Dog Owner Surprised by 'Mom Guilt' After Checking Daycare Cam

Cora Lakey's Cavapoos have very different personalities when away from home.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:33am

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An abstract, blurred image of a dog being held and cuddled by daycare staff, with soft, warm pools of light and color in the background, conveying the emotional connection between pets and their caretakers.The heartwarming footage of a dog owner's Cavapoo being showered with affection at daycare reveals the importance of understanding our pets' unique personalities.Los Angeles Today

Cora Lakey, a 31-year-old dog owner in Los Angeles, was surprised by the footage she saw after checking the camera at her dogs' daycare facility. The video showed her two Cavapoos, Dolly and Ernie, behaving very differently - with the snuggly Dolly constantly being held by the staff, while the more playful Ernie interacted with the other dogs. Lakey felt a sense of 'mom guilt' after seeing how much Dolly craved human interaction, leading her to consider bringing Dolly to more places to provide emotional support to people.

Why it matters

The footage highlighted the unique personalities of Lakey's two dogs and the importance of understanding how pets behave when their owners aren't around. It also showcased the care and attention provided by the daycare staff, which many pet owners don't get to see firsthand.

The details

Lakey has been sending her Cavapoos, Dolly and Ernie, to a daycare facility for the past six months while she's at work. Curious about how they spend their time there, she decided to check the camera footage one day. What she saw surprised her - Dolly, the 2-year-old, was constantly being held and cuddled by the daycare staff, while the 4-year-old Ernie was more interested in playing with the other dogs. Lakey found the footage 'adorable' and was impressed by how much the staff doted on the snuggly Dolly.

  • Lakey has been sending her dogs to daycare for the past six months.
  • Lakey checked the daycare camera footage recently.

The players

Cora Lakey

A 31-year-old dog owner in Los Angeles who sends her two Cavapoos, Dolly and Ernie, to daycare while she's at work.

Dolly

Lakey's 2-year-old Cavapoo who is very snuggly and loves being held by the daycare staff.

Ernie

Lakey's 4-year-old Cavapoo who is more interested in playing with the other dogs at daycare.

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What they’re saying

“Dolly is very snuggly, and every time I checked the footage, she was being picked up and cuddled by the workers. It was just funny because that's also how she is at home, so of course, she's the dog who wants to be held by the humans and not play with the other dogs.”

— Cora Lakey, Dog Owner

“I thought it was adorable and made me feel really good about our day care. The staff love her and said they snuggle Dolly all the time.”

— Cora Lakey, Dog Owner

What’s next

Lakey plans to volunteer with Dolly and take her to retirement homes, hospitals, and care facilities, as Dolly loves being around people and has a calming presence.

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of understanding our pets' unique personalities and how they behave when we're not around. It also showcases the care and attention provided by good daycare facilities, which can give pet owners peace of mind.