Daycare for dogs is a concept that is becoming more and more popular among the working population. Prior to the development of pet care, animals were left home all day, often penne up in cages, locked inside houses, or fenced in yards, left on their own to entertain themselves or cause trouble as they see fit.

Pet day care can be divided into two categories: boarding services and actual day care. Boarding services can be found for animals from hamsters to horses, and are particularly useful if an owner is going to be away overnight or for an extended period of time and has no one to care for their pet in their home, or if an owner has insufficient space for the care of a large animal (this is very common in the case of horses).

The pet will be given their own sleeping space, feeding dishes and toys, and will be cared for daily as if they were home. Time is allotted for daily grooming, training, exercise and play.

Doggie boot camp is becoming increasingly popular as a way to deal with animals that have simply refused to be trained. A group of professional trainers will work with your dog daily, for several hours a day, teaching them to obey basic commands. Each facility's methods of doing this are different; some use punishment based techniques, while others use rewards and positive reinforcement. This may be a boarding program, where your dog goes to a separate facility for a length of time, sleeping there, or it may be done as a day school, where the owner drops the dog off in the morning and picks them up in the afternoon.

At doggy day care, dogs are cared for by a staff of trained professionals, educated in dog behavior, safety and health management. They are groomed and provided training by an experienced trainer according to their level of knowledge.

Play time and exercise time are both important components of a canine day care facility. Dogs are walked several times a day, and like children are often given a playground to play on, allowing them to run, jump and climb. Separate faculties are available for both large and small size dogs, with the separation being made at or around twenty five pounds. Puppies have their own separate area, where they are played with, housebroken, and loved.

Regardless of which program you decide to use, investigate the facility and the staff carefully. Confirm the credentials of the staff, and that they have been trained to handle any emergencies that may arise while your dog is in their care. Be sure that the facility is clean, of adequate size and does not possess any features which may be hazardous to the dogs.

A variation on this theme is offered in do-it-yourself pet spas, where owners are encouraged to groom their pet themselves, furthering the bond between pet and human. The spa will provide the appropriate space, as well as a wash basin, shampoo, nail clippers and other grooming equipment. Pet spas can be a wonderful treat for all animals.