Petsmart Doggie Day Camp - update in 1st post

[horseshowmom]

Anybody have any experience with one of these? I've got to attend a conference in a couple of weeks and would like to take my dog with me. He'll bark if I leave him in the suite by himself, and I don't want to disturb anybody.

I googled and found several options for day stays. One of them was Petsmart. It costs a quite a bit more than the other two options that I liked, but it looks like a great program.

Just looking for somebody who has used them before (of course, I realize that it will vary to some extent depending on the location).


Update: I used the PetSmart location in Jackson, MS, for 3 days last week. I was truly astonished at what a good job they did with my dog. As an abandoned animal who had apparently been mistreated, he tends to be very nervous around any other people (took him awhile to feel safe with us).

He was licking the girl who checked him in by the time I left. When I carried him back the second day, he was actually crawling up her shoulder for her to pick him up when she sat down on the floor with him. He even did well with the young men who were there (and he tends to be more afraid of men). He seemed more than happy to go back each day.

They give you a Pawgress Report each day that has a coupon in it for a $5 sack of Science Diet snacks. That was $15 worth of snacks for the 3 days. Also, I paid $4 for the extra Valentine's Day "party". For that, he got a bag of treats, a V-Day picture made of him, and a coupon for $5 off the next day.

Overall, it wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. They stay open until 9 which gave me time to finish meetings at 5:30, have dinner, and then go pick him up. We will definitely go back!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Great question. I actually called my local Petsmart today for something else and heard about it while I was on hold. Mine doesn't have it So I would also love to hear experiences.

Wish I could find a local reasonable doggy day care. I can't afford $500 a month for doggy day care, we got a dog walker instead for $160 month...

 

[nephthys43]

What are your other options. Do they have video or pics of their facilities?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We've used Camp Bow Wow. They are a doggie daycare and a over night kennel. We used them as an overnight kennel. They have closed circuit TV that you can watch your pooch during the day.

It was pricey but my girls were well taken care of.

 

[quentina]

We use a private place also....Cold Nose Lodge. We pay $24 per day for all day daycare.

Minni loves it, we try to send her 2-3 times per month for socialization.

They also have the web cams so you can see what is going on....it is well worth the $$$.

 

[VickiVM]

Used both, Petsmart was a few bucks more than Camp Bow Wow. Our dog was well looked after @ both. Didn't upgrade her sleeping area...she could care less.

Book in advance - they get booked really quickly, especially on holidays.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

We've used the petsmart for both day camp and overnight care.

With the day camp, they will try to separate the dogs according to size or impermanent if there is enough to warrant two rooms.

When my huskies were puppies I took them weekly, then monthly to keep them socialized.

It's not their favorite thing to do, but they don't resist going in the door. They must not hate it.

The pups do like the fake ice cream treat better than the chewing kong things.

Overnight care was okay too, but you didn't ask so I won't bore you with details.

Just make sure your pup has had it's kennel cough vaccine in the last 6 months.

 

[padams]

I see the dogs in daycare at my local Petsmart through the glass window in the play area during the day. I have observed some aggressive dogs there, and employees who didn't seem to care to do much about it. Unlike some of the "mom and pop" dog day cares, Petsmart does not pre-screen for dog temperment. If you're dog is overly submissive or not accustomed to being around other dogs, I would look elsewhere.

 

[horseshowmom]

Thanks for the input. The city I'll be in doesn't have Camp Bow Wow. The two other options were local and did have pictures on their website (no closed circuit TV though). Both looked very nice. One would be quite a bit out of my way, the other one not so bad.

One nice thing about the PetSmart facility is that they are open until 9 p.m. While I wouldn't need it that late, it would give me time to go out to dinner before picking him up (the other two close at 6 p.m.). The other two are $10 and $12 a day respectively. PetSmart is $16 to $20 (depending on what I choose). Another plus is that they are just down the street from my hotel and on the way to my conference facility. My dog definitely isn't overly submissive (not aggressive either though), and he LOVES to play with other dogs (he's a MinPin, and we have 3 other larger dogs plus he plays with our cats too).

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

My huskies are pretty laid back for their breed. They don't like other dogs when they are on their leash. Which is just so weird because they play really nice with the smaller dogs in day camp.

Another thing that Petsmart has is their doggie phone. If your dog response well to you, you can call him and say hi. My dogs would be pretty darn upset if I did that to them. However, other dogs seem to really like it.

I would never use them long term. But only because everything is inside. My huskies would commit hara kari if they could not go outside everyday. That or drive the others insane with their yodeling.

Best of luck with whatever you decide. I don't think anything would be horrible for just the short term.

 

[horseshowmom]

Used both, Petsmart was a few bucks more than Camp Bow Wow. Our dog was well looked after @ both. Didn't upgrade her sleeping area...she could care less.

Book in advance - they get booked really quickly, especially on holidays.

I went ahead and booked PetSmart. They had indicated that they had a Valentine's Day party planned for one of the days that I needed and that they would book up fast for that day.

I couldn't help but laugh. My dog is a country dog, and he's not accustomed to parties for his benefit. He doesn't even have any clothes! I hope he won't be too out of place with the fancy city dogs!

I guess I'm going to fork over the extra $4 so he can have the ice cream and treats. I think they said that I would get a picture of him too. Should be interesting (he may not want to come home ).

 

[VickiVM]

I went ahead and booked PetSmart. They had indicated that they had a Valentine's Day party planned for one of the days that I needed and that they would book up fast for that day.

I couldn't help but laugh. My dog is a country dog, and he's not accustomed to parties for his benefit. He doesn't even have any clothes! I hope he won't be too out of place with the fancy city dogs!

I guess I'm going to fork over the extra $4 so he can have the ice cream and treats. I think they said that I would get a picture of him too. Should be interesting (he may not want to come home ).

Oh, Good Lord...A Doggie Valentine's Party???? My Lilly thinks everyday is a party when we come home in the evening

 

[horseshowmom]

Oh, Good Lord...A Doggie Valentine's Party???? My Lilly thinks everyday is a party when we come home in the evening

So has Charlie up until now. What did the old WWII song say about you can't get back down on the farm after they've seen Paris? I may have the same problem!