Every dog has its own way of experiencing the world, and what suits one pup might not suit another.
For owners with busy lives, finding time to meet a dog’s social needs can be a challenge. Daycare often seems like the ideal solution.
Trained caregivers keep dogs engaged, and the animals have a chance to spend hours surrounded by peers.
For many families, it works well. But sometimes, it doesn’t match a dog’s personality.
One Michigan woman discovered this when she enrolled her dog, hoping Maisy would make some new furry friends.
Choosing People Over Pups
Nikki Sykora, a 24-year-old dental student at the University of Michigan, juggles a demanding academic schedule while caring for her Mini Bernedoodle, Maisy. Nikki loves her pup deeply, yet her busy routine leaves little time for socialization.
To keep Maisy from spending long stretches alone, Nikki decided daycare might help. During the drive there, Maisy was all smiles and wagging, giving Nikki confidence she would settle in nicely.
After drop-off, Nikki headed to class, but later checked the live camera feed to see how Maisy was doing.
What she saw was unexpected.
Instead of playing with the other dogs, Maisy had moved to a corner, looking withdrawn and uninterested.
At first, Nikki felt a twinge of disappointment. But reflecting on Maisy’s personality, she realized this wasn’t surprising.
Maisy had always preferred human company over canine companions.
At daycare, her instincts were the same. She gravitated toward the staff rather than the group of dogs, showing that some dogs simply thrive more with people than with other pets.
TikTok Shares And Reactions
Nikki shared the moment on TikTok under her handle @niknak272727. She posted the video 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.”
She expected a few laughs, but the post quickly went viral. Hundreds of viewers chimed in, relating to Maisy’s selective socializing.
“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😭.”
Despite her preferences, Nikki continued bringing Maisy twice a week.
Over time, small changes began to appear. Occasionally, Maisy would step away from her corner to interact with other dogs, showing the first signs of comfort and curiosity in her new environment.