Dog boarding pro reveals 5 warning signs that should send you straight back to the car with your pet

With busy schedules and other personal commitments, many pet parents now rely on day cares to keep their four-legged companions safe. But not everyone has had the best experience finding a suitable facility, and some only learn the hard way after something goes wrong. To help prevent this from happening, a dog boarding professional with over nine years of experience, shared a set of red flags every dog owner should look out for before onboarding their canine companions. The doggy daycare expert, who goes by the TikTok handle @theshepskybros, has previously worked in 3 different facilities and stepped forward to share tips that every canine owner must look out for.

Dog daycares that deny giving a tour

According to @theshepskybros, it is important for any dog owner to get a tour of the daycare facility where their canine will be spending time, and if the daycare denies giving them a tour, it's counted as a major red flag. "If you are interested in a new doggy daycare facility, always call in advance to see if they are willing to give you a tour," she shared. She emphasized not to go by the photos online, and any dog owner can demand a tour of the facility to ensure their dog's safety.

Not being staffed 24/7

The dog boarding pro revealed that the first two facilities they worked at were not staffed 24 hours. Unfortunately, this led to neglect of dogs, who were found injured or had urgent medical emergencies that couldn't be treated on time. She noted, "If they tell you, 'oh, we don't have people all the time, but we have cameras that monitor them from home,' that is a lie." She further added that monitoring pets 24/7 is not possible. "Not to mention, if a medical emergency did happen, they would still have to drive to the hotel," she warned.

Daycares that skip nap hours

Just like kids and toddlers, dogs also need breaks from playing and moving around. However, some doggy daycares are known to keep your pooch in the play area for longer hours than needed, which could be detrimental to their overall well-being. She stated, "They (dogs) need downtime and they need alone time to decompress and relax. By not allowing them to do so, it can lead to crabby behavior and scuffles."

Lack of updates to owners

The dog boarding pro also highlighted the importance of providing timely updates to the dog owner when their canine is onboarded. It helps pet parents worry less, while holding the facility accountable for any emergencies or accidents in their absence. She shared, "If your dog is boarding and they are not offering live webcams, photos, text messages, emails, if they don't update you in any way, shape, or form, run away!"

Less staff to dog ratio

It isn't uncommon for daycares to be understaffed and it's a huge problem most pet parents tend to overlook. Highlighting this major red flag, she noted that it is important to verify if the daycare has enough staff to care for the dogs that are boarded at a time. "Injuries and fights are bound to happen. One person cannot manage 30-40 dogs at once," they said.

Allowing intact dogs in group play

According to her, although they don't mind allowing intact male dogs (pups that aren't spayed) in group play settings, it can only be done if managed well. The dog boarding expert said, "But it's very dangerous if they are allowing intact males and females to interact together at the same time." She implies that allowing intact males to interact with female dogs who have not been spayed can lead to unwanted mating. 

Daycares without individual crates and cages

@theshepskybros also noted that just like nap time, dogs are entitled to their own spaces, and grouping them should never be encouraged. "Having them constantly in a group social setting, with no time to be alone, is just going to create issues."

For more such pet-related content, follow @theshepskybros on TikTok.