--- title: Can Day Care Help a Dog Lose Weight? | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/guides/can-day-care-help-a-dog-lose-weight/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [Guides](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/) - Can day care help a dog lose weight? # Can day care help a dog lose weight? A day of activity can help, but weight loss is driven mostly by measured portions and steady tracking with your vet. Dog day care at Happy Paws is $38 a day or $7 an hour on the 2026 rates, and no result is promised. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) If your vet has said your dog needs to slim down, you may be wondering whether a few days a week of day care would help. Here is what the veterinary sources say, and where day care fits. ## What the veterinary sources say The American Animal Hospital Association says weight loss comes from appropriate calorie restriction, diet selection, exercise and strategies to change the habits of both the pet and the owner. Food comes first. Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center advises weighing your dog at least every two weeks during a weight-loss plan and describes a safe pace as roughly 1 to 2 percent of body weight per week. Your veterinarian sets the target and the calorie amount. ## Where day care can help Exercise is one of the four parts of that plan. A day out of the house gives a dog time on its feet instead of on the couch, and some dogs who are home alone all day are bored and snack-focused. Day care can be a regular part of a routine. How much of a given day is active depends on the dog, its age and its joints, so treat it as one tool, not a treatment. Ask your vet whether your dog's weight or joints call for low-impact activity. ## How to set up day care with a diet plan Bring your dog's food in a bag with the original label and measured amounts in cups, and write the feeding instructions on the pet information form. Food from home is welcome at no charge. Skip the add-ons while your dog is on a plan: the Happy Pup Cup, Lick Mat and Pupsicle are treats so leave them out. Tell the staff your dog is on a weight plan when you drop off. Day care is $38 a day, or $7 an hour up to the $38 day rate, and a package of 10 days plus 2 free is $380 for one dog. Drop-off and pick-up windows are 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2 to 5 PM. Vaccines are the same as for boarding. See [dog day care](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-day-care/) for details. ## Track it at home too Weigh your dog every two weeks on the same scale, and ask your vet to score body condition on the nine-point scale AAHA uses, where 4 or 5 is ideal. The [how to weigh your dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-weigh-your-dog/) guide covers the at-home method. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [AAHA, weight management](https://www.aaha.org/resources/weight-management/) - [Cornell Riney Canine Health Center, obesity and weight loss in dogs](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/obesity-and-weight-loss-dogs) - [Happy Paws Kennels 2026 rate sheet (PDF)](https://happypawskennels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-Rates-EFFECTIVE-1-1-26.pdf) ### 2026 nightly rates - First Class kennel $72 - Business Class kennel $59 - Economy Class kennel $52 - Cat condo $35 All-inclusive: food, medications and walks. 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026. [All 2026 rates](https://happypawskennels.com/rates/) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Dog day care](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-day-care/) - [Hourly day care](https://happypawskennels.com/dog-day-care/hourly/) - [Is day care good for dogs?](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/is-dog-day-care-good-for-dogs/) - [How much to feed a dog](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-much-to-feed-a-dog/) - [How to weigh your dog at home](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-weigh-your-dog/) ## Read next - [Wildfire smoke and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/wildfire-smoke-and-dogs/) - [Boarding a dog with arthritis or stiff joints](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-arthritis/) - [Boarding a dog with food allergies or a prescription diet](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/boarding-a-dog-with-food-allergies/) - [Puppy socialization before the first boarding stay](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/puppy-socialization-before-the-first-stay/) - [Ticks on dogs in Solano and Yolo counties](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/ticks-on-dogs-in-solano-and-yolo/) - [Hot cars and dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/hot-cars-and-dogs-at-drop-off/) - [How to weigh your dog at home](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/how-to-weigh-your-dog/) - [Loose stool after boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/guides/dog-diarrhea-after-boarding/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Will day care make my dog lose weight? No result is promised. Day care adds activity, but veterinary sources put calorie control first. Work out the plan with your vet. ### How much is day care at Happy Paws? Dog day care is $38 a day or $7 an hour on the 2026 rates, with a 10-day package at $380 for one dog. ### Can I bring my own measured food? Yes. Bring it in the original bag with amounts in cups. Your own food is welcome at no charge. ### How often should I weigh my dog on a diet? Cornell advises at least every two weeks during a weight-loss plan.