Dog Boarding

Chances are your dog is a loved member of the family. In addition to being great protectors, dogs love unconditionally. Regardless of your dog’s breed, for an upcoming business trip or planned family vacation, you need to find a quality dog boarding facility that will treat your dog like royalty. Okay, we need to be realistic in that no dog boarding kennel is going to give your dog the same level of love, care, and attention that you provide but there are some that work hard to come as close as possible.

Instead of stressing and feeling overwhelmed, we have provided some great tips to make the process easier.

Referrals – First, you need multiple referrals. Start with your personal veterinarian but also, ask friends, family members, and co-workers who board their pets for recommendations in that word of mouth is powerful.

Background Check – Evaluate any dog boarding facility by doing a background check. Remember, you have the right and responsibility to learn all you can about the kennel’s operation. For North America, visit the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org and for national and international kennels visit Rip off Report at www.ripoffreport.com. You could also read forums to see what past customers have to say by typing in the name and location of the kennel in Google.

In-Person Visit – It is imperative that you visit any dog boarding facility being considered. Show up without notice so the owner has no time to clean up. Even if you do not get the opportunity to see the actual kennel area without a scheduled appointment, by showing up unannounced some of your questions would be answered.

Prepare for your Pet Boarding Experience

Be Prepared – Sit down with the owner of the dog boarding facility with a list of prepared questions, to include:
- Is the kennel currently licensed (ask to see the license)
- How often are the cages cleaned?
- What type of food is provided, and if preferred, could you bring your own?
- Would your dog have his/her own cage?
- Is there an outside play area? If so, how long are dogs allowed to play?
- Are dogs exercised? If so, how often and what precautions are taken to ensure the dogs do not get away from the handler?
- What is the action plan in case of emergency?
- How many and what type of accidents have occurred in the past six months, if any?
- What is the name of the kennel’s veterinarian (you would leave your veterinarian’s information but in case of emergency, the facility’s veterinarian would be the first responder)?
- Does the facility provide kennel cough shots?

Even with outstanding references for a particular dog boarding kennel, pay close attention as you walk through, looking at the cleanliness of the cages, condition of the dogs, interior temperature, and even smells. Obviously, if the dog boarding facility has a strong smell of urine and/or faeces, the cages are not being properly cleaned. Look for damaged fences, walls, exposed wires, and even objects that could fall and cause harm.

Compare Boarding Kennels

Additionally, look to see if boarded dogs have fresh food and water, and that the cages provide plenty of space specific to your breed of dog. Always follow your gut instinct. As a pet owner, you have built-in radar so if something seems amiss, move on to another facility. Finally, we recommend you look at least three different dog boarding facilities for comparisons.