The Day-Care Dilemma

Incredible - There were 400 record highs set or tied across the US yesterday.  Some of the warmest weather so early in the season EVER in parts of the Midwest.  And the warmth is predicted to last for several more days.  The continued streak of warm weather means the famed cherry blossoms in the nation's capital will now peak a week earlier than originally predicted.  All around us, trees are blooming, birds are singing, the dogs are shedding and my allergies couldn't be worse--I am really enjoying every minute of it!  

-Tulip-Magnolia tree blooming near my office-

This morning I took Todd for another evaluation at a second-day care.  The place I took Todd last Thursday is located in the town where I live.  Along with boarding dogs, they do have a day care.  It's an older facility, clean and well kept. They keep the dogs on a regular schedule with play in the morning and are kenneled for an hour at noon.  Weather permitting, in the afternoon they play in the outside areas. In the heat of summer, they will sometimes set up pools for the dogs to cool off in.  The day ends between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the dogs are crated until the owners come to pick them up.  Knowing that Todd would be crated or kenneled for 3-4 hours a day was something I didn't really like.  There were a couple of other things that I didn't like, so I didn't make a commitment about his coming there.  

Where we went this morning is the total flip-side of the first.  It's a 'Pet Resort' and that's exactly what it is, a resort.  The automatic doors welcome you into the large designer lobby with a hotel-styled front desk.  There is a gift shop, a pool and an agility course.  While your cat or dog enjoy their stay, you can check up on them anytime because there are live pet-cams in each 'suite' where they are staying, and in the day-care as well. There is a restaurant style kitchen with a cook to prepare any special meals that your pet may require while there.  And when they're all worn out from playing, they can have a spa-treatment to ease those tired paws.

Todd felt right at home in the posh surroundings and turned on his charm as he was 'evaluated' in the day-care.  I watched from a viewing area.  They introduced all the dogs to him and towards the end, when a Golden was brought in they took an immediate liking to one another and started playing right away.  Of course since he lives with so many Goldens, I just thought it was just because of that.  But I found out afterwards it was one of his pals from the other day care where he used to go--Who said dogs don't remember other dogs?  There's not much to not like about this place. However my reluctance is only because they have very large play-groups of 35-50 dogs each day.  While their dog-to-people-ratio is appropriate, I felt it was too many dogs, because they do not have divide groups of dogs by age or size. I have a concern about the Great Danes, Mastiff's and very large dogs being around Todd. 

So, onto the next day care which Todd goes to on Wednesday.  It was recommended to me by a friend, so I have no idea what to expect, other than it's a smaller facility.  But as I write this, I have to wonder, am I putting too much thought into all of this?