I'm considering kenneling my dogs for the very first time when we go on vacation next month. In the past, I've always had pet sitters come to the house. But this time, our house will likely be for sale, and I just cannot imagine how to manage three dogs while there might be showings. My parents are incapable of taking them and I know of no one else who can. So what should I look for in a kennel? The one I'm considering gets great reviews online and I know people who use it regularly. They require vaccination records, emergency contacts, vet contacts, will allow my three to stay together, little dogs are in a separate space from big dogs, and the facility is heated and air conditioned and they will have access to outside. What other issues do I need to consider and am I being a horrible human if I kennel them for 8 days? Thanks.
Ok, I'm on my phone (and it's midnight) so I can't really reply to your post properly. I shall do so tomorrow evening after work when I can get on my laptop. (Really I'm just posting so I will get alerts from this thread otherwise I will forget about it. )
I do, but I really hate having to leave them. Even though it's not that often I seriously doubt I'll have pets again as I hate it so much. Doggie prison, they hate being left.
I only did once, there was a mandatory hurricane evacuation, and I had to work at the hospital overnight. I only had a couple of hours to figure out what to do with the kids, husband, and dog. Her vet agreed to board her, but I forgot to bring her blanket that she sleeps wrapped up in. When I got there the next morning, I was waiting for them to open, and I heard her howling.
I used to have someone who knew my animals and would stay at the house, but I boarded my dog aggressive dog - I couldn't expect anyone else to deal with the consequences if there was a screw up and she was let into the same part of the house as her arch enemy. One time when I went to pick her up, they were closed, but she had already seen me, and I didn't have the heart to leave her there. I climbed over the fence of the empty run next to hers, crawled into the building through the dog door, then got her out and locked up after myself. I left them the check and a note, explaining how I had gotten in. My ex husband was aghast.
I haven't gone on vacation in many years - my household is much too complicated for someone unfamiliar with it to be able to cope.
You seem to have all the essentials pretty well covered. Sounds like a very nice place.
I boarded my cat, Mandi a few times. My vet has boarding accommodations. It worked out pretty well especially since she was on medication. And she was a pretty good traveller and didn't really mind going to the vet.
Since I adopted Bogart, almost a year ago, I have turned down three opportunities to go on vacation. I can't bring myself to leave him, mainly because of his medication issues. I could leave him with the same vet but since he spent a few months at the shelter in a cage, I don't want to put him through that again. I feel like he won't understand what's going on, even if its only for five days. He does not travel well at all and gets terribly stressed out going to the vet.
I am hoping to go to Myrtle Beach in August. I am going to inquire if he can stay in the new room that they have for dogs. It's a nice size with a bed. Otherwise I will see if one of the staff will come to the house and administer his medication.
I am sure your boys will do fine. It's nice that they will have each other.
There are a few kennels here that have sort of dorm rooms for the dogs, and for much of the day get a whole bunch of dogs together to mingle and socialise with each other.
There are also catteries here which are just basically a house where the cats can all perch wherever they like.
I have found that kennels and catteries like this that are run in a more personal and unconventional manner are the best type.
There are a few kennels here that have sort of dorm rooms for the dogs, and for much of the day get a whole bunch of dogs together to mingle and socialise with each other.
There are also catteries here which are just basically a house where the cats can all perch wherever they like.
I have found that kennels and catteries like this that are run in a more personal and unconventional manner are the best type.
I have never heard of a cattery before. It sounds like such a less stressful environment compared to regular boarding places that keep the cats in cages.
Poppy - I know for a fact you are anything but a horrible person! It seems you've done all your research and have found a nice place that will take good care of your babies.
