Does my dog's daycare and home schedule provide enough stimulation?

I would take your cue from her. If she seems to enjoy daycare and is more relaxed and happy in the evenings when she's been there, then I don't see any problem with taking her four days a week if you want to. When I was in veterinary school, my own dog (a young Sheltie) went to doggy daycare five days a week while I was on clinical rotations my senior year. It was a great arrangement for him :)

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Alley is adorable! I think it is nice to have somewhat of a schedule. I think dogs are less anxious when there is a predictable routine. For example, when you are off work those are the park days/hikes/extra long walks. Work weeks vary from a few days a week of doggie daycare to quick walks after work. I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the schedule being strictly set because that is impossible. Keep feeding and walking schedules strict and the special exercise a bit flexible. I hope this helps and you are a great dog owner!

Hello. You are doing the absolute best thing by slowly adjusting your dog to 2 walks a day. Great job! I would not worry about Archie not going out at lunchtime unless he has any type of medical problem. He should be able to hold things in until you return home. Most pets with working parents never go out until someone comes home from work. I am fortunate to go home for lunch every day, & most days one, or sometimes both my dogs, refuse to go out. They want to see what mom is fixing for lunch. So if they do not go out, then they have to wait until I get home at 5:30. Try to let Archie out twice in the morning, as soon as you get up & right before leaving the house. In the evening, 2-3 times is more than sufficient. He will adjust just fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

More and more people are allowing dogs to be in their house with them, but dogs sleep about 14 hours a day, so it really doesn't matter where they are during those 14 hours. They key is to have the remaining 10 hours involve good quality time. Depending on the dog, that may involve walks, playing with toys, playing with other dogs, or playing with humans. If you have having behavior problems with Edgar because he seems bored, then I would certainly try to find ways to stimulate him more either inside or outside his cage. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps dogs busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires them to work. There are also a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I hope that answers your question and was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hi and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Wow! It sounds like you and Blue have a great schedule! I would say what you are doing is perfect. Dogs love excercise and attention from their owners. Exercise is also a great way for Blue to continue to be a healthy and happy dog. As long as he is in good shape and has no underlying health conditions, what you have going with Blue is perfect! Thanks again for your post!

I think it's fabulous you are doing daily play dates with your dog, and I would keep it up! It's natural she may seem a little depressed after leaving the play date. She was having fun with her friend, and she doesn't want it to end. I have a Basset Hound and my friend across the street has a female one. We get together for play dates, and we call them boyfriend/girlfriend (I have a male). They both get sad about being separated and sulk for a bit after their play dates end. I would keep up the daily play dates, it's great exercise for them and great socialization.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is so nice that you are so concerned about making sure Buddy is happy. It is important to make this a big part of your life. It is also ok to have other things in your life, like cycling. If you feel that Buddy isn't getting enough exercise, you can always hire a dog walker to take him out while you are at work for some added play time. Otherwise just make sure you are still giving Buddy time for walks and ways to blow off steam (agility training for heelers is a really good activity to help with keeping them stimulated), and when you want to go for rides he can just hang out and rest. Best of luck with Buddy, and with your rides!