After struggling through lockdowns, doggie daycare businesses are booming as many pet owners begin returning to the office.
For the first time since the pandemic began, Graham Elander's phone won't stop ringing.
"We get a lot of calls daily, we are pretty much booked out most days," Mr Elander, a doggie daycare owner from Bacchus Marsh said.
"People have to go back to work, they're looking at options, [and] some dogs need an outlet," he said.
Mr Elander, who has run a canine daycare and grooming service with his wife Jenn for eight years, says some dogs are struggling with separation anxiety and owners are turning to doggie daycare centres like his for support.
Two years of protracted lockdowns have also meant many dogs missed out on puppy classes or socialising with other dogs, Mr Elander said.
"So doggie daycare is a natural choice."
Ballarat dog trainer Jamie Hugget said many puppies purchased during the pandemic had not received important socialisation skills with other dogs and people.
With some owners now leaving the house for longer periods, fearful or isolated dogs might not cope.
"Dogs like their routine and structure and if they're used to one daily set up where the human is at home with them and then suddenly that routine changes, some dogs do have trouble adjusting to that," Mr Hugget said.
'Ease them into it'
At his Bacchus Marsh doggie daycare, Mr Elander said he and his wife eased newly enrolled dogs into care with short days and "play dates".
"Before you know it they're coming for a full day."
Mr Elander said doggie day care was a safer way to socialise dogs than dog parks.
"It's more structured, all dogs have to be vaccinated so its a safer option, [and] they have to go through an assessment to make sure they're not aggressive or reactive," he said.
"We do an assessment, we put similar breeds or similar temperaments all together and they've got human interaction and they've got dogs, so they've got the best of both worlds.
"It's taking their mind off their owners and being at home."
While it might take a while for the dogs to adjust, for those in the grooming and daycare industry the search for services is a relief.
"[During the lockdowns] grooming at one stage wasn't classified as an essential service, we were down to below 50 per cent what we would normally do, basically living off government assistance to be honest," Mr Elander said.
