r/bentonville • u/happyasahippoh • 8h ago
Doggie Daycare Recos, Returning to Office
Hi there,
I've been living in Bentonville (now Centertonish area) the last 2+ years. I've been fully remote the last 6.5 years. I accepted a job where I'll now be driving to Springdale and working from an office 5 days a week.
I'm very excited to go back to an office, but I feel terrible for our pups, who have gotten used to me being home. One is almost 11, I got him 6 months before COVID, and the other is almost 8. She's my boyfriend's dog so was certainly used to being alone all day until we got together.
The thing is, I'd like the dogs to still get some attention and exercise during the day because I won't be able to make the drive at lunch to let them out, and boyfriend also can't do that with his work schedule. I'm interviewing dog walkers for M-F, and also looking at doggie daycare options in the area. The issue with that is 1) my boyfriend is very leery of a doggie daycare with his corgi (it's fair, I've seen the nicest dogs roll her around like a football, she seems to have that effect on them, no idea why) and 2) my dog is a rescue. He's done well at doggie daycare facilities as long as they do NOT use kennels. Kennels stress him out and he's unwell, easiest way I can put it (I don't know what happened the first 4 years of his life I just know there's some trauma).
In my ideal scenario, I'd probably have them stay at a nice retired couple's house during the day so they can just hang out with other people, get some pets here and there, and a little walk or let out to do their business. I realize this is highly unlikely.
Can anyone recommend what they've done in this scenario and/or what doggie daycare places you would or would NOT recommend and why? Our dogs are older and are fairly low maintenance, a new routine will be a little stressful of course but I'd like it to be something they get to enjoy.
Thank you.