Whether you’re a new pet-parent or a more seasoned one, you probably know that having a schedule is good for your dog’s brain – and when you bring your four-legged family member to Canine Cowboy, you can rest assured that your dog is getting all the enrichment they need throughout the day.
Why Routines Are Good for Dogs
First things first: Structure is different from strict routine. Structure provides the framework we use to care for your dog; we set up timeframes for everything from eating and potty breaks to playtime and naps. We avoid using strict routines because we know that dogs, like people, need a little bit of flexibility. (A strict routine would be feeding your dog from 6 p.m. to 6:10 p.m., and if they’re not done, they miss out. We don’t do things that way!) You can check out our normal routine at A Day in the Life of a Canine Cowboy Dog.
Routines are great for dogs’ mental health – just like they are for people. In fact, having a solid routine can help reduce anxiety (including separation anxiety), help your dog learn favorable behaviors and cuts down on stress.
Routines to Minimize Anxiety
Keeping your dog on a routine lets them know what to expect and when. For example, the dogs at Canine Cowboy take a power nap after a fun outside play session and some brain-training; this all happens between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Then, our canine guests get a few hours to hang out with friends, play with toys, or relax before heading back outside to relieve themselves and play for another hour. All the dogs who stay with us know these fun activities always happen in the same order, so they don’t have to be anxious about what’s coming next.
Routines to Learn Favorable Behaviors
Feeding routines help dogs stay in good health (like eating at about the same time every day), and when we set aside time to practice skills and basic commands with dogs, they learn favorable behaviors. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt that all our skill training involves plenty of treats and belly rubs.)
Related: Doggie daycare FAQ
Ready to Talk About How Your Dog Can Thrive With Our Routine?
If you’re thinking about sending your pup to doggie daycare, we’d love to talk to you. Call our office today to schedule a meet-and-greet so we can get to know you and your dog!
