Boarding Kennels
There may come a time when you have to leave town and you cannot take your pets with you. Sometimes we find trusted friends or family that can take care of our pets, but sometimes we cannot. Some people think of Kennels as horrible places where your dog is going to feel as if it is being punished- it' doesnt have to be that way. Choosing the right place for your pet is very important, and there are a lot of things to look for when choosing a kennel to take care of your pets.
First of all, never make an appointment to inspect a kennel. Go there during their business hours, ask about the services they offer and ask to view their facility. Most reputable facilities will welcome you right into their kenneling area.
When inspecting, look closely at how the dogs are kept. See if the kennels are clean, if the food and water bowls are full, and also notice what all the dogs have IN the run with them- bedding, toys, bones, etc. If you notice that 1 or 2 dogs are out of water, but the rest of the bowls are full, there may be a good reason for that. Sometimes dogs literally "dig" the water out of the bowl for fun- with dogs like that, it is nearly impossible to keep the bowl full at all times.
If the kennel does not allow you to bring your own bedding, that is not a bad sign. Kennels try their best to keep things clean, and if you have 20 boarding dogs, and all of them have their own bedding, it is extremely difficult for them to keep track of the bedding when they need washed. There is also the risk of the dog chewing the bedding up- even if they don't do that at home, they may do it in a kennel. Therefore, a lot of kennels do not allow you to bring your own bedding. Most who do not allow it, will provide it for the dog. For some it is included in the price of boarding, others may charge a small rental fee- this helps with the cost of the bedding if it gets destroyed.
The majority of kennels recommend that you bring plenty of toys and treats for your dog. These will help to occupy his time and make him feel more at home. It is recommended that you bring toys that are not easily destroyed. Kongs and Nylabones are great examples. Fabric toys also tend to get "lost" when they need washed, or destroyed by the dog, so I recommend not bringing those to kennels.
A lot of kennels offer daily walks for your dog. Some do this for a small charge, others have it included in the boarding price. Ask about the length of the walks, and how the walks are done- one on one is always best (one person, one dog) for safety reasons.
Most kennels will also allow you to bring your own food. I don't recommend dropping off a 50 pound bag of dogfood for a weekend visit. Bring enough to last a few days longer than your pet is going to be there (just in case you're delayed), and make sure you have the following written on the container: Your last name, the dogs name, brand of dog food in the container, how much you feed per day, number of times you feed per day. Having those instructions right on the container helps out the kennel staff, and also helps to assure that your dog gets fed just like he would at home. Some dogs tend not to eat the first day, but usually by the second day they learn the kennel routine and will eat with no problem. If you have boarded your dog in the past and your dog didn't eat and came home thin, be sure to alert the kennel staff about that.
If your dog is on medication, make sure the kennel knows about it. Bring the medication along with specific instructions- how may times per day, the dosage, and also let them know WHY they are on the medication. This may help just in case there are any problems with your dog during his visit.
If your dog has never boarded before, you may want to do a "trial" run. Drop him off for "day boarding" and just leave him there a few hours, or while you're at work. This will help with your dog getting to know the kennel staff and the kennel routine and will make his actual boarding visit easier on him.
Also be sure that your pet is up to date on vaccines. For most kennels, this is required. Most require Rabies, Distemper, and Kennel Cough vaccines- the Kennel Cough vaccine is not one of the "routine" shots that are given- you must specifically request it. Make sure the kennel also has your vets information on record as well. This is needed in case there are any problems with your dog during his visit.
Now we have all heard the "kennel horror stories"... you can help avoiding this if you pay close attention during your kennel inspection, and get to know the kennel staff the best you can.
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