I'm considering kenneling my dogs for the very first time when we go on vacation next month. In the past, I've always had pet sitters come to the house. But this time, our house will likely be for sale, and I just cannot imagine how to manage three dogs while there might be showings. My parents are incapable of taking them and I know of no one else who can. So what should I look for in a kennel?The one I'm considering gets great reviews online and I know people who use it regularly. They require vaccination records, emergency contacts, vet contacts, will allow my three to stay together, little dogs are in a separate space from big dogs, and the facility is heated and air conditioned and they will have access to outside. What other issues do I need to consider and am I being a horrible human if I kennel them for 8 days? Thanks.
Those are pretty much the standard things which you've already mentioned and they sound good.
OK, other things:
- Amount of exercise. Walks? How long for, and how many times a day? Do they have a fully enclosed and secure exercise run which they put the dogs in as well? (As a ballpark, our kennels walk our dogs the most compares to the other kennels in this area (I know, I've googled them all), We give them two 20 minute walks a day each. We also try to put them out in the exercise run (individually!) so they can have a charge around too. )
- Do they mix your dogs with other dogs at all? I think somebody above said something about kennels where they have all the dogs in together. For me, and for all of us working at the kennels, that is a huge no-no. You want them to keep your dogs separate from other dogs. The most we will ever do is if we have two calm, easy dogs we might walk so we can chat. Our walks are along a (quiet) country lane with grass verges, so by that I mean we stay on opposite sides of the road and we make sure the dogs don't go near each other. We would never ever have 1 person walk two dogs which don't live together (some kennels around here do ) . We'd never mix dogs in the exercise run, nothing that that. Everything is individual unless the dogs are a pair (or more) who live together. We never let boarding dogs mingle who don't live together. It's a huge risk to take with somebody else's dog. You can never be 100% sure how a dog is going to act and if a fight breaks out, well, you're screwed.
Obviously, dogs which are part of a family, we will allow them to walk next to each other on the walks.
- Full vaccinations required including kennel cough? (Here in the UK, kennel cough isn't a standard vaccine so when somebody says their dog is fully vaccinated it doesn't always mean kennel cough as well. )
- Ask what their routine is. Dogs response well to routine and if they have a set routine which they stick to (any good kennels should) it's a lot better for the dogs.
- Will they allow you to take things for your dogs? Own bedding and toys can help dogs settle in better because it's something familiar.
- Can you go have a look around the kennels?
Right, onto this part
am I being a horrible human if I kennel them for 8 days?
Most dogs are perfectly fine in kennels. We have plenty of first-time boarders in. This is why a routine is so important. Give them a day or two to figure out the routine and they're fine. Once they've figured out that they are going to get food, will get walks and will get cuddles and they know when to expect those things they are fine.
Also, as your 3 dogs are going in together, they really will be OK. We've never have dogs who have come in together, who are sharing a kennel, be really upset about being in kennels. They've got each other so are pretty happy. They tend to settle down a lot quicker than the dogs who are in by themselves.
As for the dogs who don't like kennels (some people try to say that all dogs hate kennels. Bollocks. We have dogs come in who bloody love being with us) again it's the routine thing. They spend most of their time sleeping in their bed until it's food time, or when you call them out of bed for walks and then they cheer up.
Spoiler because it's sad.
Today has been hard. Use to have two dogs come in fairly regularly for boarding. But the older dog died a few months ago and today the younger one has come in for boarding for the first time since he died. I'm in tears writing this because I bloody loved that dog, well both of them. He was old and walked incredibly slowly, whereas she would want to walk. However, she would get about 50 yards in front and then would sit and wait until he caught up with her. And they would always be curled up in the same bed, we always gave them two beds but they never used one of them. Bloody adorable.
So it was hard today because she was by herself. Hard on us, I mean. She was happy. She knew where she was, she knows us and she was there by the door of her kennel doing her little dance when she knew it was walkies time.
Also, 8 days really isn't a long time for dogs to be in kennels for. I know it sounds like a long time to you but it really isn't. Most of our boarders tend to come in for at least a week. Got a couple in at the moment who are here for 2 months. I know of at least one more coming in soon who will be with us for 3 months. After a day or two, once they've figured out the routine (I know I keep saying that word but for kennels, the routine is the most important thing for the dogs) they're fine.
