Hunter's Heart Brittanys - Choosing a Kennel to Board Your Dog

You're going away & you've decided to leave your dog at a kennel. The first step in choosing which kennel will care for your dog is to make a list of reputable kennels near you. Your veterinarian and breeder should be able to recommend a few kennels, and may even board dogs themselves. The Yellow Pages is an another source of kennel listings. Alternatives to boarding kennels include having your dog stay with a friend, or leaving your pet at home & hiring a pet sitter come over to take care of him.

Visit the kennel(s) you're most interested in to see for yourself what kind of service they offer. Make sure the kennel is clean. Up to date vaccinations should be required of all dogs staying there. There should be food and water available in all cages. Cats and dogs should be kept in separate areas. Areas where dogs live and exercise should be secure so no pets can escape. And most important, the kennel operators and employees should seem to genuinely like the animals. Beware if the pets at the kennel seem scared or angry.

A variety of services may be offered. Ask about what and when your dog will be fed. Special diets, like all extra services, may cost extra. How will your dog be exercised? Find out what sized cage your dog(s) will be housed in. Is it big enough considering his size? What about grooming? Is a vet available if necessary? (If your dog needs to receive medication, that might be an additional charge too.) Other services might be available, such as obedience classes or group play and walks.

The cost of your pets stay will depend on the services involved. Call several kennels to find out what the going rate is for a basic stay. When you're making your choice, consider what's included for the basic charge vs. extra costs for "optional" services. You'll want to approve any extra costs before you leave your pet at the kennel. And of course there's the quality of the care, as described above.

There are several things you can do to make the transition to staying at the kennel easier for your dog. Before you leave, be sure to visit your vet for a checkup. You'll want to deal with any problems beforehand rather than leaving your pet's health in the hands of the boarding kennel. Ask whether any extra protection is needed for a kennel stay, and make sure your dog's vaccinations are up to date. If your dog is used to always being in your company or in your home, do a trial run. You can leave him with a friend or sitter a few times to get him used to the idea. Most of our puppies/dogs have gotten sick (accidents and vomiting) their first time away from home. But when they realize that you're coming back & things aren't so bad away from home, they relax & don't seem to mind. Familiar things help. If you have more than one dog, try to have them stay together. And when you send your dog to a kennel, send his favorite toy and a piece of his bedding or something that smells like you along with him.

Going away is an adventure, but hopefully some of these tips help.