The best dog daycare program depends on the individual dog’s age, energy level, social preferences and care needs. Best Friends Fur Ever offers dog daycare in Joppa and Cockeysville, Maryland, with Social Play for dogs who enjoy groups, Play My Way for dogs who prefer individualized or smaller-group experiences, and Assisted Canine Care for seniors and dogs who benefit from a gentler pace.
Which type of dog daycare is right for my dog?
Social Play: Dogs who genuinely enjoy playing with other dogs.
Play My Way: Dogs who prefer individualized attention, smaller groups or enrichment.
Assisted Canine Care: Senior and differently abled dogs or dogs who benefit from a gentler pace.
Your Routine Changed. Their Needs Didn’t.
September changes things. Kids go back to school. Summer vacations end. Offices get busier. Commutes return. Calendars fill up.
And the dog who spent the summer surrounded by activity may suddenly be looking at a much quieter Monday morning.
Your schedule changed. Their needs didn’t.
Dogs still need movement, mental stimulation, interaction, rest and things to look forward to. For many families, dog daycare can become part of that routine.
But there’s another question that’s just as important as whether your dog should go to daycare: What kind of daycare is right for my dog?
Dog Daycare Shouldn’t Be One-Size-Fits-All
Dogs have personalities.
Some walk into a room and immediately want to meet everyone.
Some prefer a couple of carefully chosen friends.
Some would choose a favorite human and a tennis ball over a giant playgroup any day.
And as dogs get older, the experience they enjoyed when they were two may not be what feels best at ten.
That’s why Best Friends Fur Ever offers different daycare experiences.
For the Social Butterfly: Social Play
If your dog genuinely enjoys playing with other dogs, Social Play may be their happy place.
At BFFE, Social Players are matched with compatible dogs based on factors such as size, energy and play style. Their day balances supervised activity with opportunities to rest and recharge.
Because a great daycare day isn’t about exhausting a dog.
It’s about giving them a fulfilling one.
For the Independent Spirit: Play My Way
Not every great dog is a group-play dog. Play My Way gives dogs another option.
It’s designed for dogs who may prefer individual attention, smaller groups or activities built around their own interests.
That could mean fetch.
Treat puzzles.
Outdoor exploration.
Enrichment.
A carefully chosen canine friend.
Or quality time with a member of our team.
Sometimes a dog’s preferences change over time, too. [Learn what we look for when a dog may be ready to transition from Social Play to Play My Way.]
Play My Way doesn’t require a traditional Social Play temperament test because the experience isn’t built around requiring your dog to fit into a large social group.
For the Dog Who Needs a Gentler Pace: Assisted Canine Care
Getting older shouldn’t mean your dog’s world has to get smaller.
Our Assisted Canine Care (ACC) program provides a calmer option for senior and differently abled dogs and others who benefit from additional assistance.
A good day might look different now.
That’s okay.
The goal is still the same: More good days.
Not sure which sounds like your dog? Take our 60-second quiz to find their perfect day.
Dog Daycare in Joppa and Cockeysville, Maryland
Best Friends Fur Ever has two Maryland resorts:
Joppa, serving families throughout Harford County and surrounding communities including Bel Air, Abingdon, Aberdeen and the APG area.
Cockeysville, serving families throughout Baltimore County and surrounding communities including Timonium, Towson and Hunt Valley.
But wherever you visit us, our philosophy is the same.
We don’t want to fit your dog into daycare. We want to find the daycare that fits your dog.
Does my dog have to like other dogs to attend BFFE daycare?
No. Play My Way provides an alternative for dogs who may prefer individualized attention or smaller-group experiences.
Is there dog daycare for senior dogs?
Yes. BFFE’s Assisted Canine Care provides a calmer experience for senior and differently abled dogs and others who benefit from additional assistance.
How often should my dog attend daycare?
It depends on the dog’s age, energy, health, personality and home routine. Some dogs thrive with several visits per week while others benefit from one or two.
What if my dog is recovering from surgery or an injury?
Dogs who are medically stable but need additional support during recovery may be better suited for Assisted Canine Care Plus (ACC+), a specialized BFFE program designed to help bridge the gap between veterinary care and home.
That’s why September is a great time to look at the week ahead and ask:
What does my dog need now?
Find Their Best Day
Social butterfly? Independent spirit? Gray muzzle? Still figuring it out? Take our 60-second quiz and find the BFFE experience that fits your dog.
There are a lot of different ways to have a great day.
That’s why BFFE offers choices.
Your dog deserves the one that feels like theirs.
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