Tips On Choosing A Good Boarding Kennel

Came across this blog post on Cesar Millan's blog on choosing a kennel or pet sitter for your medium dog if you are not able to bring your pet with you when you need to leave home for vacation or for work for a few days. Some of the points that he made which I think are especially important are:

Make sure and ask the staff questions that concern you -- what is their idea of "discipline," for example? How do they handle conflict between dogs? What is the procedure if a dog takes ill? If you are able to take the time, ask to be a silent, "invisible" observer at the facility for half a day, to get a sense of their style and philosophy.

Above all, trust your instincts. If something just doesn't feel right, find another venue.

Great advice. And here are some other tips for choosing the most comfortable temporary home for your pet:

1. Try to start your selection process as early as possible and book in advance as many kennels are often fully booked during the popular vacation periods.
   
2. Ask what vaccinations are needed before your dog can be boarded at the kennels you are keen on and make sure that all the necessary vaccinations are completed beforehand.
3. Visit the kennel first. Make sure that the entire kennel area is clean and tidy, including the exercise areas, bedding, food and water bowls.
   
4. Check the food preparation area as well, and ensure that the area is clean and neat.
5. Check that the place is airy and well-ventilated with no stale musty smells.
6. Ensure that the indoor temperature is kept at a comfortable level at all times.
   
7. Observe how the staff interact with the dogs there. Staff should be confident in handling the dogs and be caring and attentive to the dogs' needs.
8. Check the feeding, grooming and exercise schedules of the kennel and make sure that it meets your dog's needs.
9. Inform the kennel of any special needs or medical care that your pet requires.
10. In addition to leaving your own contact number, its advisable to provide your vet's number and a contact number of a friend or relative to the boarding kennel just in case.

And last but not least, the site below has more information on how to choose a good boarding kennel or pet-sitter:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/choosing_a_boarding_kennel.html

Taking the time and effort to choose a good kennel for your dog won't make you miss your dog less but at least it will give you peace of mind that your dog is well taken care of while you are out of town :-)

Till next time...

Tags: choosing a kennel, boarding kennels, pet-sitter, pet accommodation.