Ten Boarding For Dogs Tips

Part of planning for vacations is finding a safe and pleasant dog boarding facility. So where do you start?

1- List The Dog Boarding Facilities

List all the dog boarding facilities around on a piece of paper. Yellow pages won’t do since you will be taking notes. Call each one to see if they are even in business. Find out if they have an opening and if they have size limitations for your dog. Some boarding facilities are booked months in advance and others only accept small dogs.

2- What Are The Vaccination Requirements

A sign of a quality dog boarding facility is their insistence that you provide proof of vaccination. If they don’t require it, move to the next facility. You don’t want your dog to make other dogs sick and vice versa. Clarify exactly what type of vaccination and proof they require. Canine Kennel Cough (Bordetella) is one of the requirements. Make sure you take care of the vaccination in advance and not just the day before.

3- Check The Top Dog’s Credentials

Find out what credential does the owner have and how many dog boarding facilities does he or she run. A super doc owning twenty boarding facilities cannot pay attention to any one so he/she must delegate. In that case, find out about the qualifications of the person who actually runs the facility.

4- Visit The Dog Boarding Facility

Check out the facility to see if it looks and smells clean, has enough light and ventilation and if the temperature is monitored and comfy.

5- Chat With The Staff

Look for a friendly face that gives you warm and fuzzy feeling, shows knowledge and care for the pets and pay attention how they treat your best four legged friend.

6- Running Area

Does the individual kennel have enough room for your dog to move inside and do they have a place to run outside. ? How often are they taken for a walk? You may have to pay a little extra if you want your dog to be walked more than once. If your dog will be kenneled outside, make sure that the outdoor area is protected from wind, rain, snow, etc.

7- Comfortable and Cozy

Your dog needs a place to lie down besides the concrete especially if they are suffering from joint paint.

8- The Right Dog Food

Many dogs do not react well to change of their food. Find out if the dog boarding facility provide your dogs food. If not, take it with you.

9- Emergency Services

Find out how the dog boarding facility deals with emergencies. Do they have veterinary services in house or will they have to send your dog out. Find out how that will work. Also check out the luxury items like grooming and bathing.

10- Compare The Rates

Make sure that you understand exactly what is offered and what is optional and how much it will cost including check out hour that could cost you an extra day.