Every dog is unique and needs its approach to thrive. Pet owners can sometimes find it difficult to accept this fact, especially when they have their own busy lives and limited time to dedicate to their furry friends.
In such cases, daycare seems like a perfect solution, where experienced caretakers understand what’s best for dogs and where pets can socialize with their companions.
While this might seem like the ideal option for dogs, it doesn’t always work for everyone. One Michigan owner experienced this firsthand when she enrolled her dog in daycare for socialization.
Instead of making new friends, her dog did something completely unexpected.
Maisy: A People-Loving Pup
Nikki Sykora, a 24-year-old full-time student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, is also the proud owner of Maisy, a Mini Bernedoodle. Despite her deep love for Maisy, Nikki doesn’t always have the time to spend with her dog.
To avoid leaving Maisy alone at home, Nikki decided daycare was the best option for her pup to socialize. While driving there, Nikki was confident Maisy would enjoy her time because she couldn’t stop smiling.
Convinced that everything would go well, Nikki left Maisy at daycare and headed to the university. As the daycare had cameras, she decided to check in on Maisy through the live footage.
To her surprise, she saw something entirely different from what she expected. Instead of mingling with the other dogs, Maisy was sitting alone in a corner, looking isolated and miserable.
Nikki was initially disappointed by Maisy’s reaction to daycare, but after reflecting on it, she realized it wasn’t surprising at all.
Maisy had always been more focused on people, and it became clear when she started spending more time with the daycare staff than with the other dogs.
In the end, it’s clear: not every dog is the same, and Maisy proves that point.
Reactions From Followers
Since Nikki has a TikTok account, she decided to share Maisy’s daycare experience with her followers by posting a clip under the handle @niknak272727.
“Signed my puppy up for daycare so she can start making friends and socialize,” the text on the clip reads, while the caption adds: “She’s 100% my daughter though, lol.”
Nikki anticipated the video would get some attention, but she never imagined the level of response it would receive. The video sparked numerous comments, some of which we’ll highlight here.
“She’s protecting her peace 🥰,” one user commented.
“I remember bringing my shitzu to the dog park, and I sat on a bench to watch him play with other dogs, only for him to sit next to me and watch the dogs as well 😂,” another shared.
A third comment read: “My puppy’s report card said ‘not interested in playing with the other kids’ once😭.”
Although Maisy clearly wasn’t thrilled about playing with other dogs, Nikki didn’t give up. She continued taking Maisy to daycare twice a week.
Little by little, Maisy began to show improvement, occasionally stepping out of her corner and joining the furry crowd—definitely a big step forward!