Every dog has its own personality, and each one thrives in a different way. For some owners, it can be difficult to realize that what works for most dogs might not work for their own. Busy schedules often make things harder, leaving less time to spend with pets.
That’s where daycare can seem like the perfect solution. Professional caregivers are trained to handle dogs, and pups get the chance to spend their day surrounded by others.
While this arrangement works for many families, it isn’t always the right fit. One Michigan woman learned this firsthand after sending her dog to daycare hoping she would make new canine friends.
Maisy, however, had something else in mind.
People Over Pups
Nikki Sykora, 24, is a dental student at the University of Michigan. Alongside her demanding studies, she also cares for her Mini Bernedoodle, Maisy. Nikki adores her pup, but her busy lifestyle means there isn’t always enough time to give Maisy the socialization she deserves.
To prevent Maisy from spending long hours alone, Nikki decided to sign her up for daycare. On the way there, Maisy seemed thrilled. She was smiling the whole ride, which made Nikki confident she would enjoy herself.
After drop-off, Nikki went on to class, but later checked the daycare’s live camera feed to see how her pup was doing.
What she saw left her surprised. Rather than playing with the other dogs, Maisy had retreated to a corner, looking uninterested and withdrawn.
At first, Nikki was disappointed. But after thinking it over, she realized it wasn’t so unusual. Maisy had always been drawn to people more than dogs.
That pattern showed itself clearly at daycare too. Instead of joining the group of pups, Maisy gravitated toward the staff members, choosing their company instead.
Her behavior proved one thing: every dog has different preferences, and some simply feel more comfortable around humans than other dogs.
TikTok Reactions
Since Nikki is active on TikTok, she decided to share the daycare experience with her followers.
She posted the video under her handle @niknak272727 with overlay text that read: “Signed my puppy up for day-care so she can start making friends and socialize.” The caption added: “She’s 100% my daughter though lol.”
Nikki thought it might get a laugh or two, but the post quickly gained traction. Soon, the video sparked hundreds of responses from people who related to Maisy’s behavior.
“She’s protecting her peace 🥰,” one person commented.
Another shared: “I remember bringing my shitzu to dog park and I sat on a bench to watch him play w other dogs only for him to sit next to me and watch the dogs as well 😂.”
And a third wrote: “My puppies report card said ‘not interested in playing with the other kids’ once😭.”
Maisy clearly had no interest in being part of the group, but Nikki stayed persistent. She continued bringing her twice a week, giving her time to adjust.
Gradually, Nikki started to notice progress. Maisy now sometimes steps away from her corner to interact with other dogs, a small but promising step forward.