A Dog’s Eye View on Dog Daycare

I’m the Boss. I know it. My playmates know it. 

I am the Boss at  3 Pooches in Paradise  Dog Play Center or whatI like to call Jinx’s Dog Daycare. Don’t tell my mom, though, because she’s not too happy when I start pretending I’m the Boss. She says that because I weigh forty-five pounds, I shouldn’t get too big for my britches. I don’t really understand that because I don’t wear britches and only wear shearling coats on occasion in the winter.

But whether I’m the Boss or not, I love being at dog daycare. Why? Because I play all day. What’s not to love about that? I’m not in a crate all day while my parents are at work. I’m not at home alone chewing up everything in sight because I get bored with nothing to do by myself. I’m at a place where I play with dogs of all sizes I’d never meet otherwise, unless we’re in the lobby at the vet and that is not a good place to meet other dogs. The levels of anxiety and stress in the air cancel out any friendly sniffing or yapping. At daycare, it’s all about the sniffing, yapping, play-bowing, running and tail-wagging. It’s a dog’s dream!

Some pooches don’t realize that socialization with others helps them become less fearful, anxious and aggressive. I’ve been around some older dogs that have never played with others and sometimes they’re not very nice. I know they’re only scared because it’s a new experience for them, but it shouldn’t be. I think all dogs of all sizes should get to meet and play with each other. By nature, we’re a friendly species and it’s just the Dog Way!

At daycare, all of my vaccinated playmates have their own distinct personalities. And that’s why we have so much fun.

When we’re not woofing around with each other, we’re playing fetch, tug of war (my personal favorite) or a game some of the smaller pooches like to play called Chase me, Chase me. It’s nice that there are separate playrooms for the little dogs, though, so when they start their running games, the big dogs can’t join in, although we do line up at the fence sometimes and play spectator. It’s like watching gymnastics the way they flip and twirl and we bark to make them do more tricks. My mom and grandma, the owners, don’t like that, though, so they start us in on a group game like Follow the Leader or Tennis Ball Catch.

Sometimes I look up and catch my mom taking my picture. She takes pictures all day so she can put them on the website for their moms and dads to see. It makes some of my playmates think they’re famous so they sit by her and just wait for their shining moment to be captured. Personally, I don’t like to be photographed so I try my darnedest to turn my head when I see her pointing it at me.

After playing like the puppy I’m not all morning, I get grumpy sometimes if I don’t rest after lunchtime. The playrooms have soft, comfy, fleece beds at all times so if my playmates are also tired before then, we all put our paws down and rest. A couple of my regular buddies won’t rest, though, so my mom moves them in a separate playroom so they won’t bother us. As soon as we’re ready to play again, though, we do! At the end of the day, I go home doggone tired and happy!!!

Jinx Long, featured guest writer for the WAG loves long walks on the beach, belly rubs, and long naps when she is not hard at work running 3 Pooches in Paradise.