If your dog is home alone while you work, you have two sensible ways to break up the day. They solve different problems, and plenty of owners use both.
How they differ
| Dog walker | Day care at Happy Paws | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your home and neighborhood | A property of about 10 acres near Dixon |
| Time out | A visit of agreed length | A day, or by the hour at $7 an hour |
| Space to run | Streets, parks, your yard | Large fenced play areas and a grass field |
| Price | Set by each walker | $38 a day, $32 for an additional dog sharing, 2026 rates |
| Routine | Same time at home | Drop-off 7:30 to 11:30 AM or 2 to 5 PM |
When a walker is the better fit
- A dog who prefers a quiet home and one short outing
- A senior dog who tires quickly
- An owner who lives close to a good walking route
- A single mid-day break
When day care is the better fit
- An energetic dog who needs real space to run
- An owner who commutes toward Dixon, Davis or Vacaville and can drop off on the way
- A young dog learning to be calm after exercise
- A dog who may board with us later and wants to know the place first
Doing the math
Five days a week at $38 is $190. The buy 10, get 12 package is $380 for one dog for 12 days, so the effective day rate is lower. If you only need a few hours, hourly care is $7 an hour up to the $38 cap. See day care packages and hourly day care.
Trying it
Tour any day 9 to 11 AM or 2 to 4 PM, no appointment needed, or send a booking request. Reviewers mention dogs coming home happy and tired. Read is day care good for dogs and how often should my dog go.