Since I work at home with sickness benefit, I basically have no need for a day mat. So far together with Boyo I have had a dog sitter on one occasion, I think. Therefore, it feels a little ridiculous to write about this, but I still have some opinions about how you should think when choosing a day mat.
The very first what you should do before you start looking for a day mat is to take a good look at your dog and think about what he or she needs. I'm guessing that the vast majority of dogs are more or less easy to handle and perhaps don't need that much of what I call leadership and which so many dislike.
Men – there are dogs that need it, and you need to know if your own dog is one of them, or if he or she is one of the more manageable dogs.
What kind of I think the dog needs a more knowledgeable person as a daycare provider?
Dogs of more powerful races (amstaff, pitbull, American bully, pure watchdogs (molest), in terrierhundar, with more. Dogs with high energy and drive (shepherd, rottweiler, russian black terrier, and more). Dogs with high thoughts of themselves (so-called dominant). Unbehaved dogs. Young dogs in their worst teenage period. Problem dogs.
It really is very important to have insight into one's own dog and to know what any problems are due to. It makes it immensely easier for the person who will take care of your dog – especially if the person in question does not have knowledge or experience of exactly what is bothering your dog, and therefore might have chosen to decline from the beginning. Therefore, I also believe that you need to be able to communicate and put into words any problems you have. You should also be completely honest and not talk about your dog as if the problems are smaller than they are.
This applies if there are problems.
But regardless, so one should be able to verbalize and communicate any needs that exist. I think, as I said, that the vast majority of dogs are easy to deal with, but I know there are those who are extremely stressful to be around.
…
During all years I had a dog, I walked at home (with the exception of six months over ten years ago). I rarely need a dog sitter, but it has happened. I have been very careful about who I let take care of Ella (as it applied then), because she was such an incredibly high-energy person, highly intense dog who could be very difficult to handle and spend time with. It was like you couldn't behave in any way with her without her freaking out and flying through the roof with energy surges.
I would never having left her with someone with no experience with dogs. The few times I needed help, I always left her with someone both she and I knew well.
…
I wouldn't rather leave Boyo with anyone. Boyo is much easier to handle than Ella was, but he's still pretty big, he can be pushy and a bit of a brat under all his thirst for love (because of course he never gets cuddled here at home, he thinks), he likes to hang with his upper body in your lap if you are sitting, he likes to jump to stand and lean against one and view the world – and a lot more wacky ideas he has up his sleeve.
I do not think that he is very busy, but I would still like to see that whoever would handle him actually knows how to do it. Not to mention being able to deal with his separation anxiety, because he now happens to have it to a fairly high extent.
To summarize all that stuff – after a careful evaluation of your own dog, you should look for a person who corresponds to the dog's needs. If you have a dog that reacts unreasonably and aggressively at dog meetings, you need a daycare mat that can handle it. If you have a dog that struggles and pulls on the leash, you need someone strong who can resist (however, training your dog to walk on a leash is your job). If you have a high-energy dog, you need someone who either knows how to dampen the energy, or can challenge the dog both physically and mentally so that it gets an outlet for the energy that way.
It really is very important to do all this. Leaving a dog that is problematic in one way or another with a person who is not aware of it and discovers it on their own, is not pretty. Expecting anyone to be able to handle your dog is also not nice. If you're really unlucky, you'll have to look for a new day mat in the neighborhood, and it's not nice to your dog either. My personal belief is that your dog feels best when he is in one place; it guarantees security and stability, which all dogs (and we!) feels good.
…
Men – all dogs are, as said, not problematic, but actually nice and approachable. There, none of the above is quite as important. However, it is still important to choose a sensible day mat. Firstly, both you and your dog must feel safe together with this person, secondly, the person in question must feel safe with you. It is a relationship that will hopefully continue for a long time, so it's worth searching a little extra for it to work.
Beyond that, it should it should probably be just as important for you who are looking for a day mat, as it is for me who offers me as a daycare, that your dog and any other dogs in the home, works together. If you know that you have a dog that is not happy with the company of other dogs, perhaps it is stupid to choose a daycare center that has several dogs at home during the day. Some are best alone, others are so demanding that they need to be alone.
…
Then we have that burning question of compensation. I myself have had enormous difficulty daring to put a number on the compensation I wish for. But I think my main advice on that point is – pay what your potential daycare wants, if it is not too unreasonable. To find out about a reasonable daily allowance – check out for example Rover or Dogley, a couple of sites that connect dog sitters with dogs in need of sitting.
There are many reason to pay a reasonable compensation to the person who takes care of your dog. Firstly, it is a big responsibility – it's your dog we're talking about. In part, it means that the person in question gives up parts of his time and his life for you and your dog. Is it also a person with whom everything works well – then it is well worth the money, can I think.
One more aspect important to consider when it comes to compensation, is what you expect from your day mat. If you have a naughty young dog or a problem dog, it will mean significantly more work for your daycare mat to make everyday work. So it may be reasonable to pay a little extra for another person to spend time raising your dog.
The same applies if you want your daycare mat to take care of things like nail trimming, fur care or even training your dog. Especially if for one reason or another it is something that your dog does not like and you yourself have problems with (Claw trimming can be such a thing).
And you – once you have found the right day mat (or day care center!), remember to take care of her/him. I currently have a day dog whose people spoil me to the point where I'm almost embarrassed. They are so rare that my heart warms – and of course that makes taking care of their dog even more enjoyable. ♥
I think most people who are serious about their role as a daycare provider want it to work. If you get a no – don't take it personally. Read mine previous post about how I think when it comes to bringing a new dog into my everyday life, so maybe it gives some insight that it needs to work for all parties – including dagmatten. I have turned down several dogs, and several dogs (people) has refused me, because for various reasons it doesn't feel like it would work. Most often it has had to do with the dogs themselves, how they would likely work (or not work) Together.
As final clamp wishes I wish you the best of luck in your search for daycare. Do you want to brainstorm thoughts and ideas? – hear from you (the easiest is Facebook).