Choosing a good boarding kennel
One of the key things of having a dog is picking a good boarding kennel. As much as we’d love to be able to be with our dogs 100% of the time, there are places and times you can’t have dogs. When you find a good one they become indispensible. There is a simple check list you can use when considering any boarding kennel. The first stage though, is about finding the boarding kennel. To find a boarding kennel you can start by asking around your friends and also if you attend a dog training class ask them. Other sources include your vets and the Kennel club.
Once you have found a boarding kennel you think is a good one, go and visit it. First visit I’d suggest not taking your dog or dogs and just having a look around. If you want after that you can take them for a visit to see if they like it or not. When visiting there are some basic things you can look for - after all you know what a dog needs and what conditions they should be kept in. Check for fresh water supplies in the boarding kennels, ask how often they exercise or allow the dogs out for the toilet. Are the boarding kennels clean? Find out what food they suggest and even if you want to, whether you can bring your own dog’s food. Above all use your feelings about the place. Are the dog’s happy? Bare in mind a lot of dog’s are stressed out by boarding kennels. Are the people nice? Common sense is a strong part of whether a boarding kennel is right for you.
Finding a good boarding kennel should never be about finding the cheapest. The same can be said for the most expensive. There are some basic things you should check out such as what insurance they do and if they are certified or not. Certification depends on where you live but organisations like the RSPCA, Kennel club and other animal care institutions, can provide good information on how the boarding kennel is.
I’d always suggest for the first time your dog goes into boarding kennels you make it just an overnight visit if possible. This way you can test how it goes with the boarding kennel. Ultimately your gut and your dog will let you know if a boarding kennel is right for you or not. It’s a matter of personal choice but you can always bare in mind some basic things when finding the right boarding kennel.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
[...] good kennels book up well in advance of the holiday season. Best advice, trust your feelings and check on a few things like water, food and exercise time . It is fine to pay a bit more for better care. [...]
July 30th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
[...] good kennels book up well in advance of the holiday season. Best advice, trust your feelings and check on a few things like water, food and exercise time . It is fine to pay a bit more for better care. [...]