How to Choose the Right Dog Daycare: 10 Questions Every Owner Should Ask

Quick answer: Choose a dog daycare by asking how it screens and groups dogs, how many trained staff watch each playgroup, and what it requires for vaccines, rest and emergencies, then judge whether the answers are specific. A good daycare evaluates every dog before group play, matches dogs by temperament and play style, builds rest into the day, and tells you plainly when daycare isn't working for your dog. No evaluation, no tour of the dog areas, or vague answers about supervision are reasons to keep looking.

Key takeaways:

• Every dog should be evaluated before joining group play, and groups should be matched on temperament and play style, not size alone
• In Chicago, a daycare that lets dogs mix must by law keep at least two trained staff on site, and no playgroup may exceed 40 dogs
• Illinois and Chicago both license dog daycares, so ask whether a facility holds the state and city licenses for the services it offers
• Rest is part of a good day: the AKC notes dogs spend as much as half their day asleep
• A specific answer beats a friendly one; "we just watch them" is not a supervision plan

Choosing the right dog daycare comes down to what happens when you're not there: who is watching, how the dogs are grouped, and what staff do when play turns rough. A bright lobby and a webcam can't tell you that. Ten good questions on a tour can.

This guide gives you the questions to ask any dog daycare, why each one matters, what a strong answer sounds like, and when to walk away. Where Chicago and Illinois have actual rules on staffing, vaccines and licensing, they're cited, so you can hold a facility to the legal minimum and then ask what it does beyond it. Canine Perspective runs a structured daycare in Chicago's West Town, and these are the questions we think every owner should ask.

The 10 questions at a glance (bring this list on your tour):

1. Do you evaluate every dog before it joins group play?
2. How do you decide which dogs play together?
3. How many dogs is each staff member watching?
4. What training do your staff have?
5. What does a typical day look like, and when do dogs rest?
6. What happens when play gets too rough?
7. Which vaccines and health checks do you require?
8. What is your plan if a dog gets hurt or sick?
9. Are you licensed, and can I see where the dogs play?
10. How will you keep me informed, including when daycare isn't working?

Is daycare right for your dog in the first place?

Daycare suits dogs that genuinely enjoy other dogs and can settle after excitement. The AKC's guide to choosing a daycare describes the good candidate as a dog that is well socialized, enjoys the company of other dogs, and benefits from exercise and stimulation.

Preventive Vet's guide to choosing a daycare, written by a certified behavior consultant, sorts dogs into four broad types. Dog-social dogs love nearly all dogs, and dog-tolerant dogs get along with most; both usually do well in group play. Dog-selective dogs choose their playmates and need careful matching. Dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs are not candidates for open group play. If your dog gets along with some dogs and not others, it helps to understand why dogs react to certain dogs before you enroll.

A young puppy may not have finished its vaccines yet (see the FAQ below). If group daycare isn't the right fit, the same guide lists alternatives: a dog walker or pet sitter for a midday break, planned play dates with dogs yours already knows, or more exercise and enrichment at home. Some daycares also offer a structured solo day instead of open play.

1. Do you evaluate every dog before it joins group play?

A good daycare says yes, and can tell you exactly what the evaluation involves. A quick meet-and-greet at the front desk shows very little. Watching a dog over more than one session, around different dogs and through a rest period, shows how it handles arousal, handling and recovery.

Ask how long the evaluation lasts, who runs it, and how a new dog is introduced to the group. At Canine Perspective, every new dog completes a 3-Day Daycare Evaluation ($145) before joining daycare.

Ask about eligibility rules at the same time. Preventive Vet notes that most daycares require dogs to be spayed or neutered, usually from somewhere between 6 months and 1 year of age, so check the policy and any age limits before you book.

A strong answer: a defined process, a named person responsible, and a clear result: your dog is placed in a group, placed with conditions, or not placed.

Walk away if: any dog can start full group play on day one with no assessment.

