Choosing a Boarding Kennel for Your Dog

Your information to discovering a boarding kennel that may present the very best care in your canine.

Whether you journey for enterprise or pleasure, it’s typically essential to depart your canine behind. Hiring a pet sitter or asking a buddy or member of the family to take care of your companion when you’re away are each frequent options — however you can too decide to have him keep at a boarding kennel the place he’ll get round the clock care. Before going this route, it’s vitally essential to decide on a good, well-run facility the place you understand your companion shall be comfy and correctly sorted. What follows is a information of things to think about and inquiries to ask earlier than deciding on a boarding kennel in your canine.

TAKE A TOUR OF THE KENNEL

Call and ask when you can tour the power earlier than making a dedication, and see if they’ll permit your canine to tag alongside. Responsibly-operated companies ought to be prepared to allow you to see their kennels earlier than making a decision about letting your canine keep there.

Red Flag: If the homeowners are reluctant to allow you to take a preliminary tour, they might have one thing to cover. Look elsewhere.

While touring the kennel, right here’s what to search for to make sure your canine shall be cared for in a suitable method:

Adequate residing area. Boarding kennels will be certain that all canines staying there have their very own lodging the place they’ll sleep, eat, and chill out on their very own phrases, with out the interference of different animals. Ask the homeowners what their insurance policies are on canines being walked collectively, and/or what intervals for play and socialization appear to be. Make positive there aren’t too many canines being allowed to work together without delay — two or three is perfect. Also, in case your canine doesn’t play properly with others, guarantee there’ll be an possibility for him to be walked alone.

Cleanliness. As you’ll be able to think about, plenty of canines in a confined area means it may be tough to maintain the setting clear. Nevertheless, a top quality boarding kennel could have strict insurance policies surrounding cleanliness and hygiene. While it’s unimaginable to maintain the place completely sterile, it ought to look, scent, and really feel clear once you go to go to.

Red Flag: Bare cages which might be soiled and smelly are a nasty signal. Accommodations ought to embody loads of gadgets for the canines’ consolation and enrichment, equivalent to clear dry bedding, bowls of contemporary water, and toys.

ASK THE KENNEL OWNER/MANAGER THESE QUESTIONS

1. “Can I convey my canine’s meals?” Suddenly altering a canine’s eating regimen, even for a short time, is ill-advised. It may cause digestive upsets, and since your canine will in all probability already expertise some stress from the change in setting, an assault of diarrhea will solely make him really feel worse. Ask the homeowners of the boarding kennel what they feed their four-legged visitors. If it’s not the identical as what you’re already giving your canine, ask when you can convey your personal. It’s a good suggestion to take greater than sufficient — you’ll be able to at all times take any leftovers residence. Be positive to let workers understand how a lot to feed your canine, and when.

Red Flag: What in the event that they gained’t mean you can convey your personal meals? Find one other kennel, particularly if the meals the present one supplies could be very low cost or low-end.

2. “Do you’ve an indoor and outside play space?” Dogs ought to have entry to each inside and out of doors play areas. They can get burdened in the event that they don’t have any entry to outside areas for a chronic interval. If your canine is especially lively, ask if it’s attainable to offer him a number of walks and playtimes per day.
3. “Can you administer my canine’s dietary supplements/medicines?” Lots of canines depend on day by day dietary supplements or medicines. You must make certain that your chosen boarding kennel has workers who’re educated and skilled sufficient to manage drugs or treatments accurately in your behalf.
4. “What is your coverage for emergency care?” Find out what the kennel managers would do in case your canine fell unwell or acquired injured. Are they conscious of the closest animal hospital and what their emergency hours and procedures are?

Red Flag: Do you reside in a state or province the place boarding kennels are required to be usually inspected? If so, and there’s no present inspection certificates on show on the kennel you’re contemplating, transfer on.

5. “What are your standards round vaccines?” Any kennel that locations a excessive worth on the well being of the canines of their care will almost definitely insist that vaccinations are updated. Ask the proprietor or supervisor if proof of titer testing is accepted in lieu of annual boosters.

This information to choosing a kennel will assist make sure you’ve completed every part essential to offer the very best care in your canine, so you’ll be able to take pleasure in peace of thoughts in your travels.