Fences play an important role in taking care of a dog. At home, a fence can keep the dog safe and at home, but they are not just needed at home. A doggy daycare also needs to have fences to keep dogs safe from both other dogs and humans. There are a few things to consider when you are picking out fencing for dogs at your daycare. Here is your complete guide to doggy daycare fencing.
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Fencing Height
One of the key things to consider with the fencing in your doggy daycare is the height of the fencing. If there are a lot of large dogs in your daycare, then you need to have a six feet tall fence to help keep them from jumping into another area. If your fences are typically a little lower, you can get fence toppers that will extend the height of the fence a little so that you will be able to add some height to a fence temporarily.
Fencing Materials
There are a ton of materials out there when it comes to fencing options, but you need to choose yours with care. Most bigger dogs will be strong enough to break through a weak fencing material, so you want to avoid picking the cheapest one you can find. Even if a material is supposed to be durable, if it is low quality, and a dog is both strong and determined enough, it can still break through it.
Can They Climb the Fence?
Many dogs are surprisingly good at climbing if they can get a good grip. This is why a chain link fence is not a good idea; a dog that is determined enough may be able to climb over it with ease. Make sure that you select a fence that does not offer dogs footholds to climb it.
In addition to making sure that there are no footholds for dogs to climb, you also need to be careful to ensure that there are not any boosters that are close enough to the fence to let dogs jump off of and thus over the fence.
Limit Visibility
Dogs are territorial, especially when they are on opposite sides of a fence. Choose a fencing material that will keep the dogs from seeing one another. This will allow the dogs to act calmer because they will not be able to see any other dogs outside of the section they are fenced into, so they will be able to have fun and play with the other dogs in their area.
Easily Maintained Fencing Material
Dogs are stronger than they look, and they can end up damaging a fence if it is not made of a durable material that is easy for you to maintain. Make sure that whatever fencing material you choose is easy to care for and easy to maintain. There is always going to be a lot of work in your doggy daycare to keep it clean, so a fence that does not require much upkeep is a good choice.
Other Tips for Starting a Doggy Daycare
Now that you know everything to look for in fencing for your doggy daycare, let’s take a look at some other tips to help you open your doggy daycare.
Finding the Right Location
Dogs are going to need space to run around and play, but you will need to have some separate sections for different types of dogs. You might keep them separated by size, age, or something else, but they will need something to play in. One great option for a doggy daycare is to customize a steel building. This will allow you to completely design the entire layout, giving you to space you need for your entire business. You can even set it up with moveable walls, so you can make a space bigger or smaller, depending on the dogs you need to accommodate at any time.
Finding a lot that gives you space for both indoor and outdoor play is also important since dogs like to play outside on sunny days.
What services will you offer?
There are a few different services that you can offer to your customers. Some popular services to include are:
Grooming
This entails trimming their fur, giving them baths, and possibly trimming nails.
Overnight Stays
You can offer overnight boarding for a few days to your customers. If they are already a regular customer, the dog will already be comfortable with you, so it may not be as difficult to be away from home for a few nights.
Socialization
Some dog owners might request that their dog is kept separate from other dogs, but many dog owners will request socialization for their dog during the day. The dogs will be able to run off their energy, make friends, and become more comfortable around other dogs.
Staff-to-Dog Ratio
You will want to find at least one employee for each enclosure of your daycare. It is recommended that the human-to-dog ratio is one staff member for every five to ten dogs. That way, you will be able to ensure the dogs in your care get the attention they need. If you are offering grooming services, you will also need to find experienced groomers to add to your staff.
Doggy Daycare Essentials
You want to make sure you have quality products available for the dogs in your care. Some of the products you will need include:
- Toys
- Bedding
- Treats
- Grooming products
- Food
- Kennels
- Leashes
- Poop scoopers and poop bags
- First aid kits for dogs and humans
- Playground equipment
- Food and water bowls
- Leashes
- Cleaning supplies
If possible, try to partner with a local pet supply store, they can help get the word out about your business, and you can advertise that you use their products for the dogs in your care.
Vetting Your Customers
Not every dog that comes into your daycare is going to be sociable and play well with others. You need to know how to handle dogs who cannot play with others. Take the time to evaluate any dogs that come in so that you know what section to put them in. However, there might be some dogs that come in that will not work well with anyone, human or animal, and you need to be willing to turn those dogs away for the safety of everyone under your roof.
Set up some strict rules in advance, too; this can help you keep everyone safe and happy. Some rules include:
- Age restrictions: Young puppies can be at risk in a daycare setting like this, so setting up an age restriction of no puppies under five months is a good idea. If you do take on younger puppies, you will need to keep them away from the older dogs for their safety. Elderly dogs may also be at risk in your facility but do not ban them, just keep them in a separate area, so they do not get hurt when playing with the younger dogs.
- Vaccination requirements: You need to make sure all dogs are completely up to date on their shots to be at your daycare. Require that their humans provide you with vet records and that they bring in new records every time they update their vaccinations.
- Behavior: Having an aggressive dog at your daycare can put both humans and other dogs at risk. If the dogs have a history of aggression, do not be afraid to ban them from your daycare.
You will likely come up with additional rules as your business grows and do not be afraid to enforce them, even if it means you are turning away a dog.
