Opening a dog daycare?
Sun, 10/21/2012 - 21:49
I am looking to start a small operation daycare maybe 2000-2500sqft. I have some big questions that I am struggling with before I know how to go about doing this. First I was curious how many employees you had to start your daycare? I know you have crateless daycare, but how do you individually contain 50-60 dogs for rest periods? When you started did you use crates? If you did use crates did you use individual crates or have a kennel type structure built? Your daycare design does not include where these animals would be contained for breaks or eating. I was pretty much wondering how that would effect the available space.
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 09:14
#1
4 Employees will suffice, As
4 Employees will suffice, As for rest periods, Dogs are self regulating in that when they are tired they will lay down. It is not unusual for them to play themselves out and rest as a group around noon. Then they will get a bit rowdy again, rest around 3 and then everyone is waiting for mom and dad. So there is no need to crate them during the day.
If you did choose to crate them during the day it would create more stress for the dogs and you would find yourself with a daycare loaded with 20 plus barking, whining, crated dogs. Just keep a good eye on them in the play area, avoid overly rough play and they will play themselves out and rest all on their own.
As for eating you can put a dog in a boarding suit if you would like to feed it during the day, away from the other dogs.
Also it should not effect available space as your boarding area can be multi purpose if you so choose.
