its assessment process
❌ Doesn't appear to monitor dog interactions
❌ Doesn't provide somewhere dogs can rest or get away from the group
❌ Can't explain what happens during an emergency
❌ Doesn't have clear vaccination or illness policies
❌ Won't explain staffing arrangements
❌ Seems focused entirely on how much dogs play rather than whether they are comfortable
❌ Is unwilling to tell you what happens if your dog isn't suitable
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dog daycare good for dogs?
It can be, depending on the individual dog. Some dogs enjoy the companionship, enrichment and activity that daycare provides, while others may find a busy environment stressful. A dog's temperament, age, health and social preferences should all be considered before choosing daycare.
How do I choose a good dog daycare?
Look for a properly licensed provider where required, appropriate staffing, trained staff, a clear assessment process, safe facilities, rest areas, enrichment, health procedures and emergency arrangements. Visiting the facility and asking questions before booking is strongly recommended.
Does dog daycare need a licence in the UK?
In England, commercial dog daycare is a licensable activity under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Licensing requirements differ across the UK, so owners should check the rules that apply in their nation.
How many dogs can one member of daycare staff look after?
Current statutory guidance in England states that each member of staff should have 10 dogs or fewer to care for, while taking account of factors such as the dogs' individual needs and the premises. Smith's Canine Club works on 8 dogs to one member of staff.
What happens if my dog doesn't enjoy daycare?
A reputable daycare should be prepared to tell you if they don't think the environment is suitable for your dog. Daycare isn't right for every dog, and finding an alternative that better meets your dog's needs is more important than forcing them to attend.
Should a dog be assessed before going to daycare?
Yes. Dogs should be assessed for suitability before admission to a licensed daycare. The assessment should consider whether the dog is fearful, anxious or stressed around people or other dogs and whether they can safely participate in the environment.
