My Dog Got Kicked Out of Dog Daycare Today

I received an email the other day that started with, "My dog got kicked out of daycare today." It was from an owner I knew. She loves her pet and was looking for outlets for his energy. She is a fantastic owner the kind every dog trainer wants to meet Dog daycare Houston. She was bonded to her him, committed to his well-being, and loved to hear advice from pet professionals on how to improve her dogs life.

So she emailed me to find out what she had done wrong. She needed to express her embarrassment with her dog, and wanted to cry on my shoulder (virtually) and find out what she should be doing to fix what she viewed as her dogs problems.

She had a lovely dog, with no behavioral problems. He was friendly with people, well mannered in the house, walked nicely on leash and was absolutely adored by everyone in the family. But there was this one problem… her dog got kicked out of daycare today.

My advice to her? "Just dont go to the daycare and dont go to dog parks." Thats it. No magic wand to fix a problem. No behavioral modification program to force her dog to tolerate the presence of large numbers of other dogs. No litany of tools and tricks she should use to get him to accept the environment of off-leash play. Just dont go to the daycare or dog park. Thats it.

Far too often we try to force our pets into environments they may not like. And when we do, the dog suffers. Ive seen shy dogs taken to crowded parades. The dog is not happy. Ive seen sound sensitive dogs taken to fireworks displays. The dog is not happy. And Ive seen dogs who dont particularly enjoy the company of other dogs taken to dog parks and daycares. The dog is not happy.

Most of the times these situations occur because well-meaning owners are trying to do things they think would be fun for their pet. In the excitement of taking the animal someplace new, many owners fail to notice how their dog is responding to the new environment. I recommend looking to the dog for clues as to what makes them happy. Watch for loose, wiggly body language. If your dog is hiding, shaking, jumping up on you, or appears more nervous than when you are hanging out at home, hes probably not happy.

Not every dog likes off-leash play and thats OK. Its not a statement about the animal. Its about an environment that just isnt a good fit. Just like an evening at the fireworks isnt the best environment for a dog who is sound sensitive and a crowded parade isnt the best environment for a dog who doesnt enjoy crowds, an off-leash play environment isnt the best place for a dog that doesnt enjoy playing with other dogs.

When a dog doesnt do well in off-leash play it is not necessarily a symptom of a problem, or a bad pet or a pet in need of behavioral modification. This might be the case, but more often than not, its just a dog who prefers people. He would rather hang out with the people he loves than dogs he doesnt know. He would love a hike in the woods but doesnt enjoy off-leash play with a group of other dogs. This doesnt make him bad.

But is this normal? Dont all dogs want to play with other dogs? Shouldnt I socialize him so he gets used to it? I get asked these questions all the time. The truth is, there are far more dogs who do not enjoy off-leash play, than there are those who love it.

When a pet care professional dismisses your pet from daycare or recommends you dont go to the dog park, you should thank them. Thank them for caring more about your pet, than about making a buck by bringing your dog into their facility if the dog isnt going to enjoy the off-leash environment. Thank them for seeing your dog as a unique animal with individual temperament traits. Thank them for trying to look out for the well-being of your pet and putting your dogs safety and comfort first.