Thousands of pet owners work all day, and this requires leaving their dog at home while they work. Often these owners come home to a distressed dog, rampant destruction, urination and defecation or neighbours who complain of excessive barking and howling, one of the top reasons given at rescue shelters for an owner giving up their dog is "he destroys my things when I'm not home".

Maybe you work from home, and to your dog that means you are there for his or her entertainment. They do not understand why you are there and not paying attention to them! You feel guilty because you can't spend time with them.

Or, maybe you just think your pooch deserves a day of fun and fancy-free activity.

Daycare can provide more than a peace of mind, drop your dog off in the morning on the way to work, and while you slave away and your pet is provided with hours of FUN! In a cage-free, controlled, monitored play environment.

You may be thinking, this sounds an awful lot like a children's day care…and you would be absolutely right! Because to people like us, they are part of our family and we enjoy seeing them happy and content. Unconditional love and dedication is what they give us, giving them an opportunity to play with 'friends' and get involved in a day full of wonderful activities, with toys aimed at stimulating their minds, yummy treats, play time and nap times seems a fair trade. Throughout the day dogs engage in a variety of activities including play, training, brushing, and exercise and each dog has continual interaction and personal attention from our caring staff.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

When the dogs are dropped off, they are raring to go! Whether six months or ten years old, there is a great deal of excitement when they turn the corner to the crèche. The mornings are full of pouncing and playing, sniffing and running. The new kid on the block usually gets a bit more attention than the regulars. There are balls to chase, ropes to tug, and people who monitor their activity at all times. There's even a "time out" section for the dog that woke up on the wrong side of the dog bed.

By mid-day, the dogs mellow out so we turn on the classical music. Some continue to play while others sit back and watch. There are more than enough beds to snuggle up into or Thomas the Tank where the more sedate may visit for a quick snooze or simply chill out and watch their doggy friends.

In the afternoon, there is renewed energy and, on sunny days, the pool gets filled up for those water lovers. The staff play ball and provide TLC for those who just want that extra cuddle. By the end of the day, the dogs go home with their owners- tired and happy they got the exercise and the socialisation they needed.

Cleveland Canine’s Crèche provides day care for puppies and dogs from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday. The only licensed purpose designed cage free day care facility within Teesside it offers top quality care, provided by fully trained and qualified staff.