How can I prepare my dog for their stay?
Whether your dog is staying at a boarding facility for the first time or they’re an experienced boarder, it’s essential to prepare your dog to keep them stress-free.
To help your pup feel more comfortable, pack something that reminds them of home, such as their favorite toy or blanket. Pet care experts recommend sticking to one or two items since the boarding staff usually isn’t responsible for items that are lost or damaged.
If your dog has a special diet, be sure to pack your own food and leave instructions that outline your dog’s dietary needs. If your dog eats at certain times of the day, let the boarding staff know about their feeding routine before dropping your dog off.
Will My Dog Be Okay in Boarding Kennels?
To evaluate an answer to this question, let’s look at the benefits and disadvantages of boarding kennels.
Your dog will obviously don’t have to go through the stress of traveling by car or by plane.
The staff in a boarding kennel is able to monitor your dog closely for possible health issues around the clock and they can quickly act in case of an emergency.
A pet sitter would only check in a few hours a day so your dog would have to be alone most of the time.
On the other hand, the proximity to other dogs may have the disadvantage of diseases that can travel easily and not all of them are harmless.
Although you are sparing your dog the stress of traveling, the amount of distress he has to face in a kennel shouldn’t be underestimated.
But you don’t have to worry so much about boarding your dog with the right preparation which I will talk about more below.
The cost of boarding your dog for a week is usually around $150 to $200.
Depending on where you live and the size of your dog, boarding can cost anywhere from $30 to $80 for a full day.
If you are planning a several–day stay, you might be offered a discount.
High-end boarding kennels have much less canines in their facility and take care of each and every one individually, not to mention that they’re often more skilled when it comes to handling behavioral issues.
Amount of Time Spent in the Crate
One of the reasons kennels can be bad for dogs is when pet owners leave their dogs inside one for extended periods. A dog should not spend more than 8 hours inside of a kennel at one time, and even that is a long period.
If possible, do not exceed 5 hours. Dog owners who have to work an 8-hour shift with travel time added, consider asking a family member to let the dog outside during lunch.
Pet sitters or dog walkers are other good ideas for pet owners who aren’t available during the day to let their furry friends outside.
Doggie daycare is growing in popularity because of the demands people have on them with work hours. It works just like childcare does – people can drop their dogs off at the boarding facility and pick them up after work. The kennel staff will ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise, relaxation, and playtime with other dogs.
Keep in mind – just because your furry friend may have a canine companion, it doesn’t make it okay to leave a dog crated for extended periods. A dog crate is meant to be used for short periods of time.
Some dogs will start to lick their crate when they spend too much time in it. That’s a sign to look for in your pup.
A dog’s crate should be clean and safe whenever used. There should be no urine or feces inside of it when the dog is placed inside. It should also be free of any choking hazards.
Punishing your four-legged friend inside of a dirty kennel is abuse. Just imagine being placed inside a small room with excrement all around you. That disgust you’re feeling is what a dog feels.
The kennel environment should be just like a well-kept home. It should be perfectly clean with freshly washed towels or blankets. A pee pad is okay to place inside of it, as long as it is replaced regularly when used. Toys can be placed inside as long as they do not pose a choking hazard.
Dogs are den animals. In other words, they instinctually enjoy small, enclosed places. They feel safe and comforted in them. This is why a crate-trained dog often doesn’t suffer from separation anxiety as opposed to those who are not used to it or have been punished with dog crates.
Throwing a dog in a crate for punishment confuses the instinct. This can lead to unpredictable dog behavior. The dog may become sad and whimper or mad and exhibit aggression. In either case, it’s not a good situation for the dog owner or dog.
Make the crate a positive experience. Punishment should be approached in different ways such as with negative reinforcement (not being able to play with a favorite toy or not receiving a treat). Positive reinforcement is the best option with canines, according to most dog trainers. Encouraging good dog behavior will lead to more of that behavior.
When your dog doesn’t see the crate or kennel as a prison, he/she will start to go into it at will. Many dogs will lie in their crate with the door open because it’s where they feel most at ease.
Many readers are likely thinking about pet boarding facilities and whether their kennels are bad for dogs, especially those who keep their four-legged guests locked up for more than 8 hours a day.
This is why it’s highly important to research and tour the pet boarding facility you choose before your dog’s stay. The pet boarding facility should communicate how long their guests spend in the crate and what activities they are involved in throughout the day.
Many pet boarding places will encourage canine companion time, in which their guests can play together as long as they get along well with other pups. This means more time outside of the crate, which is always great.
Kennel cough is a concern when boarding a dog, so be sure all immunizations are up to date and the pet boarding facility requires them so that other guests are also protected. Speak to your veterinarian for more information about kennel cough and other illnesses that can be contracted during boarding.
Everything You Need to Know About Dog Boarding
The whole point of a vacation is to relax with those you love. If a dog-friendly road trip is out of the question, leaving your dog behind shouldn’t be anxiety-inducing. Boarding your dog at a reputable kennel is a great option (and an ideal solution for some pups!). For most dogs, two weeks is the longest you want to board them. Of course, every dog is different and how long you can board yours depends on her age, temperament, experience with boarding and social skills.