Doggy Daycare Welcomes Pups With Standing Ovations

At Nico’s Doggy Daycare, the dogs are the real MVPs. Every morning when the dogs arrive, they get a standing ovation. The sound of applause welcomes them into puppy playland, where toys, treats, and cuddles await them. This doggy daycare is located in Poulton-le-Fylde, U.K., and it’s definitely not your average daycare. This Instagram video, posted by @NicosDoggyDaycare, shows just how excited these dogs are to join their two-and four-legged friends. But does this standing ovation serve another purpose for these lucky pups? Let’s find out.

What Does Clapping Mean to Dogs?

When humans clap, it’s typically to show satisfaction or appreciation. While dogs can hear clapping as an act of gratitude, they do not understand its meaning in the same way humans do. Instead, dogs might associate noises like this with playtime, treats, or general excitement. A dog’s sense of hearing is more than double that of a human’s. This makes them more sensitive to the world around them and more sensitive to the sounds they pick up on. Clapping might sound like a normal decibel level to us, but dogs pick up on this signal in more ways than one.

When dogs get excited, whether by a noise or a familiar sight, their brains fire rapidly. This surge is usually triggered by positive reinforcement, such as knowing a treat or toy is on its way. Dopamine and oxytocin are responsible for a dog’s excitable response, which, in this video, includes running and jumping. When a dog hears a familiar sound, such as clapping, their brains make the connection that something good will follow.

The Human-Dog Connection

Facial recognition is another reason dogs get so excited when seeing a friendly face. The dogs in the video by Nico’s Doggy Daycare are likely familiar with their staff. There are obvious indicators that the dogs have seen these people before, and many gravitate toward one staff member or another. This familiarity sets off oxytocin, known as the “love hormone.” Studies show this hormone has many positive effects on a dog. It keeps depression at bay and increases feelings of bonding and happiness. For puppies, this can also help hone their facial recognition and train them in auditory recognition.

The act of clapping and directing attention to a dog stimulates both the superior temporal gyrus and the parietal-temporal cortex. These are responsible for forming bonds via visual and auditory stimuli. Dogs will always bond first with their owners, but can bond with other people who are consistent in their lives. Staff at a doggy daycare, for example, have a good chance at bonding with your pup if they receive daily care. Clapping may reinforce this bond, especially if a dog knows and trusts its handler. In most cases, clapping is a great way to engage your dog in a fun, new way.

Every Dog Is Different

In the video, each dog reacts slightly differently to the sound of the staff clapping at Nico’s Doggy Daycare. The first dog runs circles around staff members and does tricks, while the next few dogs excitedly jump or try to get pets. This might imply that a dog has been trained or conditioned to the sound of clapping, while others associate it with playing. The vocal tones of the staff may also increase excitement levels in dogs, especially if the staff member’s voice is familiar or upbeat. Studies show that, along with clapping, most dogs also love the sounds of their owners’ voices, whistling, laughing, nature sounds, and even music. Clapping for dogs may have become a popular trend on social media, but it’s one that dogs seem to love. It even triggers zoomies in some dogs! Known as FRAPs (Frenetic Random Activity Periods), this is what happens when dogs get a random surge of energy.

Owners who clap for their dogs often may notice sensitization, which means the dog is more prone to getting excited and playful when they hear clapping. The more standing ovations the dogs at Nico’s Doggy Daycare receive, the more excitable they may become over time. This is great news for dogs (and dog owners) because it helps dogs release pent-up energy. This video by Furry Tails is an excellent example of a dog getting FRAPs and doing the most to exhaust the energy that comes with it. Clapping, combined with cheering, smiling, familiar faces, and encouraging vocalizations, is a recipe for a playful dog. While not every dog will respond to the sound of its owner clapping, there’s a good chance your dog might love the applause, too.