Case Study: Doggie Daycare Helps Socialize and Relax Dogs

CASE STUDY:

DOGGIE DAYCARE HELPS SOCIALIZE AND RELAX DOGS

Five years ago Pet Care Hospital in Plano, Texas, opened a doggie daycare service and the practice, clients, and dogs continue to reap the rewards. "Clients take home tired dogs, worn out from a day full of play and exercise. And over the long-term, the daycare builds the dogs' self-confidence so they aren't fearful," says Jill Vincent, a certified trainer who runs the daycare as well as the practice's dog-training classes.

The keys to the success of this program are supervision and rules, Vincent says. She limits daycare to 10 dogs a day; all dogs must weigh less than 50 pounds, receive Bordetella vaccinations every six months, and be current on their other vaccinations; and the males must be neutered to lessen aggression. "Supervision is important," she says. "Anytime I'm not in the room, they're crated." Vincent also puts dogs in their crates for bad behavior, during the hours when the practice is open but the daycare is not, and when she takes her lunch break.

The daycare is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Owners can drop their dogs off any time after the practice opens at 7 a.m. and pick them up before the practice closes at 7 p.m. The extended hours are a convenience that working clients appreciate, Vincent says.

The strip-mall practice dedicates a 600-sq.-ft. front room to doggie daycare, and charges $18 for the first day a week, $15 for the second, and $12 for the third. A half-day of daycare costs $9. "The more frequently the client brings a dog in, the more the fee goes down," says David Sooter, practice manager and veterinary assistant.

"Ten dogs is the maximum for Jill to handle and we can't increase the room size, but we're always looking for ways to expand the care the dogs receive," he says. For example, for additional fees, Vincent also gives clients' dogs special dental chew treats (10 cents), baths ($10), and teeth brushings ($2). Sooter says that some of the practice's clients will do all three days of daycare ($45), and also ask for their pets to receive chews each day (30 cents), a bath ($10), and daily teeth brushings ($6), adding up to $61.30 each week.

About six to eight dogs come to play each day depending on the time of year. The number rises in the summer when vacationing families board more dogs. Clients who choose daycare for boarded dogs receive $3 off the boarding charge.

"Doggie daycare brings in $2,500 to $3,000 each month," Sooter says. He says that the person running a daycare should receive 40 percent to 60 percent of the revenue for his or her time and knowledge, and after that there are few other costs. "To promote the service, we added a sign on the building, run a Yellow Pages add, and give coupons. And we provide treats and water and towels for the dogs' crates. Jill provides most of the toys and many of the crates were donated," he says.

It doesn't cost much to promote the daycare, says Sooter, because clients do the job by word of mouth. "And all of our top 20 clients use this service," he says. Practice team members do recommend the service during exams--especially to clients with fractious, overly timid, or newly adopted dogs--which has proved particularly helpful for clients referred to the hospital after adopting pets from local rescue groups. Clients also learn about the service when boarding their pets. "And our nearby sister hospitals refer clients to us, because they don't have the space for their own daycares," Sooter says.

Vincent recommends that the team member who staffs a doggie daycare have a minimum of two years' experience training dogs to learn about behavior. And she says her seven years of dog-training experience keeps dogs and people safe, reassures clients, and enables her to answer client questions about behavior issues. She also spent two years as a veterinary assistant at the practice, so she can talk knowledgeably with clients about heartworm preventive, diets, and other basic health issues. Beyond that, Vincent says she recommends that the client talk to a veterinarian at the practice.

"This service draws more people to our practice, and increases clients’ attention to their pets' veterinary care and diets,” says Sooter. “Our daycare dogs are always current on heartworm preventive and vaccinations, and their owners stay educated and informed.”