And one last thing, which should be self-explanatory but I need to say it. People who work in kennels love dogs. I mean, really, really love dogs. I don't just mean people who have their own dogs, I know people who have had dogs their entire lives and they wouldn't last a week working in a kennels. You really do have to love dogs and understand dogs. We have dogs in who are royal pains in the arse. Pull like trains when walking, go nuts when they see other dogs, re-decorate their kennels for us just after we've clean them out. It's annoying, but we never get annoyed at the dogs.
Most of the "problem" dogs at work are the rescue dogs. (Local rescue/re-homing charity boards some of their dogs with us. ) Got one in at the moment who goes completely nuts when he sees other dogs and goes completely batshit crazy when there's a car going past. I mean leaping up into the air, spinning in circles, running around you so you end up falling over, barking, growling, snarling etc. He also tries to bite you when you take the lead off him after he's had the walk.
I try to walk him along the road for as little as possible so my walk with him is along the road about 1/4 of the distance of what we normally walk, then I go up a footpath into some woods and once he's off the road he calms down. And he jumps up wanting to have a fuss (and jumping up can be quite annoying) and I always give him a fuss. I have bites and bruises and pulled arm muscles from that dog, I've got covered in **** because of that dog (he poos in his kennel and then jumped in it (if we haven't seen it and cleaned it up) so it's all over his paws when he jumps up at me, and he's also pulled me over once when a massive lorry went past just before I was about to leave the woods and I landed in some fox ****) but I've never shouted at him, I've never hit him (I would never dream of doing either to a dog), I give him cuddles and kisses when he's asking for a fuss.
What I get angry at is whatever ******* brought him as a puppy, didn't socialise or train him, who beat him (he acts like he's been beaten) and then palmed him off onto the charity when they decided they didn't want him anymore. He's the dog he is because of what that person did to him. So I get ******* angry at them, not the dog. (I don't know who that person is, what I mean is that when I'm walking him, I'm thinking about what an irresponsible ******* that person is, rather than thinking about how much I hate the dog. I don't actually hate the dog. I don't like walking him because it's a nightmare but I don't hate him. And I still walk him. )
OK, that was rambling, I'm sorry but I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the people who will be looking after your dogs really do genuinely love dogs. They have to, otherwise they would not be able to work in a kennels. I know it sounds self-explanatory, but there is a big difference between loving dogs as your pets and loving dogs enough to cope with working in a kennels.
One last thing. (I promise!) I used to think that putting my dogs into kennels was a horrendous thing to do. When we've had to put our dogs into kennels I used to worry about them constantly and think we were awful for doing it to them. After seeing the other side, even though we've never put the dogs we own now into kennels, I have no issues with putting them into the kennels where I work and I wouldn't be anxious about them.
Food! Remember to tell them what food your dog eats so they can get some before your dogs go there if they don't already have it. They should include food in the price and they should feed what your dogs eat. You could always give them enough food (plus a little bit extra just in case) for the whole stay so you know that is what they are being fed. If you do take your own food they should give you a discount.
I have never heard of a cattery before. It sounds like such a less stressful environment compared to regular boarding places that keep the cats in cages.
I am too tried to respond adequately, but thank you so much, Annia! Your post is a huge help, and I'm going to read it more thoroughly tomorrow when I'm not so done in. And I'm sorry you had a sad day.
They did great! They were kept together, and I was told they teamed up to keep all the other dogs in line. The best thing that happened, however, is the daughter of a friend of mine got a job there and was able to see them daily and give them some extra TLC. They didn't even seem to hold too much of a grudge when we picked them up.
It really paid off to have them kenneled. The house sold while were all away, and so it was worth it.
I now have found a wonderful gal who wants to dog sit for me once we move. She works at our shelter and I know her well. So unless she's busy, I won't have to kennel them again.
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Thanks.
