We all lead busy lives these days. The pressures of daily life are sometimes intense – getting the kids to school, dealing with public transport strikes, long hours at work and uncompromising bosses …. and then there is the question of getting the dog (arguably the most important member of the family) to daycare on time.
Using doggy daycare in Beaconsfield or other areas that offer collection, whether provided by the daycare itself or via a third party is a convenient option. But what are the pros and cons of using a pet taxi, doggy bus or collection / drop off service and what sort of things should you be thinking about before using this option?
Well, the biggest pro is that collection and drop off can be super convenient especially if you have a hectic schedule. It can save you time and stress for sure. But as with most things in life, there are upsides and downsides and the time saving can come at a cost. So what are the cons that you need to consider?
The pooch always comes first!
First and foremost, perhaps the most important question is whether you are happy to put your dog in a crate inside a van for what could be 1-2 hours (or more) each day. Questions to ask the pet taxi provider are : typically how many dogs are in each vehicle? how long are the rounds? and is there traffic on a regular basis on the route that often results in delays? How long will the typical ride-time be?
Ask yourself how your dog might react if there are lots of other dogs on the same pickup that are noisy and bark a lot, or in the worst case become aggressive .. does your dog have a temperament that would enable him/her to cope with this or would it stress them out? In the wrong situation, could it lead to your dog becoming more prone to barking, or would your dog internalise the stress of the journey and become quiet and withdrawn or fearful of going in the car with you?
Does the pet taxi have a plan for what to do if a dog is sick and what would happen if the van breaks down .. do they even have enough leads on board to take the dogs to safety if they had to evacuate the van for some reason? Oh, and don’t forget to ask them if they have an absolute prohibition on putting more than one dog in the same crate if they are from different families.
Too hot? Too cold?
In the summer months, is the van temperature controlled and is there always fresh water available? DEFRA lays down regulations for animal transporters which covers the conditions that all contractors must meet, so make sure they comply! Is the van scrupulously clean and what are the procedures for making sure there is infection control…..
Are you happy to hand over the keys to your house?
Are there insurance issues for you to consider here? And how do you feel about strangers coming into your home …. make sure that whichever company is offering the service has DBS checked its drivers and ideally that you have the same person coming on a regular basis.
Will the driving style be comfortable for your dog?
We can all drive a little too fast in certain circumstances, especially if we’ve been held up in traffic and are running late. Driving animals around requires a particularly sympathetic driving style – it feels totally different being shut in a crate than cradled in a comfortable passenger seat and the effect of sharp turns or high speed can be magnified. Some dogs suffer from travel sickness even with the best of drivers and some dogs sadly develop a fear and in some cases extreme anxiety about travelling in a vehicle. All it takes is one rough journey to set up the process of developing that phobia .. perhaps ask yourself if that is that a risk you want to take?
The bottom line
Choosing a daycare and deciding whether to use a pet taxi, doggy bus or other type of collection service is a deeply personal decision and one that must be tailored to the individual needs of the dog, whose interests must come before all other considerations. As always, it pays to do your research, ask the right questions and choose a company that has the right licences and procedures in place. Only once you have been through this process can you decide whether you want to use a third party to transport your beloved pooch, or whether you can find 10-15 minutes in your day to deliver your most precious friend safely yourself to the daycare facility. And finally, don’t forget to factor in the extra cost of the doggy bus .. it all adds up!
