If you're like many working adults, you may find you don't have enough free time during the workweek to give your dog the attention he or she deserves.

Even scheduling visits with a dog walker or asking a neighbor to pop in to let your dog out once or twice a day may not fulfill your furry friend's socialization and exercise needs.

Sending your dog to "doggy daycare," even for just a few days per week, can go a long way toward improving your pet's behavior, energy levels, and even appearance. Read on to learn more about four of the specific benefits enjoyed by dogs who attend daycare.

1. A One-Stop Shop for Grooming Needs

If you find yourself churning through lint rollers to remove hair from your clothes or discovering claw marks on your furniture more frequently than you'd like, you'll enjoy the grooming "extras" offered by many pet boarding and daycare facilities.

As part of the daycare services provided (usually for an additional fee), your dog can have his or her coat brushed or cut, nails trimmed, and even teeth brushed, ensuring your pet is groomed to perfection.

As a bonus, this grooming process can often serve as early detection for certain problems facing dogs, from tick-borne diseases to unexplained weight loss or hair loss that can indicate a health issue.

2. Socialization (With Humans and Pets)

Even if your dog tends to be fairly standoffish, socialization is important. By learning how to interact with a wide variety of individuals (and animals), your dog will be better able to navigate new situations, and you'll be less nervous that he or she may suddenly snap or bolt when overwhelmed by new surroundings.

After spending some time at a doggy daycare, your dog may be more willing to play off-lead at dog parks. Alternatively, you may feel more comfortable allowing your pet to interact with other dogs now that he or she has proven trustworthy in other dog-heavy situations.

3. Exercise

Being a couch potato isn't any healthier for dogs than it is for humans, and even breeds who don't require much in the way of daily activity can develop health issues if they're left to their own devices at home every day.

Hyper-intelligent breeds can also become more destructive if they don't receive enough exercise or mental stimulation. To avoid becoming bored, these smart pups invent their own play and exercise (often involving the destruction of fences, furniture, and other expensive items).

By sending your dog to daycare, you'll ensure he or she is getting plenty of exercise on a daily basis without requiring you to go for lengthy jogs or walks after you get home from work. You'll also help stem any destructive tendencies that may come from a lack of physical exertion.

4. Safety

Leaving your pet home alone all day doesn't just put your furniture at risk; it can also be risky for your pet. Although the sound of a barking dog can often be enough to send would-be burglars packing, others (particularly those who are armed) may think nothing injuring any animals who get in their way.

Even absent burglary, your pet may be at risk of other problems when left unsupervised for large periods of time. For example, if he or she sneaks some chopped onions, grapes, or other off-limits foods from the trash, severe dietary distress could result.

Sending your dog to a monitored facility whenever you're planning to be away from home for a long period can ensure that he or she remains safe in your absence.

There are so many intangible benefits to sending your dog to daycare that, regardless of why you first began to consider pet daycare, you're likely to find your only regret is not starting sooner. ​