๐พI Send My Dog to Day Care ๐พ
Jan 20, 2026
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๐พI Send My Dog to Day Care๐พ
A little confession, a lot of joy, and the unexpected freedom of saying yes.
A couple of days each month, my life gets full. I find myself in the middle of a day where I forget to eat lunch and only remember dinner because…well…I forgot lunch. I’m running from one thing to the next, trying to serve clients, answer emails, write something meaningful, remember the thing I swore I wouldn’t forget, and oh yeah, breathing.
Birdie, my joyful black Lab, is the most patient sidekick, but on those days, she gets the short end of the stick.
Last spring, I tried something. I sent her to doggie daycare.
I was hesitant to do this because I thought I should be able to handle my busy days better. I should be able to get the work done, walk Birdie, clean the house, make the meals, write the book, and finish the class. If I'm totally honest, doggie daycare wouldn't normally be my thing. I’ve seen it done poorly, too many dogs, too little structure, too much chaos.
But we found a place where it looked like they got it right. It’s not fancy or flashy. It’s basically a barn and a huge yard that can be divided when dog personalities need …to be divided. Inside, there are sofas, chew toys, a large place to romp and wrestle. Outside, they have shaded spot and chew toys scattered like confetti.
The dogs run. They rest. They tumble and wrestle and live their best lives. They get walked if needed. Invited inside for downtime. Their social media updates are delightfully chaotic and almost always feature the person filming laughing. The staff loves what they do. They love the dogs. One of my favorite moments is pulling up and seeing dogs lined up on the porch, watching and waiting for their friends to arrive.
We found this place when we boarded Birdie for a trip. It came with strong recommendations. It was close. It was easy. She loved her stay, so one day, when I knew Birdie had gotten the short end of the stick and I knew I had a full day of calls the next day, I gave it a try.
Now?
Birdie can’t wait to get out of the car fast enough.
She knows the people.
She hopes her bestie, another dog that matches her joyful energy, will be there.
We call them Dog Days. Ask her if she wants to go see the dogs and her ears perk up, she does a full-circle happy dance, and loads herself into the car without a single sniff of the yard.
A Dog Day is Christmas morning for Birdie.
It’s margin for me.
We both win…and the next day, I get a happily exhausted lab who naps beside me while I work.
Some days, the best gift I can give Birdie is to let her have a Dog Day.
And my best gift to me is let it be okay.
Yes, it costs money, but the return on my investment?
Peace. Joy. Margin.
And just when I thought this little yes couldn’t get any better, they told me they are putting in a pool. Birdie is known for her creative ways with even the tiniest bit of water in their baby pool.
I laughed out loud. More joy?
Here's what this small yes has taught me: When you say yes to something, you might gather blessings you didn’t even know were waiting.
So let me ask:
What small yes could change your week?
Is there something you could outsource…just once?
Pay for Canva or ChatGPT to help you with your business for one month?
Could you let someone else cook dinner, clean the floors, pick up the groceries, or walk the dog?
You don’t have to do it forever, but sometimes, extra help tailored to your actual life, creates space to keep showing up for what matters.
A journaling prompt, just for you:
What am I trying to do all on my own that might be easier, lighter, or even joyful with help?
And I’ll be cheering you on, and probably scheduling an extra Dog Day when that pool goes in. ๐พ
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