Whether you are going out of town or you just need a night off, leaving your dog on a dog-boarding place can provide your pet with much comfort and you with peace of mind. While you may have a relative or maybe a neighbor who would agree to take in your dog while you are away, they may not be experienced enough to look after your pet’s needs. A boarding kennel can give your dog with the quality pet care he or she deserves.
One of the most trusted dog boarding place in the country today is Camp Bow Wow – a premiere daycare and boarding place for your dog. But before you board your dog, there are several things you need to consider first. Considering these things will ensure that your dog will have a comfortable and happy boarding experience.
Survey The Area
Find out how many boarding kennels there are within your neighborhood’s vicinity. Narrow your options so you can easily choose which one best suit your pet’s needs. Ask for recommendations from your vet or friends. You can evaluate and you can have a clearer vision of the place by just merely listening to people’s experience. Just a quick tip: while price is very important when considering a boarding place, don’t pick the cheapest one, pick the best one for your dog.
Conduct Ocular Inspection
When you have already narrowed down your options, you can visit each boarding place. This is the best way to inspect the area. Check if the area is clean and well maintained. A good boarding kennel has an adequate ventilation and roomy place. You may also interview their pet care staff so you can have a hint on how they care of the pets.
Observe Their Staff
This is probably the greatest factor when deciding where you can safely leave your pet. Observe how the staff interacts with other pets. Choose a boarding kennel that is manned by well-trained and caring staff.
Know The Kennel Requirements
Generally, all boarding kennels require each pet to have a complete vaccine. While it is enough for some to state your pet’s vaccine verbally, some will require certifications from vets. This is just one of the many things you need to confirm with your chosen boarding kennel. Knowing the specifics can help you prepare your dog more effectively.
Know Your Pet’s Schedule
Some boarding kennels have a specific program for each day while some have pretty spontaneous schedule. It is much better to leave your pet on a boarding kennel where he will be treated very similarly as you treat him or her at home. This includes taking your pet for a walk or letting him or her interact with other pets. These kinds of activities can help your pet stay entertained during the boarding.
Feeding Instructions
While most boarding kennels offer full-board meals for pets, you might want to consider bringing your dog’s own food. Feeding your pet with unfamiliar food might give him or her gastrointestinal problems. Leaving your pet in an unfamiliar environment is pretty stressful for your dog already, so don’t change anything that you don’t have to. Just give the kennel staff clear instructions about how and when they need to feed your pet to avoid any problems.
Provide The Boarding Kennel with Your Contact Information
Don’t forget to list down the numbers where you may be reached in case of untoward incidents. If you are leaving the country and you won’t be available to answer calls 24/7, you might want to consider leaving them the contact information of your nearest relative or trusted friend.
Give Them Emergency Instructions
Just in case your pet needs medical attention, give the staff in-charge instructions on how they should proceed. You may instruct them to contact your vet so they won’t have to take your pet to some unfamiliar vet. You may also need to give them credit card authorization just in case they need to purchase something to attend to your pet’s medical needs.
Inform Them of Your Pet’s Medical History
It is very advisable to list down your pet’s medical conditions and medications. This will make it easier for the boarding kennel staff to perform first aid or treat your dog just in case he or she needs to be treated. You may also include your pet’s undesirable behaviors and how these things are triggered.
Leave Special Instructions
Make sure you leave the staff with special instructions like food allergies and restrictions. If your pet needs to take medication, instruct them as well how and when they need to administer it.
My friend was telling me that they were going on vacation and don’t know what they should do with their dog. I really like that you say to observe the staff and see how they run the facility. It would be nice to see how they treat the dogs in the process.