How Much Is Dog Daycare Per Day? Average Prices & Tips!
Okay, so I've been thinking about getting a dog for a while now, but the biggest thing holding me back (besides my tiny apartment) is the cost of, well, everything! And one of the biggest "unknowns" was doggy daycare. I mean, I can't leave a pup home alone all day while I'm at work, right?
So, I started digging in, figuring out how much this whole doggy daycare thing would actually cost.
My "Deep Dive" Research (aka Googling)
First, I just started Googling. You know, "dog daycare cost near me," "average price dog daycare," that kind of stuff. I found some general ranges, but nothing super concrete. It seemed like prices varied a LOT depending on where you live, the size of your dog, and what kind of fancy extras the daycare offered.
Calling Around – Getting Real Numbers
Next, I got brave and started calling around to some local places. I felt a little awkward, like I was bothering them, but everyone was actually really nice. I just straight-up asked, "Hey, how much is dog daycare per day?"
- The "Fancy Paws" Place: This place was super upscale. They had webcams, a "spa," and even an agility course! For a full day, they quoted me around $50. Yikes!
- The "Neighborhood Hangout": This one was more basic, but still seemed clean and the dogs looked happy. They charged $30 per day, which seemed a lot more reasonable.
- The "Big Chain" Place: You know, one of those national pet store chains. They were somewhere in the middle, around $35-$40 per day, depending on the package I chose.
Checking Out the Packages
Most places offer package deals, where you can buy like 5, 10, or 20 days at a discounted rate.
I found if you buy more days the price is ususlly lower, which is good to know if I decide to do this regularly.
My "Aha!" Moment
After all this "research," I realized there's no one-size-fits-all answer. But, for my area, it looks like I'd be looking at somewhere between $30 and $50 per day for doggy daycare.
Of course if you buy more days, the daily cost would be cheaper.
I also found out that some will give discount if your dog isn't there all day, neat!
It's definitely something I need to factor into my "Can I REALLY Afford a Dog?" budget!
The investigation journey is pretty fun, haha!
