What does your dog’s natural daily schedule look like? Are they nonstop playing and exercising all day with no rest? Probably not! While dogs need daily exercise, it’s not natural for them to spend hours and hours in a row being active and playing. Do you typically exercise for 3 hours in a row every day? Probably not! Dogs and humans both need exercise, but also plenty of downtime and rest to keep our bodies healthy.
While the idea of daycare with all-day play sounds great, research shows that this isn’t necessarily healthy for your dog. You want them to be pleasantly tired, but not so tired that they’re not interacting with you, skipping their dinner, etc. Our industry experts recommend shorter playtimes with intermittent rest, because too much exercise can cause lethargy, injuries, sore muscles, behavioral changes, etc. They also recommend adding enrichment to give them the mental stimulation needed to tire the mind, not just the body.
Because we prioritize the health and well-being of the dogs under our care, Best Friends Fur Ever uses a purposeful play model that optimizes your dog’s day of daycare with both hours of playing with dogs of similar age, temperament, and playstyle, but also plenty of rest. Our play model meets and exceeds canine exercise requirements – throughout the day, our dogs rotate through periods of free play, rest time, and snack time. This purposeful play model provides dogs with a ton of exercise and stimulation while still catering to their natural rhythm.
When you consider where to enroll your dog in daycare, it’s important to find a provider who prioritizes your dog’s health, not just where they “get to play all day.” To learn more about what makes Best Friends Fur Ever the best, give us a call at 410-773-7529!