2. How do you decide which dogs play together?

Start with the format. Preventive Vet describes three common types: "dog park style" daycares with large open spaces where dogs run freely, daycares with separated, smaller play areas where dogs are grouped by energy, play style or size, and home-style daycares that take a few dogs in someone's home. Ask which one you're looking at, because it shapes everything else.

Then ask how groups are formed. Size alone isn't enough: a gentle senior and a body-slamming adolescent of the same weight can be a poor pair. Grouping should account for temperament, play style, age and energy, and it should change when a dog's behavior changes. The AKC's guide to dog play flags two things to watch in any group: wrestling between big and small dogs, and one dog being ganged up on by several others. Ask how the daycare prevents both. Canine Perspective runs small groups matched by temperament and play style.

A strong answer: specific criteria, a typical group size, and a description of what happens when a dog's energy doesn't fit its group.

Walk away if: the answer is "they all get along" and every dog shares one room regardless of size or style.

3. How many dogs is each staff member watching?

Ask for an actual number at the busiest time of day, and ask whether that person is in the room with the dogs or watching a screen. In Chicago, the law sets a floor. Under Chicago Municipal Code 4-384-060, any facility that lets dogs mix must have at least two trained staff on site whenever it's open, with at least one constantly supervising the dogs. A playtime group of 15 or more dogs requires at least three trained staff on site, with two in constant supervision, and no playtime group may exceed 40 dogs.

That is a minimum, not a goal: under that rule, a group of 40 dogs could have two staff supervising it, with a third somewhere in the building. Beyond legal floors like Chicago's, there's no single agreed ratio, and published suggestions vary. The Brandywine Valley SPCA suggests 15:1 or better, though it cites no source for the figure. The certified behavior consultant writing Preventive Vet's daycare guide recommends at least one well-trained staff member for every eight to ten dogs, and one for every five to seven in high-energy playgroups. Group size matters too: a handful of well-matched dogs is a very different job from a room of thirty-five.

A strong answer: a specific peak-hour number, staff physically in the room, and smaller groups when the dogs are more demanding.

Walk away if: nobody can give you a number, or one person is managing a large group while also answering phones and checking dogs in.

4. What training do your staff have?

Loving dogs is not a qualification. Chicago's ordinance requires "trained" staff, so ask what that training actually covered: reading dog body language, spotting stress before it becomes conflict, interrupting play safely, separating dogs without getting bitten, and canine first aid. The AKC's daycare guide says staff should at minimum have basic care and safety training, and ideally training in canine body language and the warning signs of danger, stress or illness.

Also ask who is in charge on the floor, how long they have been handling groups of dogs, and how the team stays current on each dog. At Canine Perspective, handlers are trained personally by founder Jesse San Miguel, and weekly staff meetings keep everyone up to date on the dogs in the building and the behavior they're working through.

A strong answer: specific training topics, an experienced lead on the floor, and a routine for keeping staff current on each dog.

Walk away if: training means shadowing someone for an afternoon.

5. What does a typical day look like, and when do dogs rest?

Ask for the day hour by hour: play blocks, rest periods, meals and medication, potty breaks, and any structured activities. Rest isn't dead time. The AKC notes that dogs tend to spend as much as half of their day asleep, 30% awake but relaxing, and about 20% active, and puppies may need up to 18 to 20 hours of sleep. Eight or ten hours of nonstop play is a long way from that.

A dog that plays all day without a break often comes home wired rather than tired, so ask where dogs rest between play sessions. A calm dog can learn; a frantic one can't, which is why rest periods are built into the day at Canine Perspective. Some daycares also fold training into the day, as our Daycare & Train program does.

A strong answer: a written or clearly described schedule with scheduled rest, not just "they nap when they're tired."

Walk away if: dogs are loose in play for the entire day with no planned downtime.

