What's the difference between dog daycare and dog boarding?

At daycare your dog spends the day and comes home in the evening; at boarding it stays overnight while you travel. Some places offer both.

How do I choose a dog walker in Mexico City?

Ask for references, ID and their criminal record certificate, how many dogs they walk at once and what they do in an emergency, and do a trial walk first. You can also ask whether they're in AGATAN's dog walker registry.

What do dog daycares in Mexico City ask for?

Most commonly an up-to-date vaccine record and, at many places, a temperament assessment before accepting your dog. Ask each place for its requirements.

What if a place won't let me see the facilities?

Rule it out. A serious place lets you see where the dogs stay, explains how they look after them and what they do in an emergency.

How to choose a dog walker or daycare in Mexico City

Dog walker, daycare or boarding: which you need

Dog walker: picks up your dog, walks it for a while and brings it back home. Good if it spends the day alone and needs to go out.
Dog daycare (guardería): your dog spends the day there and comes home with you in the evening. It's for sociable dogs that enjoy other dogs.
Dog boarding or dog hotel: your dog stays overnight while you travel. Some places do both.

Mexico City law calls places that house and look after animals a «pensión», and that includes dog daycares and hotels.

What to ask a dog walker

What experience they have and whether they can give you references from other clients.
Whether they can show ID and their criminal record certificate.
Whether they're registered in the dog walker registry of Mexico City's Animal Care Agency (AGATAN).
How many dogs they walk at once and whether they mix dogs from different homes.
Whether they use a leash or harness, and where the walk goes.
What they do in an emergency and which vet they would take your dog to.
Whether they send you a photo or a report after each walk.
Their prices and cancellation policy.

What the law asks of dog walkers

How to become a dog walker in Mexico CityNewDog walking jobs in Mexico City: the AGATAN registry, the criminal record certificate, the rules and how to start.

What to check at a daycare or boarding place

Visit first, without your dog, and ask to see every area, not just reception.
Cleanliness, no bad smells, secure fencing and nothing a dog could get hurt on.
Clean water, shade, good ventilation and a place to rest.
Dogs separated by size and temperament, and someone always watching them.
Whether they assess your dog's temperament before accepting it.
Whether staff can recognize signs of stress or illness.
Which vet they work with and what they do in an emergency.
How they update you on its day: photos, reports or messages.
Its establishment registration key (Clave de Registro de Establecimiento): the law requires it for daycares and boarding places, and the borough (Alcaldía) issues it. Ask for it.

A serious place asks for an up-to-date vaccine record (cartilla) before accepting your dog.

Keep its vaccine record up to date

Dog and cat vaccines in Mexico: schedule and vaccine recordWhich vaccines dogs and cats need in Mexico, the rabies rule and how the vaccine record (cartilla) works.

Red flags

They won't let you see where the dogs stay.
They don't ask for the vaccine record.
They can't tell you what they'd do in an emergency or which vet they use.
They won't give references or don't want to meet your dog first.
It smells bad, it's dirty or there are too many dogs for the people looking after them.

Before you leave your dog for the first time

1. Let them meet. Book a visit or a first meeting at home with your dog there, to see how they get along.
2. Do a short trial. One walk or half a day at daycare before a longer stay. Watch how your dog comes back.
3. Put it in writing. Schedule, price, cancellations, your vet's phone number and an emergency contact.

Sitters and walkers on Wagori

On Wagori, sitters and walkers apply with an identity check and references, and pet owners can review them. Find them at app.wagori.com (the app is in Spanish for now).

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between dog daycare and dog boarding?: At daycare your dog spends the day and comes home in the evening; at boarding it stays overnight while you travel. Some places offer both.
How do I choose a dog walker in Mexico City?: Ask for references, ID and their criminal record certificate, how many dogs they walk at once and what they do in an emergency, and do a trial walk first. You can also ask whether they're in AGATAN's dog walker registry.
What do dog daycares in Mexico City ask for?: Most commonly an up-to-date vaccine record and, at many places, a temperament assessment before accepting your dog. Ask each place for its requirements.
What if a place won't let me see the facilities?: Rule it out. A serious place lets you see where the dogs stay, explains how they look after them and what they do in an emergency.

Related guides

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Sources

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How to choose a dog walker, daycare or boarding