If you have a dog, you provide food, water, basic house rules and a chance to exercise every day - oh and of course lots of 'puppy love'. Sometimes our human schedules make it hard for us to provide for all of our canine's needs, or your dog may benefit from being in a group setting because he is bored or he is lonely for some dog pals. That's when a dog day care can help. But how do you find the perfect place for Fido to play all day? This guide will help you through the process of how to choose a dog day care.

1. Ask friends and service providers for recommendations

2. Visit the top spots - ask questions and observe

3. Ensure staff trained and certified in proper canine training methods and emergency care (canine CPR)

4. Confirm that training methods are consistent with your own approach at home

5. Ensure ratios are safe (1 staff person to 10 dogs is optimal)

6. Ask about special health issues or any other unique requests

7. Check policies and emergency procedures

When you begin to research dog day care centers, ask around. Talk to your veterinarian, your dog groomer, people at the dog park, neighbors or dog people you know. Personal referrals are the best way to find quality dog day care facilities. Research online for listings in your area and pick the top three to five businesses to go visit.

When you visit each one, ask questions, take a good look around, and observe the dogs and staff. Be sure to ask clear questions about staff certifications, dog screening methods, ratio of staff on site to dogs, training methods, costs and other policies. Then you'll be ready to bring your dog for a brief visit to the one or two you feel may be the best pick. In the end, taking the time to research and visit the dog day care programs near you will help you make the best decision for you and for your pet.

Perhaps you live in an urban area and you have lots of dog day care choices. Maybe you are in the country and you have only one or two. The first step is to select the top providers in your area. Ask your vet, your dog groomer, or friends at the dog park. Or, consult business directories with customer ratings to help you determine the most respected dog day cares in your region. Create a list of the top 3 to 5 facilities that you will consider for your dog.

This is the most important step. Taking the time to visit each facility will help you quickly learn which ones will best fit your needs and the needs of your own dog. When you visit, be prepared with specific questions for the owners or managers at each dog day care center.

Every dog day care should require you to have your dog up to date with all vaccinations including kennel cough. Each center will have different price ranges, services (perhaps grooming or training as extras), and policies. No matter how fancy or how basic - a good dog day care will provide for the safety and well being of your dog by hiring well trained staff and maintaining a clean operation.

When you visit - here are some good questions to ask and examples of reasonably acceptable responses. You can add your own specific questions, if your dog has special medical or behavioral needs or if you have certain things you are curious about.

Example Questions to ask when you visit prospective dog day care centers:

Q: How many certified dog trainers are on your staff?

• A: (We always have at least one certified dog trainer on site at all times.)

If the facility does not employ any certified dog trainers - this is an indication that the dogs may not be screened safely and that the dogs may not be managed effectively while in the care of the staff, especially in the case of a dog fight or other emergency situation.

Q: How many staff are on site with the dogs at all times?

• A: (At least 2 or more staff are on site at all times).

If a facility has only one staff person on site the dogs could be left alone without supervision - if the person leaves due to an emergency or other type of distraction, this is NOT OK.

Q: What is your overall training method or approach?

• A: (Example 1. Traditional, corrective training. Example 2. Positive reinforcement, clicker training)

It is important that your approach to training and the way you relate to your dog is consistent with the methods of the dog day care that you choose - where your dog will be spending his time - so as not to confuse him or introduce conflict or anxiety.

Q: How do you behaviorally screen dogs prior to accepting them into your care?

• A: (We use the 'tolerance test' similar to the Therapy Dogs temperament test - including the ability to pass physical touch acceptance, no food aggression, moderate sensitivity to noise.)http://www.tails-a-wagging.com/main.php?navarea=How+to+Choose+a+Doggie+Daycare

If a facility does not employ standardized screening procedures, your dog may be at risk because dogs with behavioral or aggression issues may be allowed to attend as a part of the group. If your dog has aggressive tendencies, dog day care may not be the best option for her. Other pet care provider options, like a dog walker or even a specialized training class or program for reactive dogs could be a better choice.

Q: Are the dogs in crates? How often, how long?

• A: (The dogs are crated an amount of time for nap time, after a healthy outdoor play time in AM and PM).

This response will need to fit your comfort level. Crating a happy, tired sleepy, dog is a typical set up in many excellent dog day cares. Be sure that the crates are well ventilated, and cleaned meticulously as health issues can arise from diseases transferred by dogs sleeping in dirty kennels.

Q: Outdoor Area?

• A: (Yes, well fenced, shaded, water/pools, secure and separate big dog and little dog/puppy play spaces. Always staff supervised and monitored for rough play and safety.) or (A: No, but staff walks dogs x times daily).

When you visit, observe the different areas where your dog will spend time. Are the other dogs happy? Crowded? Entertained? Supervised? (Try an unscheduled visit, just drop in sometime and see how things are running). Observe the clients (people) as they pick up or drop off their pets. Are they happy or are they unhappy? How does the staff interact with them? A good dog day care provides excellent service to both the canine and the human clients!

Once you have narrowed down your choices to the top one or two, arrange for your dog to spend an hour or two at each dog day care. If you can, observe your dog at each facility, but also let your dog experience being 'dropped off' and then let the staff report back to youhttp://www.ehow.com/how_5163402_choose-doggie-daycare.html. This will be your chance to ask any other questions that you may have missed at your first visit. What about early drop off, late pick up? Can my dog be expelled from dog day care? If so why or how? Do they have a daily 'report card' or check list or perhaps a verbal review of your dog's activities during the day?

Your interaction with the staff and their observations of you dog will help you to make your final decision about where your dog will be happiest.

Now that you and your dog have spent the time observing and asking lots of questions - hopefully a clear winner has emerged! You can be confident that your dog will be safe and sound spending time with other canines at a wonderful dog day care.