6. What happens when play gets too rough?

Every group has moments that tip over, so the question isn't whether it happens but how early staff step in. According to the AKC, healthy play looks loose and bouncy, with play bows, open mouths and dogs taking turns. Trouble looks stiff: raised hackles, closed mouths, curled lips, pinned ears, and fast, efficient movement instead of bouncing. The AKC's advice is to separate dogs before the situation escalates.

Ask what staff do at the first sign of tension, whether dogs get short time-outs to calm down, what tools or equipment they use to interrupt play or separate dogs, and what happens after a scuffle. There's more than one reasonable way to manage a group. What matters is that the daycare can explain its approach clearly, applies it consistently, and tells you when your dog was involved.

A strong answer: early interruption, rest breaks before things escalate, a clear process after any incident, and a call to you if your dog was part of it.

Walk away if: you hear "we let them work it out."

7. Which vaccines and health checks do you require?

A daycare should collect vaccine records before your dog's first day and check them, not take your word for it. The 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines list distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus (with or without parainfluenza), leptospirosis and rabies for all dogs, with Bordetella and canine influenza given based on lifestyle. AAHA names dog daycare as a risk factor for both leptospirosis and canine influenza.

In Chicago, the same ordinance requires a daycare to collect a veterinary certificate of health, proof of current distemper, rabies, parvovirus and Bordetella vaccines, a certificate that the dog is free of intestinal parasites, and proof of a current city dog license for city residents. A titer certificate from the previous 12 months may substitute for the distemper and parvovirus shots.

Respiratory illness is the other half of this question, and Chicago has history here. Sequence analysis in a 2017 study in the CDC's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal suggests the 2015 US outbreak of H3N2 canine influenza began with a single introduction in Chicago, which then spread rapidly through local training classes, animal shelters, boarding kennels and veterinary clinics. The AVMA says most infected dogs have mild illness and the overall risk of death is about 1 to 5% of infected dogs, but infected dogs can be contagious even when they don't seem ill, for up to four weeks after exposure.

So ask what the AVMA recommends asking: what routine infection-control measures the facility uses, whether respiratory disease has been a problem there, whether it has a plan to isolate dogs that show signs, and whether it notifies owners of possible exposure. Whether your dog needs a canine influenza vaccine is a question for your vet.

A strong answer: records checked before day one, a stated sick-dog policy (how long a coughing dog stays home), and exposure notices to owners.

Walk away if: nobody asks for your dog's records.

8. What is your plan if a dog gets hurt or sick?

Ask which veterinary clinic or emergency hospital the daycare uses, how a dog gets there, and whether they call you first or act first. Ask who on each shift is trained in canine first aid, which the AKC's daycare guide recommends, and how the daycare would reach you in an emergency such as a power outage, fire or severe storm.

Ask, too, how injuries are recorded and who pays for emergency care. A signed emergency-consent form at intake is a good sign, because it means the question has been thought through before it's urgent. And if your dog starts coughing or seems unwell after a day there, call your vet first.

A strong answer: a named vet, a written plan, and a consent form on file.

Walk away if: the answer is "we've never had an emergency."

9. Are you licensed, and can I see where the dogs play?

In Illinois, licensing isn't optional. The state's Animal Welfare Act (225 ILCS 605) defines a day care operator as an establishment where dogs are kept for up to 12 hours, and generally requires a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture to operate one. A business that runs more than one kind of operation, such as daycare and boarding, must license each one separately. Chicago also requires an animal care license, and its animal care standards require a posted sign stating that no dog is enrolled without the required records. Ask whether the daycare holds the state and city licenses for the services it offers.

Then take the tour, ideally without your dog the first time, as the AKC suggests. Look at the play and rest areas, not just the lobby, and check for:

• A clean facility with minimal odor and a comfortable temperature
• Double-gated entries so a dog can't slip out when a door opens
• Secure fencing and no loose cords, broken toys or other hazards
• A stated cleaning routine for floors, bowls and toys
• A plan for where dogs play and relieve themselves in a Chicago January and a humid July

Some daycares keep visitors out of the play rooms for the dogs' safety, which is reasonable. They should still be able to show or clearly describe the space your dog will use.

