Finding a daycare for your furbaby that FEELS right is tough: some are too expensive, some are too…read moremuch like a kennel, some have facilities that you don't like, some do a lot of crating, some are poorly staffed, the list is endless... Dogs for Days is none of these things. It checks all the boxes you need: clean, affordable, safe, staff that loves your baby like they're one of their own pups, 24/7 staffing, and CAGE FREE -this one is really important because there are a lot of places that advertise hotel suites for your dogs but honestly those are just fancy-looking kennels... great if your pup is into that and is comfortable sleeping alone, not so great if your pup is used to snuggling with you in bed - ANYWAY, I digress.
We started at Dogs for Days when our puppy was about 9 months old, and when it was still Paws Up - our doggie loved it, we liked it but we weren't thrilled. We were thinking about switching to another daycare when Nick and Michelle took over. Katie, one of the staff, told us that these new owners (whom we hadn't met yet) were amazing and truly dog lovers. Okay we thought, let's stick around and see how this turns out.
THANK GOD THAT WE DID. In the last 4-5 months, Nick and Michelle have created a place that we honest to God would be lost without. They, and their staff, go above and beyond to make sure that you feel 200% comfortable leaving your dog with them for a few hours to a few days (or more!). They will text you pictures, give you updates, email you, facetime you, whatever you need when you're away from your baby.
Unfortunately this year our puppy Mila turned 1 the same weekend we had to be out of town. What did Dogs for Days do? Well I'll let you look at the pictures and see for yourself - birthday bandana, a handmade birthday sign, and constant updates to let us know that she was having a wonderful time. These are the types of little things they'll do that are truly wonderful. They didn't need to do this but they did it because they knew how much it meant to us - probably more than it meant to Mila haha
I've personally seen Michelle work with a family who had a dog with a disability to help them socialize the pup and make sure he (or maybe she) has a happy and well-socialized doggie life. Could they have just turned the family away as so many other daycares would do? Probably, but they didn't and that's what matters. When a dog in the area that they knew went missing, Nick was out there every day helping to find him (don't worry they found him so it's a happy ending!). My point is that it's very hard to find people who understand your connection to your dog(s). Dogs, cats, other pets...they're family. And when you have to leave them for work or a weekend or for whatever reason, you want to feel like they'll be treated like family.
We leave Mila during the week week knowing that she is going to have a great time, that if something happens she'll be in good hands, and that she's happy - which makes us happy. We leave her for longer periods - weekends - knowing that she can sprawl out on a couch or bed surrounded by other dogs and most importantly, A PERSON. We know that she won't be scared in a kennel all by herself, and that if something goes wrong there is always someone there for her. Although full disclosure I still cry every time we have to leave her.
If you're anything like us (and I suspect you are if you've read this very long review about a doggy daycare), then your dog is like your baby and Dogs for Days is the best for your baby.
