Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Nicole and her two rescue dogs, Mac and Rosa.

From the moment we wake up on my daughter’s swimming lesson day, the dogs go crazy. It makes sense that they would know when they saw the swimming bag, but I swear they have a secret calendar somewhere that lets them know before we wake up. Usually, they’re the last to wake, but on swimming day, they’re waking us.

Why? Because it’s doggy daycare day.

Our dogs are spoiled at home, but their daycare is next level. Sometimes, there are 15-20 big dogs running free in a farm-based, fully fenced yard with banana trees, gardens, chickens, pigs, and even a mud pit. I don’t know how the owners do it; they are true dog whisperers, and everyone lives in harmony.

We are incredibly lucky that our neighbors run a doggy daycare, and we truly don’t know how we would survive without them. Rosa and Mac are happier, healthier, and more social, and we get to enjoy their tired, content (and dirty) faces at the end of the day. When our daughter was born, they stayed for a week. They are part of the furniture there, and we often joke that they’d prefer to live there—but can you blame them? Free range dogs, fed raw food, and permission to jump in the mud. It’s more like a doggy day spa!

During one lengthy stay, Rosa actually got herself stuck in one of the fences, I think she was a bit more slim when she arrived, but even then, she had no chance of fitting her big fluffy butt through. There must have been some delicious treats on the other side of the fence.

I’m not entirely sure what they do all day, but we get photo updates that usually consist of Mac in the water and playing with the dogs and Rosa off in her own world somewhere, chasing the butterflies or taking care of the piggies.

When we first took Rosa there before we had Mac, she didn’t really engage with the other dogs, which was the whole reason we brought her there. A year later, when we took her and Mac back together, she was a different dog. Even though she still plays on her own quite a bit, she has friendships and loves watching the other dogs play.

Mac is Mr Popular and is friends with everyone, and often involves his sister in the games.

It’s so insane, as I write this, how much this sounds like two human children at a childcare centre. They have social groups, mealtimes, rest times, and crazy play times. We share how they’ve been and what to look out for in the morning when we drop them off, and we ask ‘How were they?’ every time we pick them up. As a former early childhood teacher, I laugh every time we have these interactions.

The Perks of Doggy Daycare

More than just exercise on days we don’t have the time or care overnight when we’re out, doggy daycare provides so much more to our dogs, and if you’ve been thinking about enrolling your dog, it could provide a lot to your dog, too.

Here’s why I think it’s amazing:

1. Endless Socialization: Dogs are naturally social creatures, and daycare gives them the opportunity to interact with other pups in a safe and supervised environment.
2. Physical & Mental Stimulation: From running around with their buddies to playing with the daycare ‘teachers,’ doggy daycare keeps dogs active and entertained.
3. A Happy, Tired Pup: After a full day of fun, Mac and Rosa come home exhausted in the best way possible, giving us a bit of reprieve on busy days.
4. Peace of Mind: Leaving my dogs alone for extended periods (especially because I work from home) used to make me feel guilty, but with daycare, I know they’re in good hands, having a blast instead of feeling lonely or bored.

Have you tried doggy daycare, or are you thinking about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!