A strong answer: a straight answer on licensing and a clear picture of every area your dog will use.

Walk away if: the daycare won't show you, or clearly describe, where the dogs spend their day.

10. How will you keep me informed, including when daycare isn't working?

Ask what you'll hear and when: a daily note or report card, photos, a webcam, and a phone call for any injury or incident. The AKC's guide notes that some facilities send daily or weekly reports while others offer a livestream. Either can work, as long as the daycare tells you promptly when something changes.

The harder part is whether the daycare will tell you your dog isn't enjoying group play. A daycare that never says no isn't really screening. Ask what happens if your dog struggles: a smaller group, a structured solo day, a shorter schedule, or an honest suggestion that daycare isn't the right fit. If your dog is reactive, read whether daycare helps or makes a reactive dog worse before you enroll.

A strong answer: regular updates, same-day calls for incidents, and a clear "here's what we'd change" when a dog isn't coping.

Walk away if: every dog is described as "doing great" no matter what you see at pick-up.

How can you tell if your dog actually likes daycare?

A dog that enjoys daycare usually pulls toward the door at drop-off, greets staff loosely, and comes home, in the AKC's words, "tired, but happy," then settles and sleeps. One or two slow days while a dog adjusts is normal. A pattern is worth attention.

Watch for the stress signals the AKC lists: whale eye (the whites of the eyes showing), ears pinned back, a tucked tail, raised hackles, lip-licking, yawning, panting, and looking away. Also note reluctance at the door, new scrapes or limping, and a dog that comes home unable to settle. If you see injuries, coughing or changes in appetite, see your vet, and tell the daycare.

What are the red flags that should end the tour?

Most walk-away signs come down to vagueness. Keep looking if a daycare:

• Puts dogs into group play with no evaluation
• Can't say how many dogs each staff member supervises
• Can't say which licenses it holds, or won't show or describe where dogs spend the day
• Doesn't ask for vaccine records before day one
• Has no planned rest, or no named emergency vet
• Lets dogs "work out" rough play on their own

A good daycare may not answer every question the way you'd hope, but it should answer every one specifically.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important question to ask a dog daycare?

Ask how they evaluate and group dogs before your dog joins play. The answer tells you whether the daycare screens at all, and screening shapes every other part of the day, from supervision to incidents.

Should I tour more than one dog daycare?

Yes, if you can. Comparing two or three facilities with the same list of questions makes vague answers much easier to spot, and it gives you a feel for what calm, well-run group play looks like.

How old does a puppy need to be to start daycare?

It depends on the vaccine series, so ask your vet. The 2022 AAHA guidelines recommend repeating puppy parvovirus vaccines every 2 to 4 weeks until the puppy is older than 16 weeks, and a daycare will need proof of current vaccines before the first day. Canine Perspective's requirements are listed on our FAQ page.

How many days a week should my dog go to daycare?

There's no single right number for every dog. Start with fewer days, watch how your dog behaves at drop-off and at home that evening, and adjust from there.

How much does dog daycare cost in Chicago?

Prices vary by facility and by what's included, so ask what a day rate covers and whether an evaluation is required. For reference, Canine Perspective charges $50 for a single day, with 5-, 10- and 20-day bundles, and $145 for the required 3-Day Daycare Evaluation.

Should I trust online reviews when choosing a daycare?

Use them as a starting point, not a verdict. Look for patterns across many reviews, especially how the daycare responds to complaints about injuries or illness, then confirm what you read by asking these questions in person.

Start with a daycare evaluation

Take this list to every daycare you tour. If you're in Chicago and looking for a structured daycare, start with Canine Perspective's 3-Day Daycare Evaluation ($145). Every new dog begins with it, so the team can place your dog in the right matched group, or tell you plainly if open play isn't the right fit. Details and booking are on our dog daycare page, or call the Daycare & Boarding line at (773) 661-6762.