For your dog to spend time in an entirely new environment with no familiar face around can be a stressful experience. Especially the first few times, this can be an emotionally challenging experience for your pet, and yourself.
With a few basic measures, you can make sure that your pet gets comfortable at the daycare and you are at ease.
• Carry Along Familiar Items
Edmonton dog daycare centers understand how distressing it can be for a pet to spend time away from its owner. To make the transition an easy one, you can bring few items that your pet is familiar with. It could be a bedding item, a favorite toy, or a bone. Spending time amidst their own belongings gives them the much-needed comfort in an unknown environment.
• Drop off some Familiar Food and Treats
Avoid changing your pet’s food overnight. Not only will this be difficult on the digestion of your pet, the unfamiliar flavors may add to their separation anxiety. During the initial days, bring along their favorite foods and treats to ease up their digestion and comfort.
• Increase Daycare Hours Gradually
A great way to make the transition easy on your dog is to gradually increase the hours at the day care. This way, you will give them sufficient time to get used to the caretakers, the environment, and their routine as well as other pets who visit regularly.
• Be Quick with Goodbyes
As heart wrenching as it may be to say goodbye to a whimpering dog, make sure you rip off the band-aid. Long hugs and kisses can in fact make matter worse. Say a quick goodbye and let the pet caretakers take over them.
• Stay Calm
It is important that you stay strong and calm when dropping off your pet. Communicate with them on the days leading up to their first drop off. This will help you calm your nerves and that will rub off on your pet as well. Pets are more sensitive to human emotions than we give them credit for.
Be sensitive to their needs and you will find the transition into day care an easy one.
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