Does My Dog Really Need to Play All Day at Daycare?

When you picture dog daycare, you might imagine a room full of dogs running around, playing from morning until afternoon.

But here's something we think is really important:

Dogs don't need to play all day to have a great day.

In fact, constantly being surrounded by dogs, noise and activity can be overwhelming for some dogs.

That's why at Smith's Canine Club, we don't believe that more play automatically means a better daycare experience.

Play is only part of the day

Dogs need opportunities to:

Play and socialise
Explore their environment
Enjoy enrichment
Spend time with their canine friends
Interact with people
Rest and switch off
Have some space when they need it

Daycare facilities must provide suitable resting areas, allow dogs to avoid other dogs and people if they choose, and monitor dogs for signs of stress, fear, anxiety and changes in behaviour.

Dogs should also be kept in suitable, compatible social groups.

So what does that look like at Smith's?

We keep our groups small.

We work to a maximum of 8 dogs per member of staff.

That means our team can properly observe the dogs they're responsible for rather than simply supervising a large group from a distance.

We don't put every dog into one big group.

Our dogs are kept in smaller, carefully managed groups, with separate areas and zones within the Club.

This allows us to consider things such as:

🐶 Personality
🐾 Play style
⚡ Energy levels
👵 Age
❤️ Confidence
🤝 Friendships and compatibility

Because a young, energetic dog who wants to play constantly may have very different needs from a quieter dog who enjoys being around other dogs but doesn't want to wrestle all day.

Rest is part of the routine

A dog coming home tired isn't necessarily the goal. A dog who has had a balanced day is.
We want our dogs to have opportunities to calm down, rest and recharge between periods of activity.And sometimes the best thing a dog can do is absolutely nothing.
A quiet corner.
A comfortable rest.
A little time away from the excitement.

Then, when they're ready, they can choose to get involved again.

We watch the dogs, not just the clock

Every dog is different.

That's why we're constantly looking at how our dogs are behaving and interacting rather than assuming that every dog should follow exactly the same pattern.

We're looking for signs that a dog is:

Comfortable
Relaxed
Interested in their surroundings
Enjoying appropriate interaction
Able to settle
Becoming overwhelmed or stressed

If a dog needs some space, we can provide it.

The licensing guidance specifically requires facilities to be able to separate dogs where necessary and to provide an area where a dog can avoid seeing other dogs and people if it chooses.

Licensed to a high standard

For a newly licensed higher-risk business, 4 stars is the highest rating available under the licensing system.

It's something we're proud of, but more importantly, it reflects the standards and procedures we have put in place to care for the dogs who come through our doors.