Boarding Pet - Page 1

We will have to board our 5 month Saban  for  2-3 days for Christmas we will board him with the vet we use so he will be familiar with some of his surroundings and we will take his food, but I am so concerned about leaving him , I have heard a lot of negitived things about leaving your pet, I checked out where they will keep him, and the kennel was very clen but no one will be there on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day ( I guess they check on the pets) we have a routine with him he eats well and he is in good health and is well train to do what we want him to do ,he lives inside with us and very well behaved  he had stop most of his nibbleing, I guess I am worrying over nothing just need some support. We travel to our daughters for the holidays and we are gone 2-3 days,we new this befor we got him no place for him to stay at her house to many people also. Thanks for any help!

I run a boarding kennel. The dogs that are used to coming here think it's their second home, and will actually PULL me down the hallway to the kennel!

It is a good thing for him to get used to the kennel while he's still young, so he will not find it stressful. Many dogs do go off their food for a day or two until they start to feel at home, but this is not something that's going to cause them harm. If a dog's appetite doesn't come back, I will tempt them with special tasty treats to get them to eat.

I would think twice about boarding at the vet's. Most of them don't have proper facilities to turn the dogs out. They go out on a leash a couple of times a day, or are turned out in the same areal used by dogs that are sick. My kennels have nice, big runs, plus a 4,000 square foot play area, and I won't accept a dog here for boarding it it is showing signs of illness, or doesn't have its shots up to date.

I have to agree with Sunsilver - its best to find a dog resort type bording facility.

A place where the number 1 business is boarding and has the space for dogs to run, instead of a place where sick dogs are brought for treatment.

Do your research and check for complaints on the internet and with the local BBB. Visit and ask to see the kennels, kennel runs and any common areas where dogs may be supervised at play.

This could be a wonderful first experience for your pup, or it could be stuffed in a small vet size crate for many hours a day with little or no freedom or socializing.



That being said, I was called out of town and had a 3 month puppy. I called everywere and no one would accept such a young pup. Finally I called my favorite vet. She ended up staying in a cat rescue next door to his office. She was walked in a different area than the other dogs and anyone going into the cat rescue was required to sterilize shoes, as well as hands... This was the safest place I could find for her with such short notice.

I agree that you dogs will enjoy being boarded if you use the same one every time.  As long as they have a good experience.  Our dogs are always boarded when we go out of town and can't take them with us.Which is about once or twice a year.  We board at our vet, his boarding area is a different area then where they keep the sick dogs.  We have a good relationship with our vet, and know that our dogs will be well taken care of.   And if any thing goes wrong could they be in a better place?  Its like having your child's baby sitter being your family doctor. 



1whowalkswith(3)dogs



Reggie

I agree with Sunsilver as well about using a professional boarding kennel instead of the vet.

My female showline GSD is very closely bonded to my husband so she is completely miserable when he travels for work (even if she stays home with me). We tried "modern fancy" boarding facilities but she didn't do well there (she wouldn't eat for the entire week). We found a kennel an hour away from us whose clientele is mostly working dogs and the owner has GSDs. Our dog is social and high energy so she is paired with a Border Collie and they are left together in a large outdoor kennel to run around together. They are separated for feedings, naps, and overnight. When we pick her up, she is happy and healthy looking (and exhausted). My husband books her for a stay at the kennel whenever he travels since she does better there than she does with me. It's worth the one hour drive since my husband doesn't have to worry about his number one girl while he's away.

My intact male working line GSD is another story- he cannot be boarded since no kennel in my area will take intact males and he's very unfriendly so he cannot be left with a stranger. He comes with us or in case of an emergency, his breeder has agreed to look after him.

 no kennel in my area will take intact males

Now, there is a policy that totally gets my drawers in a knot!    Howi is it the BOARDING FACILITY"S business as to whether you choose to spay or neuter your pet?? And if dogs are kept in separate runs, why should this be an issue?

Of course, if you have one of the 'modern' cage-free facilities, it could be a problem, but everyone who is REALLY knowledgeable about dogs knows what a bad idea it is to have all the dogs running together!

If someone wants their dog to play with another, I will try to pair them up with a suitable companion. Know what if usually find out? These spoiled-rotten dogs that are never socialized with others DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY with another dog! They will wander around the play area, sniffing, and either ignore the other dog, or bare their teeth at it if it gets too close!

Sometimes the dogs get used to each other after awhile, and begin to play, but often they aren't here long enough for that to happen.

Pairing similar breeds together works best. I had a male and female Westie in for a few days (different owners) and they got along famously.

SunSilver And because of what you say is true.  Wouldn't it also increase the liability on you as the kennel owner if any thing happens to either dog?

Sunsilver - Have you noticed how many "cage free" facilities have recently sprung up near Guelph, Ontario? I noticed that if you read the fine print, they won't take GSDs!
(Not that I would ever leave Senta at one of those places- 50 strange dogs running around together seems like a dead dog waiting to happen.)

Yes, that's why I don't let dogs run together unless I have the owner's permission. And even then, I supervise closely until I know they are okay with each other. If I'm not sure about the dog, I wll put it out (on a leash, usually) with my female GSD. She has never started a fight with ANYONE, and is very easy-going. So, the only risk I'm taking is that my dog may be injured. I know she's obedient enough to back off if a dog tries to attack her, and the leash gives me control of the strange dog.

I don't have the staff to do cage-free, as someone has to be there EVERY MINUTE in case a fight breaks out.

I have had people phone here, and their first question is "are you cage-free?" because their dog was injured in a cage-free facility.

I've seen some "Boarding" places i wouldn't leave a dead rat in. But for the most part they are great places to house a dog. I have a very good relationship with my vet and because my breed can be rough with other dogs. I prefer that my dog be kept in a kennel run and not loose with other dogs. Since i'm not paying for anyone elses stitches. My vet also has a seperate area for sick dogs, so not cross contaminatin. We also house a lot of police dogs so we know how to handle hyper, mean or crazy dogs also. Some boarding places have people that live on site, other show up and clean just like any other vet office and leave your dog alone for hours. Every place is different like every dog.
My experience is my dog is safer with my vet then some stranger. I also like the fact that if my dog were to become ill, have digestive problems, or have some other issue that they know enough about my animal to offer qualified help.
Not everyone that runs a boarding place is as experienced as someone like Sunsilver.
Hope you find someone that make you and your dog happy,
Fry